Whole 30: 2016 Summer Challenge

I just started my first Whole30 on Monday, so it's Day 3 for me. I'm actually blogging on MFP each day during this, and am logging my food- feel free to add me if you're curious to see what it's like. I'm sure it's a different experience for everyone but it's helped me a lot to see what others on the plan are doing and how it's going for them, so maybe this can help others too.

For me personally, I was feeling a lot of angst and frustration long before I even knew what Whole30 was. I was drinking too much, frustrated by the scale going up and down, angry at myself for every slip-up, and sick of the constant debates in my head. "Can I have that? Do I have enough calories left? Did I work out enough? I deserve a treat. But I might gain weight. Can I make up for it tomorrow?" I do believe in "anything with moderation" but it hasn't been working for me. Learning to moderate can be just as difficult as cutting something out entirely, maybe more so because "a reasonable amount" is somewhat subjective and can easily lead to a "just one more" mentality that snowballs out of control. I decided to start off with a clean slate by sticking to this plan for one month, and I will evaluate my results at the end of it.

I don't enjoy having to say no to cream in my coffee, or turning down pizza, or not having my glass of wine after work. But I also don't enjoy heartburn, digestive issues, and allergies. I DO enjoy the simplicity. I no longer have to debate what I should or shouldn't have, or what I can "make work." The answer to every "can I have this?" question is a simple Yes or No. My last grocery shopping trip was the easiest, quickest, and cheapest EVER, and I'm actually putting aside some of the money that would normally have gone to a restaurant! I'm already learning to identify real hunger from boredom hunger, and learning to control portion sizes (it's easier to stop at one piece of salmon than one piece of pizza). I'm looking forward to feeling better mentally and physically, and applying what I learn after the plan is done. Yes, I will eat cheese and bread again, and I will drink wine, but I hope that the habit of eating clean for a month combined with what I learn will help me have those things in moderation without the constant stress of internal debates. And hey, if it turns out I'm allergic to dairy (which is totally possible- I tested allergic as a kid but thought I grew out of it) or whatever else, then I'll know to limit it instead of considering it a staple.

To each their own but I figure it can't hurt to try. I'm not starving myself, following something that's impossible or unhealthy to stick with, and I didn't spend any money other than the food I bought- no special products involved. The book is recommended to better understand why certain foods can be potentially an issue for some people, but the plan itself and virtually all the resources needed are available for free on the website.