Whole 30: Day 18

I realized that I’ve spent the past 17 days, sharing what I’m consuming, but that may not be what you want to know.

You might want to know how I feel, why I’m doing this, if it’s a good choice for you. So let’s just stop right there **pause** and I will share my answers to those very good questions.

I feel great. I don’t know if any of you are already aware on some level that you have digestive issues or concerns with gluten or dairy, but I had both. I was diagnosed as being lactose intolerant at 27, and self-diagnosed myself as have gluten intolerance. Every time I would eat any bread or dairy product, I would be doubled over in pain, and my stomach would swell up like I was 3 months pregnant. I like to refer to this tummy bulge as my “dough baby.” I am pleased to report that I have had none of these issues since being on the Whole 30.

I also learned prior to starting Whole 30, that 70% of our immune system is located in the gut. So it made so much sense to take this challenge on with the fall and winter months approaching to give my body the very best advantage I can to defend the inevitable sickness that comes along with these seasons.

I have had many immediately comment, “you don’t need to lose weight,” when I share that I’m on this diet. And I don’t really. It wasn’t my intention. But it was a definite outcome. I’ve lost 7 pounds and all of my pants are falling off. You will see me in lots of elastic waist clothing for the next 10 days!

Is this a good choice for you? I think it’s a good choice for anyone. For one month, it completely strips away “hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, inflammatory food groups,” considered to be grains, sugar, dairy, alcohol, and legumes. I think with all the marketing and bad eating habits we have developed as a nation, we need to all pay a little better attention to what we are taking in, and if Whole 30 is too radical for you, try cutting soda, or sugar, or just gluten for a period and see how you feel.

Let’s talk about the graphic I’m including. You can and need to eat so much more food on this diet than you’re used to. I am eating a lot of fruits, and veg and nuts for energy between meals that I’m not including in these posts.

As for day 18, my daily diet was coffee, a banana, pork, cabbage, kale, carrots, fruit, steak, mushrooms and cauliflower.