Post Whole30 Round-Up: Before, During, & After!

My third round of Whole30 has by far been my most “successful”… and I think that’s because this was the round where I needed it most.

Before
Prior to starting, I wasn’t on my A-game.  I woke up late every morning, sleeping through way too many alarms (and even phone calls from Dathan to get me up), yet still felt tired.  Coffee was absolutely necessary (at least 2 cups), and I found myself daydreaming of the Starbucks breakfast sandwiches & vanilla lattes that used to be just an occasional treat.

Speaking of treats… well, there were too many treats.  Things like cookies with my coffee, plantain chips for snacking after work, Quest bars mid-morning, and resorting to takeout when I felt too tired to cook were becoming less and less of a “treat”, and more of a regular occurrence.  While I could still fit into most of my size 2’s, there were more and more pairs that were being sent down to my storage bin in the garage… because they just weren’t comfortable anymore.  & I decided that most stores must actually cut their sizes too small, so maybe the next size up was just fine.  (Somewhere around here is when the little voice in my head suggested a Whole30)

Now, while the Whole30 felt incredibly effective due to my increasingly bad habits, that doesn’t mean it was an “easy” fix.  The first two weeks of this Whole30 were so much harder than the early days of my first two rounds.  I was having to overcome the physical feelings of headache and fatigue while my body detoxed from junk… but was also having to re-learn my old mental habits at the same time.  No wonder why sushi & pizza seemed so appealing… it’s so much easier.

During

My biggest tips for the beginning stages of Whole30 (and all throughout & after, actually..) are to plan & prepare.  Put in the prep time by making a meal plan, writing a grocery list, and preparing foods ahead of time.  Now by that I don’t mean make 14 tupperwares full of chicken and broccoli & die of food boredom… I mean have breakfast foods pre-cooked, make use of your crockpot, and pack your lunch the night before.  I took pictures of each of our weekly meal plans on the Whole30, and would be happy to share them all if you’d like to see.  (See my “Tips & How-To” for preparing here)

Also, plan to feel the “hangover” part.  Everyone loves to talk about the wonderful “before & afters” and the great results of the Whole30… but you will definitely feel the detox element as well.  All of the junk that somehow snuck its way into your diet will come back to haunt you on its way out, and it’s not super fun.

After
Now, here comes the fun part that reminds you that it’s all worth it and that you’ve come too far & worked too hard to revert your ways:  the results!  Although this was my toughest Whole30, it’s also been my most rewarding.  Here are the highlights of my “results”:

• down 9 lbs
• sleeping great
• able to wake up in the morning (with just 2 alarms & NO phone call)
• energy to exercise before work
• no more “afternoon slump” (aka uncontrollable yawning & desire for sweets around my 3:00 clients)
• less frequent headaches (without my Iron supplement!)
• more productive overall, both at home & work
• skin is looking better than ever
• all the old pants are back in rotation  🙂

Going forward, I knew I couldn’t just unleash myself to the land of cookies & Eat24.  So, I decided to make a plan going forward for what my diet will look like.  I wanted to add enough back in to be realistic & challenge myself with everyday choices… while keeping unnecessary foods off limits.  Here’s what I came up with, starting Day 1 post Whole30:

Adding IN:

• natural sweeteners (honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, dextrose, cane sugar)
• baked goods/”junk food” made with approved ingredients
• alcohol (in extracts, sauces, + wine in moderation)
• protein powder
• smoothies
• commercially prepared chips/fries (in moderation, with approved ingredients)
• non-compliant cooking oils, only when eating out
• butter for cooking & baking

Keeping OUT:

• all grains
• legumes
• dairy (except butter for cooking)
• soy
• artificial sweeteners