So You Think You Can Whole30? [A Review]
I’ve always been the type of girl who rolls her eyes at funky diets and absurd eating challenges. There’s nothing I love more than using up every inch of counter space in my kitchen, throwing together a feast, dining out with friends in the city, downing a margarita on the rocks, or simply stuffing my face with buffalo-flavored Bugles (hey, guilty pleasure).
To kick off 2015, I went to Mexico for a week, where I consumed all-inclusive resort food + all the tequila shots my body could handle. During my cab ride back to the airport, I met a middle-aged woman who told me about the Whole30 program, and how she was planning to use it to detox from her semana loca. Basically, you cut out unhealthy ingredients from your diet for 30 days, then slowly introduce them back – and you can truly see how your body reacts to food that is not, well, whole. You can find the program rules here.
Essentially, I was not allowed to consume the following for 30 days:
–No sugar of any kind (real or artificial)
–No alcohol (or tobacco) whatsoever
–No grains
–No legumes
–No soy
–No dairy
–No carrageenan/MSG/sulfites
So, I was intrigued. I didn’t want to lose weight or inches – I simply wanted to challenge myself and consume a fresh diet. I work for a salad company, where eating locally + seasonally is encouraged – my job has completely changed my eating + exercising habits for the better! So, I returned home, spent five days doing research on the program, and finally stocked my fridge full of ingredients.
Long story short, the Whole30 was challenging, but a) I DID it and b) I LOVED it! I took it upon myself to answer some common questions that I received before, during, and after.
Why did you decide to do the Whole30?
I answered that above. Basically, consumed way too much processed/greasy food + tequila sunrises in Mexico. Felt gross. Wanted to take on a new cooking + eating challenge.
What was your favorite part of the Whole30?
I felt AMAZING! Everything you hear about the program when researching it is true, true, true. I supplemented my eating challenge with joining a new gym and getting on a workout grind, 5-6 days a week. Combining the two made me feel strong, productive, and best of all – confident. I also loved how it challenged me to create new recipes and really pay attention to the nasty, worthless ingredients we tend to consume on the daily. I liked how the Whole30 doesn’t have you counting calories – you eat as much as you want, because it’s all healthy for you. Lastly, I loved how I was able to prove everyone [who doubted me] wrong when I made it through the 30 days!
What were some of your favorite foods/meals during the Whole30?
Eggs were my go to – hard boiled, over easy. I’d have them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, alongside a sweet potato hash and SUGAR-FREE BACON! Yes, it exists and is extremely hard to find. I found that I craved red meat (when I normally crave chicken), so I would sauté small steak pieces and eat it with sweet potatoes or eggs. I also created something I called the “Kokonutty Kale Salad” – sautéed kale with coconut oil + blueberries, heirloom tomatoes, blueberries, salt, pepper. So amazing. When I was forced to be social and eat out, I would opt for sushi – where I could eat raw sashimi and rice vinegar, if available (no rice, no soy, no mayo). I consumed bananas + pomegranate seeds constantly. My favorite snack was dried mango – it has no sugar! I also get free salads every day for lunch, so I created a salad with mesclun or spinach, basil, sweet potato, avocado, onions, chicken or egg, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. It got old day after day, but still was delicious! When my sweet tooth was crying for attention, I would sauté a banana in coconut oil, top it with toasted coconut + cinnamon, and serve with blueberries. SO GOOD.
What was your least favorite part of the Whole30?
No alcohol. Specifically, no tequila. I’m in my 20s and find that drinking casually is a social habit, so it got frustrating when I had to celebrate birthdays at the bar with a water + lime in hand. One week was insane at work, yet very productive, and all I wanted to do was reward myself with a beer or margarita. I couldn’t. Guess dried mango would have to suffice. I felt like I didn’t have much of a social life, as I avoided the bars to prevent temptation. I realized how much of an alcoholic I had become, and how much I relied on drinks to let loose. Also, going to the grocery store for the first time and having to check the ingredients on every item was SO frustrating. There was sugar, sulfites, wine, and random ingredients in the things I craved most. I almost cried in Trader Joe’s when I found that every bacon on the shelves had sugar.
What did you miss the most?
Tequila! Beer! Margaritas! Sushi rolls. Rice and quinoa – I am a sucker for sweetgreen grain bowls, so it was extremely hard to avoid these for 30 days.
Did you notice any changes as you progressed through the 30 days?
