It’s time for me to come clean.

For the past couple of months I have been researching a program called The Whole 30.  After weighing the pros and cons, reading personal blogs, researching recipes, and even purchasing the book It All Starts With Food I have decided to commit myself to completing my own Whole 30 challenge.

What is The Whole 30?

The Whole 30 is a 30 day challenge that consists of eliminating all potential food allergens (grains, dairy, refined sugars, and legumes) from the diet.  In a way, this program is like turning yourself into a science experiment to find out which foods are making you more healthy and which foods are not.

In the book It All Starts With Food, the authors and founders of the Whole 30 program, Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, outline what they believe makes food “good.”

source

Good Food Standards:

1. Promote a healthy psychological response.
2. Promote a healthy hormonal response.
3. Support a healthy gut.
4. Support immune function and minimize inflammation.

I am absolutely loving the book because of all the science behind why this way of eating works.  Not only does it give all the sciencey background, but it also explains that after doing this 30 day challenge your relationship with food will change.

My favorite quote from the book, and the part that REALLY sold me on the program:

“After implementing our program, you won’t have to wonder whether the foods you are eating are healthy for you.  You’ll be able to make educated, informed food choices for the rest of your life.  And you’ll know how to enjoy treats, sweets, and other “less healthy” foods in a way that is moving you toward better health, fitness, and quality of life.”

WOW.

Why Are You Doing the Challenge?  Don’t You Already Eat Pretty Healthy?

I try to eat a mostly healthy diet of fruits, veggies, lean protein, and lowfat dairy.  Many people (my husband and family included) really questioned why I would do something like this if I already had a relatively decent “balance” figured out.

I am using these next 30 days of “self-experimentation” to really get back to the basics.  Not only does this challenge eliminate all potential food allergens, but it also encourages healthy food hygiene (no cell phone or laptop during meal time!) and it almost forces you to be aware of WHY you are eating, craving, wanting certain foods.

While this challenge does “promise” that I will be healthier, happier, have more energy, and be in love with my body after these 30 days I am going into this challenge with ZERO expectations.  I am simply here to follow the rules and observe.

My Favorite Resources

There are so many resources for this plan, which have made it very easy to prepare for.  Some of my favorites are:

• Whole 30 Shopping List
• Whole 30 Meal Planning Template
• Whole 30 Grocery Shopping Guide
• Whole 30 Pantry Stocking Guide
• It Starts with Food
• Whole 30 Timeline:  Outlines what to expect each day of the program!!

Keeping Myself Accountable

I plan on journaling how I feel each day of this process and documenting what I eat.  I also plan on “whole30ifying” some tasty recipes and sharing them with you as well.

So there ya have it friends!  Wish me luck 🙂

Question of the Day:

• Have you ever completed an elimination diet?  Were you able to stick with it the entire time?