Just finished The Whole30 (actually, The Whole 25, since I ended it early for my wedding). It was extremely useful in terms of learning to cook with a new variety of spices and techniques- I now feel like a very good cook, and the food was delicious. It was also great to get rid of "sneaky sugars" and learn to make sauces and dips with absolutely zero added sweeteners.
However, The Whole30 was a huge pain in the ass. SO MUCH COOKING. And so expensive. And, I only lost 1.1 lbs (although my husband(!!!) lost 14 lbs). I am really glad we did it tho, for the above reasons, and because it confirmed for myself that, contrary to #Whole30Dogma, I actually need whole grains in my food plan. Potatoes are food-with-no-brakes for me, and fruit is a high-glycemic carb alternative. For me, whole grains keep my blood sugar levels regulated for longer so I don't feel as hungry and I don't get that low-blood-sugar-foggy feeling. Also, high fat like ghee and bacon and coconut cream are not my path to maintaining good body proportions. So, thanks Whole30, but I need my grains, soy, and yogurt!
My best advice to myself, going forward:
- Zero recreational sugar/desserts (including dates!!!!)
- 99% of the time, do not buy packages that list added sugar of any kind (I can make tasty alternatives instead)
- Veggies: I need 1-2 cups per meal. This is where I need to spend my energy- making sure I give myself tasty, plentiful, colorful veggies
- Protein: LEAN! 4-5 oz meat/tofu portions, or two eggs, or 1 cup beans.
- Dairy: 0% fat Yogurt is a great idea, but milk and cheese are not a good idea normally- use carefully
- Whole grains: quinoa, brown & wild rice, steel-cut oatmeal are great options. Occasional whole-wheat noodles or bread are good. Very seldomly whole-grain pancakes or brotchens are okay. I should almost never have white bread, white noodles, or white rice.
- Fruit - probably best as a half-portion with breakfast and one portion for night-snack
- Snacks - best to only have my before-bed snack; no grains here; yogurt, nuts, and fruit- portion sized!- are best
So really this month, I just re-confirmed to myself what I already knew, but it is good to be sure and have a clear food plan going forward. The truth is, I love being slender and feeling healthy. I hate feeling nauseated and guilty. I know how to eat to take care of myself. I recognize that I can't eat everything that my husband eats, and if I want to feel good I need to be okay with that. Photo of us having fun this month while not eating theater popcorn!, purely to remind myself that I eat to live, not live to eat.
