Hi Friend! Happy belated Valentine’s Day! Hope you got to do something special with the ones you love! Ellie and I are celebrating tonight since yesterday was my Day 30 of the Whole30 and mama’s cravin’ some sushi! I have to tell you, I set out on this Whole30 challenge with the intention of creating a whole new relationship with food, which is exactly what I got, and so much more! I would sum up my Whole30 experience in one word…Clarity!
The Whole30 is a 30-day reset program where you eliminate certain food groups like dairy, added sugar, grains, alcohol, legumes, carrageenan, MSG, and sulfites. You DO eat meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, certain fruits, and good fats from fruits, oils, nuts, and seeds. I’m not going to lie, the entire first week I felt nauseated. I decided I was not going to put pressure on myself to exercise for the first 30 days because I really wanted to focus on ONE thing, the food.
In the middle of week two, I started noticing some small changes, like my nails being thicker, my skin clearer (which is a big deal since I’ve had hormonal acne since college), and, most notably, my mind becoming sharper, enabling me to make decisions more quickly. While I did lose weight, that wasn’t my focus going into Whole30. The greatest reward to me has been how clear, focused, sharp, and energized my mind feels! In the past, I had difficulty making decisions, and now I find I’m more clear on how I want to spend my time and with whom. I’m clear on what’s a yes and what’s a no. In a nutshell, I’m way more efficient with my time.
I would describe my past relationship with food as co-dependent. I used unhealthy foods to reward myself for anything worth celebrating (on the daily). I also looked to food to comfort me whenever I was feeling sad or stressed. I know I’m still in the beginning stages of creating a new relationship with what I eat, but I’ve made huge strides through Whole30. These days, I have fewer cravings for unhealthy foods and I look to food as fuel and energy to help serve my life’s purpose.
It’s amazing how focusing on and improving one area of our lives often bleeds over into other areas. Whole30 has given me more mental energy to devote to my family, which has improved my relationships, made me more efficient and productive at work and at home, and helped me with memorizing my TEDX talk, to name a few examples. My parents have also been doing Whole30 (they are moving toward Whole60), which has been a huge blessing on those nights I didn’t want to cook and they invited me to come eat with them. I’ve created deeper friendships with other families doing Whole30 by having dinner together, not to mention my newfound friendships with the employees at my local Whole Foods! It’s been quite the journey and I intend to continue on with it. Overall, this experience has been a game changer for me and I highly recommend giving it a try if you are on the fence about it.
I’d love to know…If you’ve done Whole30, or any other transformation challenge/program, what were the greatest benefits you received? Please share in the comments below!
Shoutout to the Argyle Chamber of Commerce for having me come speak at your meeting on Valentine’s Day! I enjoyed getting to spend the morning with YOU! Thank you so much for hanging out with me today! I truly appreciate you reading. Have a wonderful Wednesday! Blessings and LOVE.
PS – Want to motivate, inspire, and encourage a group, company, or church you are a part of? My message is about “transforming life’s challenges into a purposeful life” and I’d love to come share it! Email me today at [email protected] to book me as your speaker.
PPS – If you’re looking for a meaningful gift to share with those you love, please check out my late husband, Andrew’s, book, The Ellie Project! This book is truly for all ages. His drawings are simple and children love them, but his words are powerful and wise enough to carry us all through this life, no matter what our age. Get your signed copy at www.ellieproject.com.
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