My Whole30 Journey: One Month Out

If someone told me just five years ago that if I quit eating gluten my migraines, asthma, and bipolar disorder would all go away, I would have told them they were crazy. But that is, indeed, what happened! I can hear you now..."Yeah, but that's you. I don't have any food sensitivities. I would know if I did. Wouldn't I?". NO!! Sure, if ten minutes after you eat something, every time you eat it, you experience severe digestive distress, you might think something's up...but this isn't usually the case.

You might get headaches...a lot. Maybe, you just can't get rid of your acne no matter what you do. Perhaps you've been diagnosed with GERD, IBS, or some other initialled illness or autoimmune disorder...or maybe your doctor just can't figure out what the problem is. You might have trouble concentrating; you might suffer paralyzing anxiety; you might be depressed. Or maybe you just can't seem to lose weight no matter how hard you try.

I know by now you're thinking..."Where is she going with this? What's the point? And what the heck is this Whole30 thing?".

I have a point, I promise...and I'm so glad you asked!

The point is, you might not see a connection between the foods that you eat and how it affects your body and your health, even if you are trying really hard to find it. That's where the Whole30 can help!

Basically, the Whole30 is an elimination diet wrapped up in a thirty day whole foods challenge complete with a reintroduction plan. Commit to 30 days...that's it! It's thirty days without grains, alcohol, soy, dairy (Eek! This is the one that scares me!), legumes, or added sugar. Eat only whole, natural foods that comply with these exclusions. Then, reintroduce them one at a time and see how you feel.

I already know that I am EXTREMELY sensitive to gluten, and I feel so much better...but, I want to feel my absolute best, so I am making this commitment.

This month is my preparation phase. I am reading the book, have decided a meal planning and shopping strategy (for instance if Brian wants something for dinner off-plan, he must fend for himself, and he must also so the shopping for any such items). At this time he is not able to complete the challenge with me (his insulin and glucose levels would need to be closely monitored...while not technically low-carb, it will likely reduce my carb intake to a level that would, for him, need insulin adjustment). Before I start on April 1st, I will have four weeks of simple meal plans (one workweek lunch that I will eat every workday...as I already do this, one glitzy recipe each week, plans for using leftovers for weekend breakfasts and lunches, etc), and I will have complete shopping lists. This is my strategy to minimize the stress of such a big, though important, undertaking. Your strategy may be different, should you choose to accept this challenge.

What do you have to lose? And what could you gain?

This photo shows just the outward changes I've experienced since ditching gluten. It does not compare to the changes you can't see, but I can feel.

Yours, In Health and Happiness,

Rachel