This blog post is long over due. If you know me in real life, if you follow me on instagram, or if you happen to be one of my facebook friends, you know that I spent January doing a #Whole30. The hashtag really doesn’t have to be there. It’s called a Whole30, but I feel like it looks so much more hip with the #.
My 30 day extreme paleo challenge was tough. My husband is a good man. He put up with my whining, my I-want-to-kill-everything attitude that popped up every now and then, he ate at Chipotle more than anyone ever wants to… wait… Chipotle was never a problem. I went through sugar withdrawals, I learned several new ways to cook eggs since I had them for breakfast every day, and I gave up wine. GASP! NO WINE?! Yuppers! No wine. Not even a drop.
And it was one of the best experiences of my life.
I had tried to do a whole30 in the past. And I failed. I’m pretty sure I didn’t actually commit. Like, there was no mental commitment. I allowed myself to cheat. I allowed myself to sneak some cheese on my Chipotle burrito bowl. I gave up around day 23 because “I made it 3 weeks… that should be enough right?”
Nope. 23 days wasn’t enough. And sneaking cheese really wasn’t worth it.
I had results in 23 days. But nothing spectacular. And nothing that made me feel like I really accomplished something. In January though, when I made it the full 30 days, with not even one single cheat - I felt like I could take on the world.
My skin cleared up. My migraines disappeared. I felt amazing. I lost 9 pounds. Hallelujah, my clothes fit again! (Which meant I stopped crying every time I would get dressed. Yes, that was really happening. Again, my husband’s a saint.)
I have been really hesitant to put my before and after pictures out in the world. There’s only about 4 people who have seen them. I’m not proud of how I looked. And I’m still not super happy with how I look. But it’s a process. And if the results just happened overnight, I’m pretty positive I wouldn’t appreciate the changes as much. So here you go. Drum roll please… my before and after pictures from my first successful Whole30. {Be kind with your judgements please!}
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| This picture, to me, is the most obvious. And the most embarrassing. |
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| You can see a slight difference in my face. It’s a bit less round. |
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| No 6 pack here… but again, a bit less round. And still completely embarrassing to be posting. Please don’t judge. |
So there you have it. I wish I could reach through this computer screen and really just tell you how awesome this experience was. But I can’t. So I am doing it again in March. Not so much for me… I’m still eating healthy, minus my ridiculous addiction to snacking on almond butter and raisins. (That needs to stop. Stat.)
What do you have to give up, you ask? Grains, dairy, Booze, Legumes and Soy, Added and Processed Sugars… basically everything is clean, fresh food. Nothing from a box. Unless you pack your meals in a lunch box before work. Homemade Lunch Box meals are a-okay! 😉
You look amazing!!
I’m heading to the website NOW. And I also want in on this.
you’re beautiful. 🙂
Random, but I have that same sports bra.
And you look awesome!
AMAZING results girl! I love eating clean, and we try to do it more often than not. I would totally join you in March, but we are gonna be home a lot in March, and I am SO going to be eating soul food and all my favorite places. Good luck, and can’t wait to see more about your recipes and what not!
You look great! And hooray for clear skin and no more migraines! You can totally see the difference from the start to the end of the 30 days. I give you major kuddos to stop habits cold turkey, for me it’s wine and cheese. You’ve got crazy commitment girl! Go you! You’re inspiring!
Oh, Suz, I SO sympathize with the crying every time you get dressed. I do that pretty much every day since Elijah was born. Your commitment and progress are very impressive! It took a lot of courage to post those pics. I really don’t think I could have done that. When I grow up I want to be like you. 😉 “Well I would have to look at my calendar first.” bahahaha that is probably the single most common sentence said by your mom! Aunt Ruth is one driven, busy, and generous lady! Just a quick note, this Whole30 thing would be dangerous to do for vegetarians. Vegetarians MUST eat grains and legumes (together) in order to replace the nutrients they do not get from eating meat. Theoretically you can get protein and iron from other plants but it’s really not feasible. And supplements are not as readily absorbed by the body as foods. I’m struggling to figure out how to feed my vegetarian son and hubby and I’ve felt horrible/malnourished just from reducing my meat consumption, so I’m speaking from experience, unfortunately.