Whole 30

BrittanyLail
BrittanyLail Posts: 40 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone completed Whole 30 ? Just wondering if it helped change your diet and eliminate desire for junk food. Did you track on MFP during the 30 days? Do you weigh before the end? I know you aren't suppose to track or weigh yourself. Also, how much weight did you lose?

Replies

  • easjer
    easjer Posts: 219 Member
    I've done 2 of them - one in August, one in January. They were generally positive experiences for me, and I think there is benefit to trying them. I did lose weight both times, but I wouldn't do it for that purpose, because it is not at all sustainable, in my opinion. It definitely helped me break a caffeine and soda addiction, which has stuck. I still use the template for meal planning, so my fruit and veg intake is right where it should be, and my protein intake is generally pretty good. While it did help me reduce my sugar cravings, I still eat and enjoy sugar off the plan. It helped me change my mindset about fat and satiety, break out of mindless snacking, read labels more carefully, and be aware of how food affects my body. I do not have any gluten or dairy intolerance, which was good to know, so that aspect didn't do much for me.

    The downsides - it was hard. Really hard. I did feel good about myself for making it, though. It also was hard both times to transition to regular eating again. That may be personal to me, but I didn't want to exist forever without drinking hot chocolate or having certain foods. But after the denial mindset for 30 days, it took a lot to get back to a healthy place with food in my head. Again, I think this is personal to me, but I was eating very, very low calorie the last week because I was tired of the same foods and just uninterested in eating something that wasn't appealing to me. I really think that screwed me up metabolism wise - it's something I'm still working on.

    Would I recommend it? I would. I will do another whole sometimes this year. To break up the sugar and excess dairy and gluten-grains and remind me that I don't need them. I think it's worthwhile. But be careful to take it for what it is - an elimination diet and effort to change your habits by shock, not a long-term diet plan.
  • easjer
    easjer Posts: 219 Member
    Oh, and as for loss - 30 lbs the first time, with a re-gain of 7 lbs over 5 months. I lost 16 in January, with a fluctuating regain of 4 lbs.

    I did weigh myself the second time, because I was in a dietbet, but I really recommend that you don't. It's very freeing not to. I also didn't track, and I don't recommend that you do. The program is about learning to listen to your body, and retraining yourself. Doing the things against their advice is working against what you are supposed to be accomplishing.

    Again, looking at Whole30 as a weight loss plan is a really sort of awful idea. You will lose weight if you do it, but it will come back to some degree because it is in no way a sustainable plan for most people - and they tell you that up front. It's not meant to be.

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