Hi friends! If you’re also doing Whole 30 this month to kick off 2018 cleansed, GO YOU! We’re in this together. This is my third round of Whole 30 and I’m very excited to share one post a week through January sharing my personal experience, new learnings and advice for you currently going through the program or individuals wanting to learn more to prep for their own in the future.

So to start, if you’re also completing the cleanse this month – we’re one week down! ONE WEEK! That may not sound like an accomplishment, but if you’ve ever done this cleanse you know it’s a huge victory. Cold turkey adjusting your lifestyle and cutting out processed foods, dairy, processed sugar, grains and anything with unnatural additive is a HUGE feat. So pat yourself on the back, girl. One down, three to go. We can do it!

Whole 30 searches on my blog have sky rocketed, so I hope you new readers and past find these weekly updates helpful.

WHAT IS WHOLE 30?
Whole 30 is a short-term nutrition reset, designed to help you put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract and balance your immune system. You’ll be removing certain food groups that, more often than not, have a negative impact on your health and fitness like: sugar, grains, dairy and legumes. These foods groups can oftentimes are hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, and inflammatory. Through Whole 30, you’ll learn so much about about your body. You’ll learn what food groups really do negatively impact your weight, digestion, hormones and more. Oh and you’re going to be a nutrition label expert after this experience! You can read more about the Whole 30 program here.

WHAT’S MY EXPERIENCE WITH WHOLE 30?
You can read my posts here, here and here. They are old posts, so please ignore any formatting issues because I have since moved blog designs 🙂

To summarize, my relationship with food and my body totally changed during my first round of Whole 30 and as dramatic as this may sound, it changed my life. I learned about how my body reacts to specific food groups and how to truly eat clean. I learned that I thrive off zero refined sugar and grains make my digestive system go wonkers.

I went down two pant sizes. I attribute this to nixing the foods that were making me feel bloated and carry water weight. After the first two weeks of withdrawals subsided, I felt naturally energized throughout the day and my 3PM sweet cravings were gone for good.

Nothing has taught me more about my body, how to fuel it and how much I can mentally and physically accomplish than going through Whole 30 experience.

WHAT ARE MY WHOLE 30 GOALS THIS TIME AROUND?
I want to reset my eating habits and detox my body. I’ve never felt better in my entire life than when I was leading a Whole 30 lifestyle. Even after my first round of Whole 30, I really abided by the program rules for eight months after. I also followed the eating regimen before my wedding.

What I’ve found is that when I eat clean, natural products made by Mother Nature that are easy to digest – I feel my very best internally, externally and confidence wise.
WHAT ARE MY WEEK 1 WHOLE 30 REALIZATIONS?
Dang – I forgot how exhausted you are! Sugar withdrawals are real, guys.

When we aren’t doing this program, we only really eat out once a week so we are used to frequently cooking, but you get in a recipe rut. Whole 30 really pushes you to try new recipes because it’s what gets you through. If you cook or eat the same thing everyday, you’ll be miserable. Trying new vegetables and finding new recipes makes the experience so fun!  I remember during my first Whole 30, I really enjoyed cooking creative meals with S and that’s exactly what I felt like this past week too.

But with that said, I really miss our weekly date night! While we cook together in the kitchen, having a night off from cooking and cleaning up dishes and just enjoying time together is nice.

Possibly the biggest realization you’ll see going through your first round is that we think digestion issues are normal. Once you’re on Whole 30 and realize what it’s like to eat a meal and not feel bloated, gurgling, energy-sucked, or uncomfortable you’ll have an ah HA moment. Well, I had it again. While I don’t eat fried food or drink soda, I was reaching for foods out of laziness like crackers and cookies during the holidays and this ease of digestion and feeling my best 100% of the day is AMAZING.

Uhh – I forgot about the weird cravings. I remember during my first round I would crave food I literally don’t eat which is happening again. I haven’t eaten red meat in twelve years, but Burger King [which I also don’t like or ever eat] commercials have me drooling over hamburgers. Um, I haven’t eaten red meat in 12 years. The other day S says: “you don’t realize how many fast food ads there are until you are doing whole 30”. So true!

I thoroughly enjoy getting back into my label reading. While I do read most labels before buying new foods, 100% needing to thoroughly read them shocks you yet again. Sugar is snuck into EVERYTHING. It’s so annoying that food companies and big brands are stuffing our food [that isn’t even freaking sweet] with so much sugar and most people don’t even know it.

