Whole30

nikkipaige · August 2014

I'm toying with the idea of doing a Whole30 in September. I've been eating mainly low carb since March, so maybe this won't be THAT different.. Has anyone tried it? Is it hard? Did you see results? Any information anyone has on it would be great!

blukitten · August 2014

Had to Google it,, didnt even know this was a thing. But yes, ths is how I have been instructed to eat always. I have been striving to eat like this all the time. I dont always manage it and have a few small slip ups but I think it is good to eat this way. My trainer says "if you cant grow it or raise it- dont eat it" So that is how I try to eat all the time and what has helped me to restart my weight loss again and get to the 10lb mark.

Disclaimer- if you look at my diary- I do have slip ups but the majority of the time I try to eat this way-- I guess they call it clean eating? But I avoid dairy and grains also because I am doing low carb and try to get all of my carbs from veggies and fruits. I ate beans but try not to anymore because of the amount of calories they have and the amount of carbs in them. Even though they are "good for you" Just my opinion and my experience

the only dairy im "allowed" to have is low fat cottage cheese in the morning if I want, but other than that have tried to stay away from it

vismal · August 2014

Results will be dictated by how many calories you eat and the macro nutrients you consume, not what foods you restrict. If the Whole 30 will help you stay in a calorie deficit with proper macro nutrients, then by all means do it but again, there is nothing special about eating all whole foods. It's calories and macros that make a difference.

Organicgasm · August 2014

Whole 30 is more about health than weight loss. That being said... if you have weight to lose and you follow the rules set for you in ISWF then of course you'll get good results! I love Whole30. I've found all my favorite recipes since discovering Whole30... mostly because if you Google it you guys introduced to some great paleo blogs. Nom Nom Paleo, Civilized Caveman Creations, The Domestic Man...

Anyway... Do it! My first time I know I got down to 103lbs by diet alone... then I added p90x and gained some weight. It was fabulous. I am hoping for a repeat.

Kalikel · August 2014

Only skimmed after googling. Seemed like a fad diet diet with healthy eating stressed except for the exclusion of grains.

You can absolutely lose weight that way. It's just a matter of eating fewer calories than you use up.

Kalikel · August 2014

Whole 30 is more about health than weight loss. That being said... if you have weight to lose and you follow the rules set for you in ISWF then of course you'll get good results! I love Whole30. I've found all my favorite recipes since discovering Whole30... mostly because if you Google it you guys introduced to some great paleo blogs. Nom Nom Paleo, Civilized Caveman Creations, The Domestic Man...

Anyway... Do it! My first time I know I got down to 103lbs by diet alone... then I added p90x and gained some weight. It was fabulous. I am hoping for a repeat.

Is that what people mean when they talk about "paleo"...as in Paleolithic? Nuts, roots, berries, flowers, fish and meat? So funny. I never had any idea what the hell they were talking about. Thanks.

AlyssamR6712 · August 2014

You can check out my results at the thread below

I lovedddd it i never felt more alive! It is not that different from low carb, the only thing that surprised me was all the added sugar in things you would never expect! Also taught me to be more conscious of labels! feel free to look at my diary 1 July - 30 July that is when i did my whole 30!

Good luck!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1377131-whole30-results

AlyssamR6712 · August 2014

Only skimmed after googling. Seemed like a fad diet diet with healthy eating stressed except for the exclusion of grains.

You can absolutely lose weight that way. It's just a matter of eating fewer calories than you use up.

Not a fad diet... if you read the book there is a lot of scientific evidence behind everything they recommend. Don't just "skim" and give in opinion. Make sure you are well educated before judgement!

:flowerforyou:

danipals · August 2014

I really enjoyed the book but sadly only made it 17 days into my Whole30 last summer. I made the mistake of stepping on the scale and seeing only a pound loss and jumped ship. I think I will try it again some day! For me, personally it was pretty difficult as it was summer and everyone was home with me. I think it would be easier with everyone in school.

hkbwalker · August 2014

I'm mid-whole30 right now and I have never felt better in my life! I'm a medicated insomniac and I've got to say, I'm sleeping better than I have in years! And the energy is fantastic!

