Does anyone have experience with the Whole30 program? I just read "It Starts with Food" and plan to have my Day 1 start tomorrow. Would love thoughts/feedback from anyone who has tried it before. I am not very creative in the kitchen, so my main concern is not having enough variety.... I have a feeling I will get bored of chicken, avocado, and eggs very quickly!
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I am not familiar with it - what are the rules/what can you eat (and not eat)? I can try to help you brainstorm recipes...depending on what you can have, there's a lot you can do with chicken, avocado and eggs.
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I've never done it, but my friend who did told me all about it. Basically, she felt good while she was doing it and lost weight, but then when it was over, right before the holidays, and she started eating normally or a little worse than normal (Christmas time will do that) it took her stomach a long time to get used to it. She has a sensitive stomach anyway, but I guess the change did a number on her. That was enough for me to decide not to try it, since i also have stomach issues.
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My stomach issues are exactly why I'm trying it! The point is for 30 days to "reset" your eating habits and rebalance your hormones that are all out of whack from eating overly processed foods. Then you slowly reintroduce (one at a time) certain groups (grains, dairy, etc.) to see how your body reacts to them and if you should avoid them or not. Even after the 30 days are over, and if I do decide I'm still OK with eating grains and dairy, I'm hoping the whole process will help me reduce my sugar intake and more often than not choose whole foods over processed foods.
Right now, basically everything I eat makes me feel awful but I'm so used to that, that I eat it all anyway, choosing the things that taste good "in the moment", even though I know I'll feel sick later. I've always been mildly lactose intolerant, and lately I've felt grain-sensitive as well... rather then spend tons of money at the doctor to figure out if that's the case, I'll first take some time without both things and see if I feel better!
In the meantime, it's going to be really difficult to not put some cheese in my scrambled eggs this morning...
I definitely don't think it's a plan for everyone, but if anyone is curious about it, I'd recommend reading the book (only $9.99 for itunes/kindle) - it's a really easy read. Or, just browse their website (www.whole9life.com).
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I've dabbled in it--the whole 30 program and paleo are big at my gym. A lot of people have really dropped some serious weight on it. It's amazing how much crap you realize you eat when you suddenly shouldn't eat it anymore. It's hard because you are somewhat limited on food, but in the same breath, you just plan your meals and prepare and get creative. Even if you get tired of a certain meal--say, breakfast--it helps to remind yourself that food is fuel and that it doesn't have to be exciting all the time. Sometimes it's just a meal that keeps you from getting hungry and provides nutrients to your body.
Anytime you cut out processed/bad foods and introduce whole foods into your diet, then go back to the bad foods, your body is going to have a hard time digesting them. It really says something about how we've become accustomed to eating junk and fake food, basically. It's a reset for your body.
I'm planning on going back towards the whole 30 plan once i hit the second trimester.
I ate a lot of low processed natural chicken sausages, farm fresh boiled eggs (10x better than regular eggs), avocado deviled eggs (amazing, btw), chicken, lean beef, lean pork, jerky sticks, fruits, veggies. I always felt fantastic eating clean and whole, too.
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Avocado deviled eggs sound good! Will have to look up a recipe for that one
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@mrsnana: Yes, it's very true that my friend did not slowly introduce things back in and she knows that was part of the problem. But she isn't a bad eater anyway-- it was things like real cheese and fresh bread, not McDonalds or overly processed stuff.
But, everything you said sounds like me-- I am just used to a lot of foods making me feel lousy, somewhat lactose intolerant, and lately I'm suspecting some grain/gluten issues! I have been to several doctors and the most I've gotten is probably IBS, possible endometriosis (though I think not that, since after going off the pill I'm still OK) and to increase my fiber a lot. Citracel fiber supplements help a lot though (and, come to think of it, are the most processed things I ingest!)
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I haven't tried the whole30. I find them to be somewhat militant and incredibly restrictive! They are totally against any sort of substitutions (e.g. Agave or honey as a sugar substitute) and I think good nutrition is all about balance and moderation.
I have found paleo to be much more realistic and less restrictive and I know tons of people who have achieved success and sustainability with it.
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@Foodnerd81: I think those "non-diagnoses" are the worst. I've also been told "you probably just have IBS" (which is likely true - i've had every variety of stomach issue since I was a child) and even "you might have PCOS" (based solely on one skipped period! worst gyno ever) - both said nonchalantly with no follow-up whatsoever.
It's so frustrating to have a doctor say you "maybe" have an illness, and then not bother to a) find out if you *actually* have it or not, b) tell you what to do to manage it if you do have it, or c) find out what it really is if you don't have whatever it may be.
So we'll see - maybe this will make me feel better and maybe it won't. At the very least, I'm hoping it will help me to overall eat less terribly (Unlike your friend, I totally hit up McDonald's. And in general, I eat out far more often than I eat in - a waiter at Nordstrom Cafe asked me if I worked in the mall since I am there so much - oops!).
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I tried something similar and wanted to kill somebody by the middle of week 2. I was eating plenty, and eating recommended recipes (quinoa salad with lots of veggies, chicken, etc) but I just couldn't handle it. It was no sugar, caffeine, gluten, soy, dairy, then you slowly introduced things back in. Anyway it's not to say it doesn't work for others -- I know people who love it and go on them regularly! But I also don't have any intolerances or allergies so I was basically doing it to see if I could. And I couldn't lol
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@mrsnana: Yeah, non diagnoses are annoying. To be fair, though, I did get two different prescriptions that "might help" with my symptoms, but neither really did and they made me feel really drunk (not cool at work). But the fiber supplement helps, as does avoiding too much dairy. I think the reset is a good idea, I just don't really have the will power!
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