Cravings are crazy. I’m not just craving weird things, but I’m craving things from our routine. Like I’m pretty sure I can taste the chicken tacos we get for date night every week in my dreams. I’m not going to sit here and act like Whole 30 or intense cravings are simple to get through. It’s SO challenging. It’s at times frustrating and I’m thankful to have S going through this so we can support one another. Having a friend or husband to hold you accountable, and vice versa, is such a key to success. But dang, once you get through a craving or go down a pants size or feel good after eating a meal, you realize this body reset is so worth it!

Fruit is candy. I look forward to my daily granny smith apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon in the same way I was previously craving ice cream. It’s whacko how much your mind changes in such a short time frame.

Week one withdrawals may be exhausting, but come day five your body feels amazing. I not only feel good gut/digestion wise, but I look good and this is what keep you chugging and saying ‘no’ to temptations. The sugar crashes and food bloat aren’t worth the ‘cheat’ or treat. I’m already down four pounds in one week!

Avocado is my jam. I remember during my first round, I’d go to Whole Foods for avocados three different times a week and the same routine has happened now too! It’s such a great item to have on hand for a quick egg salad lunch or as a chicken dipping ‘sauce’ by adding a squeeze of lime and red pepper flakes. Healthy fats make you feel satisfied which can make cravings for treats subside and make me feel fuller, longer. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE WHOLE 30 MEALS?
You can follow me on Pinterest for a round up of yummy Whole 30 meals. S is a recipe follower. I’m a recipe freestyler as we call it in our house. I love having five different ingredients that go together and making my own dish.

Here are our current favorites of the week are:

Sweet Potato Chicken Nuggets
Bruschetta Chicken Zoodle Bowls
Turkey Meatballs
over zoodles or spghetti squash
Avocado Egg Salad: two hardboiled eggs mashed with one avocado with pepper over arugula
Kale Power Bowl: sautéed onions, kale, butternut squash, sugar-free chicken sausage and apples
Breakfast Hash: W30 approved turkey bacon, sweet potato, spinach topped with an egg

If you’re doing a January Whole 30 or looking to complete the program in the future, I hope this post was helpful! Next week I’m doing a Whole 30 Q&A, so send me any questions via Instagram, email or leave a comment here! Xo Mindy


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  1. I would LOVE to try Whole30, but I am such a picky eater I’m not sure if I could do it haha! Loved this post- such good info!

  2. Anna English says:

    That avocado egg salad sounds delish!

  3. Maggie says:

    I’ve never tried Whole30, but your recipes look so delicious! I am going to make that avocado egg recipe!

  4. Your post has me wanting to try Whole 30! Maybe I will make this a priority this month or next! So awesome!
    x, B || http://www.brianaanderson.com

  5. jessica says:

    I am so impressed that you made it a week! I have only ever made it a couple days :-/
    xo Jessica
    http://www.whatsfordinneresq.com

  6. Laura Leigh says:

    Way to go girl! Excited to hear more about your experience.

    xo Laura Leigh
    http://www.louellareese.com

  7. I can’t wait to hear more about your experience, I haven’t tried Whole30 yet but have heard people get amazing results!

  8. Kileen says:

    Wow that is so awesome girl!! It sounds amazing and definitely worth a try!

    Kileen
    cute & little

  9. Stephanie says:

    I’ve heard so many excellent things about Whole 30. The sad thing is that because my allergies consist of so many “healthy” foods (oats, avocado, pineapple, apple, turkey, etc) diets like these are super challenging for me to accomplish since they rely on those foods to help you get by. But I know it’s worked wonders for many, and I’m glad it’s helped you!

  10. Ruthie Ridley says:

    I think it is amazing that you are taking this on!! I am trying to do paleo living and it is not easy

  11. Steph says:

    I’ve heard amazing things about whole 30. I’m not sure it’s lifestyle I could do but maybe I should try it. Since being gluten free I feel so much better.

    Xo,
    Steph
    @trendyinindy || trendyinindy.com

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I'm a Maine native residing in the Boston 'burbs sharing my love of interiors through decorating my husband and I's first home.

Through this experience, I discovered I have a knack for curating spaces that feel warm, cohesive and inviting. That passion turned into friends and family asking for interiors help and now we are here! 

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