Kicking Off 2013 with Whole30

Two big things happened to me in 2012:

1. I turned 40. O.M.Geeeeeeezy.
2. I found 30. Erm, Whole30, that is.

These two things were the catalyst for a big lifestyle overhaul—seeing the BIG 4-0 coming my way, I decided to  rededicate myself to achieving optimal fitness. Along the way, I discovered Whole30, and it changed my approach to food and eating forever.  I went from being a mostly healthy eater, to a superaware eater, converting to organic produce and organic, humanely-raised meat; cutting dairy, beans, and wine from my diet; and feeling 100% better as a result.

Of course, if you’re a longtime G&G reader, you know this. If not, check out my post, Reflections on Whole30, to read more about my first Whole30 experience.

I’m a paleo girl—but even I fall off the wagon around the holidays.

Have I had no dairy, no sugar,  no grains, no peanut butter, and stayed away from alcohol since completing my second Whole30 in October 2012? If you follow me on Instagram, you can see that is not the case. While I do eat mostly paleo, with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, like many other paleo and Whole30 devotees, I did the human thing and just enjoyed things like peanut butter pie, because I believe life is meant to be lived, and rules are occasionally made to be broken.

A scene from the holidays: caviar, champagne, fire.

Even the folks at Whole9 (founders of Whole30) have admitted that “…embarking upon a Whole30® during the holiday season may be exactly the wrong thing to do.” That’s another thing I love about the Whole9 crew—they’re realistic. They don’t expect you to decline Nana’s delicious buttery mashed potatoes if you only eat them once a year, and it would break her heart if you didn’t have any.

That said, when I fall off the wagon, I only fall off halfway. I may have the martinis and the pie and caviar and crème fraîche on blinis—but I’m still pouring almond (not dairy milk) in my coffee at home, I’m still eating just a couple eggs and some veggies or salmon for breakfast, and I’m still smashing it in the gym four-to-six days a week.  So I probably gain a couple pounds, but nothing crazy.

And that said, after all the indulgences, I’m totally ready to jump back into Whole30 and start 2013 right!

Will you also do a Whole30 in January 2013?

Because if you’re wondering, I think you should JUST DO IT! I haven’t talked to anyone who hasn’t raved about the experience. I’m just one of many bloggers and friends who are committed to doing Whole30 starting January 1st. We’re happy to include you in our tweets for moral support or just checking in—tweet me @gritandglamour.

Here are some resources to help guide you through your Whole30 journey:

• Get Ready… Get Set… January Whole30®! via Whole9.
• 30 Reasons To Do A Whole30 via The Clothes Make the Girl.
• Whole30® Prep: Nom Nom Paleo Style! via Nom Nom Paleo—great iPad app too.
• Chris Kresser: The Healthy Baby Code via Whole9, for women who eat paleo and are pregnant.
• Get Started on Getting Healthy (my post, chock full of links to food documentaries and other Whole30 resources).

P.S.: At the end of Reflections on Whole30, I noted that I would be doing another Whole30 in October to support my mom. Well, I did, and she did—and she is a total convert! She stayed on a pretty strict Whole30 through November too, and has lost 17 pounds. She’ll be back on it again in January with me, and my husband is on board too. Stay tuned for an update about our experience.

P.P.S.: In the same post referenced above, I talked about getting a grip on my eczema, that I discovered I have sulfite sensitivity. Unfortunately, the no-sulfites-added wine trick did not last. I also discovered that pickled banana peppers and jalapenos, and dried fruit like dates and figs also cause major flare ups. I quit having all of the above, and my eczema really, truly is gone. No embarrassing rashes on my hands and inner elbows anymore.

Sure, I can no longer drink wine without some pretty uncomfortable consequences. But I can have my beloved martinis when I do feel like having a cocktail, and I can live without the rest. All this is proof that additives in food, and all the fake, GMO-laden crap we put into our bodies is probably the cause of 99% of our skin allergies/issues, and diseases like diabetes. We don’t need steroid creams, which don’t cure skin issues, and actually destroy the integrity of our skin. We need to stop eating inflammatory foods. We need to listen to our bodies and stop pretending there is no correlation between disease and our diets.

Hippocrates said,

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

He was right.

Thank you for your support this year, happy 2013, and good luck to those embracing their health and Whole30!

Tweet

Follow @ gritandglamour