To be honest, I'm lucky. I didn't have carb flu or any crazy cravings. I love the food that I'm eating and knowing exactly what I'm putting into my body is very rewarding to me. It also has helped me open new doors with my diet. I'm trying veggies that I've never had before.

I can't see myself going back to my previous way of eating....I feel way too good!

I broke one big rule though. I stepped on the scale. This past week I dropped 4.6 pounds. Can't complain about that!

Email me/add me if you want any specifics.

Heather

Howbouto · August 2014

I have done Whole 30 three times in the past. I actually plan on starting a new one this coming weekend (I was originally going to do Saturday but just realized Monday is an US holiday, so I may do Tuesday I may not.) If you are already low carb, a transition into W30 won't be hard. Likely, the hardest thing you will experience is giving up diary. I have to say, I feel and sleep amazing while eating W30. Good luck!

ComingUntrue · August 2014

Done it twice, once was AIP. It is definitely more for health, as is all Paleo... I have regained function of my body with it. I have been extremely ill for 20 yrs. Go for it... it's doable and filled with micronutrients that you need!

kgeyser · August 2014

Only skimmed after googling. Seemed like a fad diet diet with healthy eating stressed except for the exclusion of grains.

You can absolutely lose weight that way. It's just a matter of eating fewer calories than you use up.

Not a fad diet... if you read the book there is a lot of scientific evidence behind everything they recommend. Don't just "skim" and give in opinion. Make sure you are well educated before judgement! :flowerforyou:

It is a fad diet. Case in point, your diary, when you went right back to eating processed foods on July 31 with your trip to Coldstone Creamery, followed up by a Healthy Choice frozen dinner on August 1. One could also argue that the Quest bars and Larabars you ate during your 30 days of whole foods pretty much negated the entire thing, as both of those are processed as all get out.

lemurcat12 · August 2014

I tried something similar for a couple of weeks because I was taking a break from sugary treats anyway (to break some habits) and was curious whether I'd feel better without dairy and especially grains. I don't eat legumes that much anyway, so figured that would be no hardship, and the version I was doing allowed potatoes. I liked it for that period of time and never felt bad or deprived at all (in the book they go on about low carb like symptoms people get, but I didn't and obviously you wouldn't if you are low carb).

I didn't find it that hard for a short period of time, but I was really motivated to get back to eating as I prefer when I'm mostly cooking, which is protein and veggie centered anyway. After my two weeks I considered doing a whole 30 (even though I don't actually buy into the paleo health claims re grains, etc), but decided that I didn't see any benefit for me in cutting out potatoes or dairy (I feel better with dairy in my diet). So instead I let grains and legumes back in (although I end up not eating huge amounts of either due to personal preference) and a bit later decided to allow back in some treats, in moderation, so long as I wasn't using them in the wrong way and was within my calories (this was partly because my calories were low, partly because it's what I personally consider most healthy for my relationship with food).

All that is a long winded way of saying that I think it seems like one way to experiment with how different foods affect you, if you want to. The reintroduction period is going to be part of that. To the extent you lose weight it's because it's an easy way for some to create a deficit, but it might force you to try out new recipes and so on, that you will like. Even though I'm not paleo and don't agree with their arguments I do eat meat and veggie based meals a lot, so sometimes get recipe ideas from some of the paleo blogs. Not sure how much of a change it would be for someone doing low carb, though.

Howbouto · August 2014

Only skimmed after googling. Seemed like a fad diet diet with healthy eating stressed except for the exclusion of grains.

You can absolutely lose weight that way. It's just a matter of eating fewer calories than you use up.

Not a fad diet... if you read the book there is a lot of scientific evidence behind everything they recommend. Don't just "skim" and give in opinion. Make sure you are well educated before judgement! :flowerforyou:

It is a fad diet. Case in point, your diary, when you went right back to eating processed foods on July 31 with your trip to Coldstone Creamery, followed up by a Healthy Choice frozen dinner on August 1. One could also argue that the Quest bars and Larabars you ate during your 30 days of whole foods pretty much negated the entire thing, as both of those are processed as all get out.

