D and I successfully completed a Whole30. I can say that I feel like this is a huge accomplishment and it is very empowering to think that realistically I can do anything I set my mind to I just have to give it a little time.

Things the Whole30 taught me:

• Vegetables for every meal is really not that bad.
• Broccoli for breakfast isn’t as bad as it sounds.
• I really enjoy cooking, and can cook.
• Cooking this way was actually much faster than our normal routine especially if I was a little prepared in advance.
• I can happily eat eggs for breakfast every day.
• I don’t need sugar, at all.
• I like coffee without any sweeteners.
• It’s not impossible to eat clean on a budget.
• It’s not impossible to eat clean while at a restaurant.
• I like avocado, just plain ol’ avocado. I really like it with salt and pepper with breakfast.
• I don’t need deserts.
• I don’t miss cheese, gluten, or dairy.
• I can beat cravings.
• There is sugar in EVERYTHING!!
• There are a few things I take for granted and missed having.
• I want to drink more water.
• Your tastes really can change, things that were really gross to me are now something I consider a treat!
• We have a pistachio problem…

D says the whole30 taught him… “I really like pizza”

D and I both lost 15 lbs each in 30 days. That’s 1/2 a pound a day! Neither of us had crazy with drawls or any of the really hard side effects of cutting out all these foods. We both feel really good, have more energy, I find too that I am a little more present and less flakey. Additionally, neither of us really missed any foods so much that we couldn’t do this longer term. D was having really bad headaches and was having trouble sleeping before we started. He hasn’t had a headache for a while since starting and has been sleeping much better, he even sleeps through BB’s midnight parties. I have found that I really enjoy this way of eating and feel much lighter and better when I eat this clean. While I wasn’t working toward fixing anything in particular I have noticed that my body feels better and I have more energy.

Like they say in the very beginning of the book, “This is not hard, fighting cancer is hard”. I laughed this off thinking, “They don’t know how much I like gluten, dairy, and especially sugar.” I am here to say that it really is not hard. I found that in the mornings I often had extra time while feeding us this way. Additionally, because I was cooking so often I was able to experiment with spices and flavors and I really got out of my comfort zone making us meals. It’s really not that inconvenient.  With the addition of compliant Lara bars and fruit and nuts I was able to take myself sufficient snacks that if I was out and about without a packed lunch, I could eat and not be hungry until dinner. Also I found that I ate less and snacked less. Lunches were no more fuss than what we normally did and with a little extra prep one day lunches were easily thrown together in the mornings.

First non compliant meal:

D: a burger at the airport… but the one he really was looking forward to, pizza the next day

Me: An avocado, chocolate popsicle. Which really wasn’t that unhealthy. I also ate  some pizza and thoroughly enjoyed it.