Absolutely! The first 5-6 days were awful – I was cranky + hangry, had headaches, and doubted myself. After I pushed through the first week, I started to notice positive changes. Again, I paired my healthy eating with a strict gym routine, so benefits came from all sides. I was more awake in the morning (and I’ve never been a morning person), jumping out of bed and blasting “I’m Walking On Sunshine” (okay not really, but close). My skin was a lot brighter and smoother. This may be gross, but I tend to get horrible canker sores on the inside of my lips, tongue, and cheek – I’ve had them my whole life. They definitely eased up while on the Whole30. I put on pants that had been tight for nearly a year – and they actually buttoned. I was so much more confident in myself and how I looked – which I hadn’t felt in a long time. Lastly, you know that saying “abs are made in the kitchen?” So true – between healthy eating and intense ab workouts, I noticed my four-pack + obliques becoming more prominent. Again, total confidence boost.
Is there anything you will continue from the Whole30, now that it’s over?
**Please know that as I type this, I am eating a Twix bar.** I definitely want to – and I am trying. I ended on the night of February 12th, and today is the 24th. I really let myself go these past 12 days, and I’m trying to reign myself back in. I’ve never been big on cheese/dairy, so I’ll be letting go of that, getting some occasional goat cheese in my salads. I’ve started drinking my coffee black, so I won’t be going back to cream or sugar! I will be cooking more and eating out/ordering out less. I want to keep up with my steak + eggs + fresh veggies, adding in rice here and there. I will not be eating anything microwaveable or packaged from here on out – aside from the occasional pack of ramen or oven-cooked pizza, but I’m really trying to stay away! Lastly, I’ll be avoiding the bread + pasta. I don’t consume much as it is, so it shouldn’t be too hard. There are healthier ways to consume carbs! **Please know that as I typed that last sentence, I was eating an Almond Joy.**
Did you cheat at all?
Technically, no. Not willingly.
WEIGHT: The program states you weigh yourself before starting AND once you finish – not in between. I began weight training nine days in and was required to record my weight. I found I had lost five pounds – so that was a confidence boost, although I gained it all back by the end of the 30 days due to too many sweet potatoes.
FOOD: I did not cheat (on purpose)! I ate out at one restaurant, being super annoying and ordering the grass-fed burger with no cheese, no sauce/ketchup, no bread, on a bed of lettuce, no fries, grilled broccoli instead. The meal came and there was cheese on my burger, and sprinkled cheese on my broccoli. I felt so bad harassing the waiter, I let it slide. I only had 6 days left, and knew I wasn’t cheating on purpose – I wasn’t craving the cheese! I also decided to opt for the soft dried mango at Trader Joe’s (as opposed to the hard dried mango), not checking the ingredients – I assumed it was exactly like the hard version. WRONG. I took a bite and noticed immediately it was too sweet to be true. Looked at the ingredients – SUGAR. Stopped eating it and felt horrible about myself.
What was the first thing you ate/drank when you completed the Whole30?
I had a cake event (in support of one of my good friends who started her own cake pop business) the night I ended, so I had a few glasses of champagne, chocolate-covered pretzels, and two cake pops. I felt sick to my stomach for the four days of coming off the W30. Probably because I welcomed back starches, sugar, alcohol, dairy, and more all within a 24-hour window. Not smart.
Were there any negatives to doing the Whole30?
Just awful temptation, higher food costs when purchasing organic fruits/veggies – and sashimi if you eat out. Raw fish is way pricey. You also need to make sure you enjoy cooking + meal prep + shop for the week, or at least a few days ahead. If you burn everything in sight, plan your meals day-to-day, or have an empty fridge, you likely won’t last more than two or three days. My first week, I planned every meal for seven days – and thank god I did! After Week 1, I got in a good shopping/cooking habit and found I didn’t need to write down a formal meal plan.
If you were to give advice to someone starting the Whole30 next week, what would it be?
As stated above, make sure you meal plan and have a full fridge at all times. Definitely find someone who can do the program with you and ensure you don’t cave. I found out one of my good friends began the Whole30 on the same day I did, and I was SO happy to have someone to share recipes + meal photos with, text when I wanted to cave, and create a countdown with. It definitely helps when they’re as serious as you are. Also – take advantage of Pinterest! I never really used it before, but I created a Whole30 board and pinned compliant recipes – and actually made a few of them! It helps to post photos of what you cook on social media, as it made me proud of what I created and I felt educated on the program when I could tell others about it. Do your full research before starting the program – make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Lastly, DO NOT CAVE. DO NOT CHEAT. YOU CAN DO THIS!
So there it is…my Whole30 experience. I will absolutely do it again – likely keeping the alcohol in my diet. I encourage anyone who is up for a healthy, paleo-like challenge to take on the Whole30. You will feel amazing about yourself and learn new cooking secrets you never thought were possible.
I will create some follow-up posts with specific recipes for the meals I created, so stay tuned – and stay hungry!