How is eating whole real (by real I mean non-processed) foods a fad? People have been eating "real" (see prior defination) for thousands of years. SMH

ILoveGingerNut · August 2014

I read about it. Nothing special as I generally avoid processed food anyway. Big fuss for no reason.

kgeyser · August 2014

Only skimmed after googling. Seemed like a fad diet diet with healthy eating stressed except for the exclusion of grains.

You can absolutely lose weight that way. It's just a matter of eating fewer calories than you use up.

Not a fad diet... if you read the book there is a lot of scientific evidence behind everything they recommend. Don't just "skim" and give in opinion. Make sure you are well educated before judgement! :flowerforyou:

It is a fad diet. Case in point, your diary, when you went right back to eating processed foods on July 31 with your trip to Coldstone Creamery, followed up by a Healthy Choice frozen dinner on August 1. One could also argue that the Quest bars and Larabars you ate during your 30 days of whole foods pretty much negated the entire thing, as both of those are processed as all get out.

How is eating whole real (by real I mean non-processed) foods a fad? People have been eating "real" (see prior defination) for thousands of years. SMH

Eating whole foods isn't a fad. Eating whole foods for 30 days to "lose weight" or "improve your health," then going right back to eating the same way you were before is a fad, much like any other short term diet fad people undertake.

metre30 · August 2014

The 30 day elimination phase is only part of the program as a whole. Agreed that following a regime for 30 days and then falling back into old habits right away is a fad diet, but the Whole 30 system is much more than that. The next phase is about reintroducing other foods and observing your reaction to them. The entire process is about learning what works for YOUR body and not the masses. For those who take it seriously and aren't just looking to lose weight, it can be life changing.

icrushit · August 2014

I do this already, with the exception of dairy, as I eat a little full fat probiotic yoghurt every day, and a little cheese most days. Anything that reduces inflammation is a good thing, imo, and I think most people would probably feel benefits from eliminating one of the 'no' foods for a while, at least I did when I cut wheat and dairy before I ever ate like I am at the moment (which is low carb by the way).

Fit_in_Folsom · August 2014

I have done the Whole30 2x. Very good results. What Metre30 just said is spot on. Whole30 is about awareness and life change. I have gone off that program due to life stresses and will get back on that wagon. I never felt better when on it.

Kalikel · August 2014

Only skimmed after googling. Seemed like a fad diet diet with healthy eating stressed except for the exclusion of grains.

You can absolutely lose weight that way. It's just a matter of eating fewer calories than you use up.

Not a fad diet... if you read the book there is a lot of scientific evidence behind everything they recommend. Don't just "skim" and give in opinion. Make sure you are well educated before judgement! :flowerforyou:

It's a fad diet. I'm not saying you can't lose weight on it, but it's a fad diet.

I googled "how to spot a fad diet" and found this.

How do I spot a fad diet?

While there is no set approach to spotting a fad diet, the following guidelines can help. Fad diets tend to have:

Recommendations that promise a quick fix
Claims that sound too good to be true
Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study
Recommendations based on a single study
Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations
Lists of "good" and "bad" foods
Recommendations made to help sell a product
Recommendations based on studies published without peer review
Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups
Eliminated one or more of the five food groups

Devoting yourself to a lifestyle that includes regular exercise and eating a variety of foods with moderate portions is still the best method to lose weight and to keep it off.

Eating unprocessed foods is fantastic. Eliminating entire food groups is not. If people want to eat healthy, I applaud them. This Whole30 thing isn't healthy, though.

lemurcat12 · August 2014

How is eating whole real (by real I mean non-processed) foods a fad?

As my post above demonstrates, I'm not anti Whole30 at all, but I think it's inaccurate and kind of weird to claim that the essence is eating "real" foods. The essence is cutting out: (a) all grains; (b) all dairy; (c) all legumes; (d) potatoes; (e) sugar; (f) alcohol; and (g) probably lots of stuff I've forgotten. It's in part an elimination diet to see if you have sensitivity to certain kinds of foods.

