Whole30 Thoughts?

I haven't done it, a friend of mine did it and loved it so much, she just didn't stop and she says she feels great all the time.

Imo, if someone has a problem with compulsive eating, restriction diets are going to only make it worse. Some people can do it and not have issues. Have you tried gradually trying to eat the foods you have compulsive issues with regularly, within your calorie goal? It's not going to be an overnight thing, but getting rid of the "forbidden/bad" aspect of certain foods helped me see them normally A LOT.

I'm on day 15 of the Whole30 program and I absolutely LOVE it. I was a bit skeptical at first. It's not a weight loss program, it isn't a diet. It teaches you how to redirect your habits, and for me, it's taught me a lot about my relationship with food. I don't eat processed foods, grains, dairy, etc. I'm following it as close as I can, and even made my own clarified butter.

The effects you feel depends on the individual person. If you eat a lot of processed foods packed full of non food additives, and very high carb foods, you may feel icky the first couple of days.

I can only speak of my own personal experience. Before I started, I wasn't sleeping good, I always felt like I was drained, I ate just to eat and not for the sustainability that food is supposed to be used for. I'm only on day 15 and since day 3 I haven't had any aches and pains, no headaches, I'm not moody, not dealing with the usual PMS issues, I have a sleep schedule, more energy at the gym, I don't crave anything (gasp, not even chocolate). I thought when I started this program that I would have a long list of foods that I would miss horribly, but the only food item I miss is cheese.

It's not for everyone, it does take a lot of commitment and change. The most important part of the Whole30 aside from knowing the foods you can and can't have is planning. I tried zoodles for the first time in my life, I made zucchini noodles and found a whole 30 approved "pizza sauce" that I doctored up into a mouth watering spaghetti sauce. I will never go back to eating noodles again, and I made cauliflower rice, I enjoyed it enough to know that pasta and rice won't be in my food pantry anymore.

They tell you to not step on the scale while doing the program, I of course did. I'm losing weight, but I think most of it was water. However I have dropped a pant size. Those that are healthy may benefit from the program by doing it just to see if there are any foods that cause adverse reactions that they weren't aware of before. I figure if everyone feels as good as most of the people in the Whole30 forum, it can't be a bad thing.

My sister did it, she loved it because the recipes are delicious.

I don't know if eating real food is restrictive dieting but I think I get what you mean bc it restricts some food groups. I think you can slowly add them back in to see how your body feels.

I'm on day 11 and I love it! I have never felt better. My goal is to continue to eat whole30 except on special occasions. I love it that much!

Just finished day 7. I read the book and until you read it you will probably never fully understand why people choose to do it. You are right there was alot of "sense" in there. The couple that started this believes in the program so much that everything you need to do this challange is free and easily accessable. There is no gimmick here they tell you how and why it works and let you make the decisions. I didn't suffer from headaches at all. I did feel a little sluggish yesterday but also got next to no sleep due to visiting family in the Hospital. Like you I needed to get my snacking and cravings under control. I have lost 70 pounds on MFP alone just eating and walking and jogging. However, I've been stuck and wavering between 66-71 pounds lost for 7 months now. I know it says not to get on the scale but my brain is wired to watch what I eat and i felt like I was eating more now then ever before so I was curious. 8 Pounds!!! in 7 days! i'm finally over the speed bump i'd been stuck at for months and the cravings are gone. My kids mention chocolate or doughnuts or Arby's and my mouth isn't watering for them the way they once did.
I believe it's too early to say if i'll always be whole 30 but it's not a tough as I expected it to be. Give it a try!

I lost all the initial weight by eating less and exercising. But when I hit maintenance (I am now 5lbs higher than my lowest weight) and I needed to find a way to not count calories everyday. Even though I am also against restrictive diets, when I ran into Whole30, I thought it may be worth a try since the premise is eat lots of veggies and some meat with a little bit of fruit. That is what I told myself I was already eating. WRONG.

I went through all the stages (described in the book) of lack of energy to crankiness. But now I try to eat that way most of the time. I emerged from that month with so much energy and confidence. The month of my first Whole30 was extremely hectic and full of travel. I only exercised a little bit.

My husband has always had a lot of allergies. Whole30 helped us identify more.

I didn't lose a lot weight, maybe 4 lbs, but I was a lot less bloated. I lost a total of 10 inches in bloat.

I curbed my mindless eating. I am an emotional snacker. When I am tired, bored, anxious, stressed, distracted I usually munch. But getting my meals down to 3 times a day really worked for me.

Is it restrictive? Sort of. Restrictive in cutting some things out, but they say to eat until you are full. At first I was eating way bigger portions but they have downsized naturally as I have learned to listen to my body. And it is only 30 days. I have recommended to everyone I know because there is something everyone can learn about themselves and their habits in 30 days. Then go back to however you were eating before if that makes your body feel better.

This is based on my own personal experience. Whole30 has completely changed my relationship with food and myself.

This is basically how I eat now. Protein, veg, nuts, fruit. Super healthy. Sometimes I do have some whole grains like quionoa or brown rice, ezekiel bread...but it's a very small amount. You still have to measure your food. It's not a free for all but I feel really good and so much leaner and less bloated. I have noticed it in my stomach especially. Good luck with it. It's not hard. Oh, I do eat Greek Yogurt.