Whole30 Results

There are just a couple of things I want to tell you, before I give you my results. I did not exercise during my Whole30 experiment. Also, I discontinued taking all nutritional supplements. I wanted this to be a true test of the possibilities. Now, to the results…

Great Sleep – Sleep during the Whole30 experiment was deep, restful and sound all night long. No awakening in the middle of the night to pee or just to be awake.

Consistent Energy – After passing a couple of sluggish detox days near the beginning, my energy remained high and consistent all day long.

Great Skin and Nails – My skin became smoother and more vibrant. Little bumps underneath the surface disappeared. Years ago, a dermatologist told me the little bumps on my chin were typical for women. I guess he didn’t know about the healing power of nutrition.

And I’m not sure how this happened, but my skin is now less dry and my scalp is less oily.

I also had two fingernails that have consistently peeled, but they aren’t peeling any more. All of my nails are longer and stronger. I had thought the peeling was because my hands spent lots of time in dishwater. Now, I know better, since I actually washed even more dishes during the Whole30 experiment.

New Body – I lost 5 pounds, which resulted in a decrease of 2 inches in EACH of my chest, waist and hip measurements. Unwanted curves and squishy parts just disappeared.  My shoes even fit looser now.

To be honest, I didn’t think I would lose weight during the Whole30 experiment. Although I had slowly gained 10 pounds over the years, I had accepted the common (but now I know WRONG!) idea that all women gain weight as a normal part of aging. Several months ago, I tried a natural energy supplement. I lost 5 pounds during the 2 1/2 weeks I was taking it, and those pounds have never come back. That’s a total weight loss of 10 pounds from the natural energy supplement and the Whole30 experiment…for the woman who thought there would be no weight loss!

I now weigh 107 pounds, the same weight as my typical weight in high school and college, and I feel more fit than I have in recent years. I can definitely tell my body composition has improved during the Whole30 experiment.

Unexpected Knowledge – By eliminating all of the foods that generally cause inflammation, I was also able to learn some things about other foods, which affect my body negatively.

Remember my skin rash from peanut and/or canola and/or cottonseed oil (or possibly cashews or red raspberry tea) that I discussed in Whole30 Day 21? It was so helpful to be able to isolate the likely cause of that recurring rash.

There won’t be any more sweet potatoes for me. I discovered I couldn’t eat them without my stomach bloating. That’s okay. Butternut squash is a great substitute.

The one time I consciously made a noncompliant choice, I had another unexpected reaction. After one small glass of Pint Noir with dinner on Day 29, I awakened at 3:00AM and could not go back to sleep. That is the ONLY night during the entire Whole30 experiment where I didn’t sleep deeply and soundly all night long. The next morning I felt dizzy, as I first got out of bed, and sluggish for the first few hours. Alcohol is not my friend.

Cravings – I would have told you I had no cravings, but I would have been wrong. I began to realize how much fruit I had been eating on a regular basis, and I began to understand how that affected my desire for other sweet things. Although I limited my fruit to 1-2 servings/day during the Whole30 experiment, I still found myself craving a sweet something more often than I would have liked. I had always thought craving was an uncontrollable urge, but I now realize it is also a consistent little presence that, quietly but persistently, threatens to undermine good intentions.

Those quietly persistent cravings…and the great way I feel (and feel I look!) now…are why I have decided to eliminate all servings of fruit for awhile and to…

Whole30 On!

Now that you have heard my results, perhaps you’ll want to consider the possibilities of a Whole30 experiment for yourself. If so, here is everything you’ll want to know: Whole9 Life and Whole30 Program.

Not a reader? Just want to learn more quickly OR just want to get started? Here are links for some really great guides and lists you can download. If you don’t want to read all of them, I’ve marked what I view as the “must-reads” with an asterisk.

• Quick-Start Guide*
• Grocery Shopping Guide
• Good Meat Guide
• Guide to Sneaky Sugars
• Shopping List*
• Vegetarian/Vegan Shopping List
• Pantry Stocking Guide*
• Meal Planning Template*
• Dining Out Guide
• Travel Guide
• Cheat Sheet!

And here are links to my other Whole30 posts:

• Better Health Starts with Food
• Are You Ready for the Whole30 Challenge?
• Whole30 Day 4
• Whole30 Day 7
• Whole30 Day 21

Whatever you choose, I wish you great health!

(Photo credit: whole9life.com)