I'm not usually one for diet fads or meal plans, but after seeing several friends give Whole30 a try and find success. I became intrigued. Two years ago, in preparation of being MOH in my best friend’s Wedding, I did my first round of Whole30. I remember it being hard in the beginning and feeling frustrated 1/2 way through. I realized that I was maybe carb loading too much on bananas, sweet potatoes etc. I also made the mistake of thinking that I could substitute meals for Whole30 approved Rx Bars and Larabars.. When they are supposed to only be used for “emergency snacks”. I stopped eating protein bars all together and substituted eggs and berries instead for breakfast. And in the very last week of my first round, I started to feel GREAT. I had more energy, I was sleeping better and I lost 8-10lbs total. But most importantly, I just felt good overall. I looked at food differently, I started to be more conscious of reading labels and I even adopted some of the Whole30 habits into my lifestyle well after I had completed the 30 days. It was definitely the first time I felt that I had found a program that worked for me.

I have always struggled with my weight. And I’ve done all the diets, taken all the pills, drank the shakes and starved myself through the years. But Whole30 isn’t a DIET. It’s a reset for your body. And in the end, you learn how your body reacts to certain foods by reintroducing them after the 30 days. For me, I realized that dairy was a huge culprit for making me feel bloated and causing my skin to breakout. Although I haven’t gone completely dairy free, I have eliminated a lot of it from my diet. And I feel so much better without it.

Last year, I completed another round of Whole30 and found it to be a little easier the second time around. And I’m now currently on Day 14 of my third round of Whole30. So far, this round has been the easiest. I think due to the fact that I know more of what foods I can eat, which brands to buy and I now have some go to recipes that I love. However, I’m still learning daily on what foods are best and how my body reacts to the changes. I’ve learned to have patience with the process while completing the program and to pay more attention to what I’m putting in my body.

So with having done a few rounds now, I wanted to share what I’ve learned and give a little insight on what to expect if you’re wanting to try Whole30.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING WHOLE30:

It will require you to make multiple trips to the grocery store each week.
You will need to read labels on EVERYTHING until you get familiar with brands/items that are Whole30 compliant.
You don’t have to be a master chef, but you will have to cook often.
You will feel worse before you feel better. Give your body time to adjust and detox the sugar. It’s 30 days for a reason.
You will have to make adjustments to your social life in order to be successful on this program.
You will also need to allow extra time in your day/week/month to plan and prep for meals.

WHY I THINK IT WORKS DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER PROGRAMS:

It changes your way of thinking about food. Making you more aware of what you’re putting in your body.
You will gain more energy.
You will get better sleep.
You will feel less foggy and more focused.
You will crave less sugar overtime.
Your body will get a chance to reset / detox.
You don’t have to count calories or keep track of food.
Weightloss (although this is not the main reason to complete this program)
It helps you to make concious changes to your eating habits longterm even after you complete the 30 days.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST ROUND:

Clean out your fridge and pantry of any non Whole30 approved foods to resist temptations.
Search Pinterest or Whole30.com for recipes to start meal planning.
Find recipes that will keep you interested and that you’ll commit to making.
Read up on the program on Whole30.com. There are tons of recipes and resources.
Make a grocery list of Whole30 items you plan to purchase from local grocery store, Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s (It may require you to shop multiple stores)
Notify Friends/Family for added support and accountability.
Plan ahead for any social events you have upcoming. (Work dinners, Travel, Girls Night, Baby/Wedding Shower etc.) Make sure you can stay on track but still enjoy being social.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED AFTER DOING 2 ROUNDS OF WHOLE30:

Your body needs 3 proper balanced meals a day. (I’m still working on this.)
Don’t substitute Rx and Larabars for a meal. Only use as needed for snacks.
HYDRATE. Drinking water is important.
NO alcohol + less eating out = saving money $
Cooking meals doesn’t have to be complicated.
Change up your meals weekly so you don’t get bored.
The more you plan ahead, the easier it will be to maintain every day.
If out with friends who are drinking, order a sparkling water in a wine glass with a lemon/lime wedge. It helps a little to feel like you’re not missing out. And you won’t have a hangover.
After the first round, it gets easier. You now know what to buy, what to cook and don’t feel like you’re constantly craving certain foods as much.
The amount of weight you may loose varies. Don’t get caught up on the weightless part of it.
Don’t compare others results to yours. Everyone’s BODY is different. Finish out strong and I promise you will notice a difference by the end.

A few challenges I faced in the beginning, was having to give up my sugary coffee creamer and having to cook most of my meals. I now use an almond milk/coconut cream based creamer all the time. And when ordering coffee out, I always order with almond milk or coconut milk. Sometimes I’ll add 1 pump of Sugar Free vanilla or seasonal flavor. Cooking has actually become something that I enjoy. And I’ve learned that meals can be simple and yet really delicious. The other thing I was afraid of having to “give up” was condiments. I love condiments and I cannot lie! But to my surprise, there are lots of Whole30 approved condiments that taste just as good, that I keep in my fridge even when I’m not on Whole30.

So even if you think that you will miss out on certain foods, know that overtime you will adjust and find healthier options to feed your body. It’s all about creating better habits. And that is the biggest takeaway for me.