And I think the idea that some steel grain oats or even milk fresh from the cow or a nice bowl of lentils (all prohibited on the plan) is somehow less processed than a Quest bar is kind of odd.

Triplestep · September 2014

I googled "how to spot a fad diet" and found this.

Maybe spend more time Googling the topic at hand? See responses below showing how Whole30 stacks up against your list of what Fad dies tend to have:

Recommendations that promise a quick fix
- No
Claims that sound too good to be true
- No
Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study
- No
Recommendations based on a single study
- No
Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations
- No
Lists of "good" and "bad" foods
- Yes, but only for 30 days
Recommendations made to help sell a product
- No; the entire plan is free on the website
Recommendations based on studies published without peer review
- Sorry, can't say for sure
Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups
- No
Eliminated one or more of the five food groups
-Yes, for 30 days

Eating unprocessed foods is fantastic. Eliminating entire food groups is not. If people want to eat healthy, I applaud them. This Whole30 thing isn't healthy, though.

It's for 30 days, and then you add foods back in methodically. No one is saying that everyone should eat this way for the rest of their lives. Eliminating and adding back foods is what allergists do to identify food sensitivities, which is akin to what the program helps people do. It is not a weight-loss program.

vickikwhisler · September 2014

Well, I came to this board to connect with other W30 people, but I almost changed my mind when I saw all the negative comments from people who have never tried a W30, who have not read "It Starts with Food", who have not read the scientific explanations behind W30, who don't understand that Whole30 is way more than a diet, who find it necessary to tear apart something that works for many people. It may not work for you. That's okay. I won't tear your choices apart.

There are people who make non-compliant choices during their W30. That is their choice. I chose to stay compliant. There are some people who go right back to their old way of eating after their W30. That, too, is their choice. I chose not to return to my unhealthy relationship with food.

It is way too early for me to say that this has changed my life. I have a history of failure when it comes to trying to eat more healthy. The thing I love about Whole30 is that it is the only thing I've tried so far that addresses the psychological relationship I have with foods. I've learned my triggers, I've learned how different foods/ingredients react together when I put them in my body. I know that even though I've completed my W30, lost weight and inches, have seen improvement in energy, focus, and sleep, and found a lot of cool new foods/recipes that I like, I am NOT "cured." My relationship with food needs much more than 30 days to be healed.

I did a LOT of research into Whole30 before I started. I am totally against fad diets and anything that is not sustainable. I am very introspective about what works and doesn't work for me. This works...FOR ME. Nobody here is forcing you to try Whole30. If you do choose to try it and want someone in your corner to cheer you on, let me know. If you don't choose to try it, that's fine. I hope you have found something that works for you and that you won't feel the need to bash something that is a healthy lifestyle and works for many people.

You won't find my diary on MFP. One of the 'rules' of Whole30 is that you don't track...You listen to your body and get in tune with listening to its needs. If you would like to learn more about my first Whole30 journey, you can check out my blog at http://takingvickislifeback.blogspot.com.

We are members of this site to regain our health in a supportive community. I wish you all the best success in your journey.

vicki

iheidibefitt · September 2014

I am using Whole30 as a guide, but not doing it. I think if you're cutting out all those foods for pure weight loss...for one, you're not using Whole30 for its intended purpose. Two, if you plan to only do it for 30 days, for weight loss and then plan to add foods back in..be prepared to possibly add back on weight. I can't imagine adding back a little bit of dairy, grains or pasta after 30 days of not eating it. I think instead of doing Whole30 you should just use their grocery list as a guide, read labels, eat things in moderation and exercise. Doing something so drastic obviously can't be long term (since it is a 30 day program)...if you're using it for weight, use it as a guide instead. Print out their grocery list and take it grocery shopping with you...get anything not processed and that is healthy for you. Don't avoid any group on the food pyramid.

I lost 5 lbs last week eating probably 90% clean, drinking the recommended ounces of water a day and exercising. You don't have to be THAT strict or extreme. Do something that you'll be able to do long term. If you aren't able to cut unhealthy things out without Whole30, please don't try it. It's more drastic than trying to just eat healthy and in moderation.

Whole30

Replies

Categories