It’s no secret that one of my favorite “hobbies” is eating.
Maybe it’s yours too.
Unfortunately, for the first two-thirds of my life, food was pretty close to my god. I was an emotional eater and used food as a “false boundary” when it came to emotions, self-esteem, the whole shebang.
But this coming fall will mark ten years (yes, TEN!) since I began this journey of fitness. I’ve lived in more states than I can currently remember, gotten married to my soldier, and been through three pregnancies, two of which resulted in our sweet children… And a lot of weight gain (no matter how hard I tried to keep it under control. #GeneticsCanBeAnnoying)
In July of 2015, I discovered an eating experience called “Whole30.” So today, I want to give you the “low-down” on this Whole30 thing. I’ve never been one to jump on the “trendy” train, but this Whole 30 thing was very different from anything I had done before. And this was a GAME. CHANGER.
Background: Whole30 doesn’t count calories– but just focuses on wholesome, healthy foods. It is a form of an elimination diet, and many individuals who struggle with gut, skin, sleep, etc who try out Whole30 to see if some kinds of foods might be the culprit.
In short: Whole30 focuses on eating meat, veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds. While on Whole30, things like dairy, grains (wheat, oats, etc), and any kind of sugar (processed) are not allowed. (Read more info about all things Whole 30 on their website.) Oh, and one of the biggest “rules” to be compliant? No weight checking. That’s right. Whole30 isn’t about weight loss. It’s about life change, overall health, and freedom from food addiction. (Although in most occasions, losing weight is a bonus of the whole process.)
Sounds kind of intense, but trust me friends– it works. Last year, from January 1st to May 1st, I did Whole120. I ate only compliant foods for 120 days… And while it was challenging at moments, (see also: #AllThePotlucks) I can promise you that I have never felt so physically and emotionally strong, stable or JOYFUL in my entire 30+ years on the planet. I miss it. And want it back!
So now that my darling son is on the outside of my body (Praise Jesus for that, by the way) I am ready to start fresh and reset from my pregnancy… Not just dealing with the weight gain, but also the changes in emotions and you know, get back to eating things like vegetables, eggs and poultry (since they were all food aversions the 9 months of growing our Tiny Human.)
Starting May 1st, I will be doing a round of Whole60… A minimum of 60 days of eating compliant foods and upping my workout regimen. (And if I have solid momentum, I might just extend it to Whole90)
Unlike last year, I will be blogging about the experience each week, hopefully offering encouragement, support, tips, tricks and just general reflections on the experience. (I’m kicking myself for not doing this last year as well– because Whole120 literally changed my life.)
Now, perhaps you are feeling Jesus tug on your heart to join me on this journey. By all means– PLEASE DO! Accountability is a major factor in these type of experiences, so please feel free to comment below to let me know you are joining me or send me an email at sharita@7daystime.com… or send me a personal message on Facebook. (And you don’t have to go the full 60-90 days… 30 days is the minimum.)
Before you join, please pray about this experience. From where I am sitting, doing Whole30 requires the whole heart. It isn’t a task that one can tackle half-heartedly. It requires planning, discipline and a lot of prayer in the hard moments. Just one “cheat” or slip up can reignite the “Sugar Dragon” and derail the process. (More details on what to expect and out to prep in my next post!)
A final note, per the Whole30 website:
This is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth—the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.
God gave us our physical body and it says several times in His Word that our body is His Temple. So, for me, it’s time for a little bit of spring cleaning and renovation. Won’t you join me?
For His Glory,
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” ~1 Corinthians 6:19-20
