Crossing the Whole30 Finish Line!
Yesterday officially marked Day 30! Therefore, today I was allowed to take my stats and tally my results. Before I delve into my success, I want to share some of the lessons I learned this round of Whole30...
1. Always be prepared!
When I was preparing my evening meal on Day 16, my spice grinder broke and into my dish went over 1/3 cup of spices. Rather than turn to noncompliant food, I grabbed some Whole30 compliant leftovers out of the fridge and ate that instead.
2. My motivation to be physically active was nonexistent during Whole30!
I have not worked out in 30 days which means I am nowhere near prepared for my upcoming half marathon in just 4 days. My motivation and energy simply wasn't there. Therefore, I am setting a goal for myself to do some...any...form of physical activity while I reintroduce foods back into my diet.
3. There is far more to Whole30 than the scale and tape measure.
Though I could tell I was losing weight and inches, I could also tell my cravings and upset stomach minimized drastically while eating real food. I won't lie...I was dying to know what the scale and tape measure read, but I was also intrigued to see how my stomach and brain adjusted and responded to this change in food intake.
4. Whole30 is possible regardless of where you live.
Many believe that you must live close to a Hy-Vee, Whole Foods or grocery store with unlimited options to eat healthy. I can honestly say that Whole30 is not fancy, nor complicated. While on Whole30, one will rarely venture inside the perimeter of the grocery store as most compliant foods are purchased in the produce, meat and dairy (egg) section. Truthfully, simple is better as a plethora of options can be confusing and time consuming.
5. My Instant Pot was a blessing during this round of Whole30!
I had my Instant Pot going quite often this round to prep food, whether it were shredded chicken breasts, hard boiled eggs or sweet potatoes. It made my life so much easier and provided me with healthy meals in very little time.
6. I am a happier person when I can drink wine!
Though I survived without wine for 30 days, it was probably the hardest thing I had to give up. I could go without bread, cheese, milk or cupcakes for 30 days without any problem, but taking wine out of my diet for 30 days was downright hard. Between the stress of a big project going on at work and the never ending homework for my college class, having a glass of wine on the weekend to unwind is almost a necessity. Nonetheless, I did it and I am proud to say I will be celebrating with a glass of wine this upcoming weekend!
7. Thank goodness for a husband who encouraged me to continue!
When we had company over this past weekend, I was literally on Day 27 with the desire to call it quits. Instead of doing so, my husband encouraged me to keep going rather than succumb to the baked beans, hamburger buns, apple pie, ice cream and wine. I can honestly say it wasn't the food that was enticing me to forego the last 4 days, but rather the desire to just be "normal" and fully participate in the evening with our friends. However, because he helped me get through Day 27, I can now say I have successfully completed two rounds of Whole30 and it feels so good!!!
8. This blog kept me honest.
Though I wasn't the best at posting as frequently as I had originally anticipated, this blog held me accountable. Not only did it allow me a platform to share my successes, but also provided me with an outlet to share my struggles. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me and lending your eyes to read and your ears to listen to my story. You truly were my biggest motivation for staying strong and true to my goal of successfully completing this round!
As for the physical results, I weighed myself and had Mike take my measurements this morning... I lost a total of 12.1 pounds and 10 inches this round of Whole30. I went from 148 total inches (bust, waist, hips and both arms) to 138 total inches. I lost 1 inch from my bust, 4 inches from my waist, 3 inches from my hips and 1 inch from each arm. I was ecstatic to see how 30 days transformed my body...and smile, as you can see in the pictures below!
So, what's next? My plan is to reintroduce foods back into my diet and see how they affect me. Ultimately, my goal is to remain 80% Whole30 compliant so as to allow myself to participate in special occasions and occasionally indulge during the weekend. However, I hope to steer myself towards healthier and more natural options and be more food conscious. I just want to feel good and fuel my body with food that makes me feel good!
As for today, I am going to relish in the fact that I completed another round of Whole30! Now, if I can just conquer my next goal of getting through that half marathon in 4 days... Wish me luck!
Comments
Post a Comment