The decisions we make about the foods that we eat are the the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle. Food is the fuel for our lives. If we aren't putting the best fuel in, we won't get the best performance from our bodies.
While I do eat organic, healthy meals, I also tend to snack at night after my kids go to bed and give in to cravings for sugary treats. That is why The Whole30 program caught my attention as I was reading
It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig.
What is the Whole30? It is outlined in detail in the book It Starts With Food. But I will break it down for you. It is a 30-day plan to change the way people eat and transform their lives in profound and unexpected ways. The focus is on real food--fresh, natural choices such as meat, vegetables, and fruit--with an emphasis on foods that are nutrient-dense, with lots of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, over foods that have more calories but less nutrition. And food quality is important--emphasizing careful choice about where meat, seafood, and eggs come from, and choosing organic, local produce as often as possible.
The Whole30 offers a powerful nutritional reset designed to restore a healthy
metabolism, heal the digestive tract, calm systemic inflammation, and
put and end to unhealthy cravings, habits, and relationships with food.
The end result is a balanced, sustainable way of eating that promotes
optimal health and radically improved quality of life.
Sounds awesome, right? I was immediately pumped up to try it, until I realized that meant no grains, no sugar, no processed foods, no alcohol, no dairy. What??? You know I have always been a big fan of whole grains. In fact, they are a huge staple in my diet. How can I not eat my delicious quinoa, oats, Ezekiel bread...
Well, after reading this book, I now understand how grains can affect your body in a negative way. I also had a wake up call about the detrimental effects sugar has on our bodies. I always knew sugar was bad, but I could never kick my sugar cravings to the curb. Now, I am ready to do that with the Whole30 challenge.
Starting January 1, I am determined to follow through with this challenge, kicking sugar cravings and emotional eating down the drain. Yes, this is going to be mighty hard. I might pull out my hair without being able to eat chocolate, but I am confident that I have the willpower to do it. When my Whole30 is over, I know I will feel a difference in my body and will have changed my health for the better, like so many have already through the Whole30. Other followers of the Whole30 program have reported the elimination of a variety of symptoms related to conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and fatty liver disease; autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's and celiac disease, and psychological conditions like bipolar disorder, depression and ADHD.
So, my question for you is - who wants to join me in this Whole30 challenge? I am going to be sharing my journey with you, (even the grouchy, ugly days) and it would be great to motivate and support each other along the way.
For those of you who want to change your life with me, here's a link to Melissa and Dallas Hartwig's Web site: http://whole9life.com. Check out all the good stuff, buy a book, or just get on board with me starting January 1st!!!
Can I drink coffee?
ReplyDeleteYes, coffee is okay in moderation.
DeleteI agree with much that this program says, but have always believed it was better to have a well balanced approach without cutting out all the basic food groups.
ReplyDeleteI do know that I eat too much sugar, especially during the holidays. I will be working on cutting down to little or no sugar, avoiding processed foods, having fresh meats. We steam our vegetables or eat them raw with no added sauces or butter already, so that is a plus.
I have found that if I eat heavily processed/salty foods, I have problems with water retention and body aches. It is obvious that my body react badly to them. I haven't done well this December, but like you, January 1 is the beginning of a new attempt to conquer the unhealthy eating habits I have developed.