Resources

So, you want to try Whole30. You’re not really sure though, maybe you’ll check it out for a little while and then decide if it’s really for you. Only problem? You don’t want to go out and invest in the book until you’re really sure you’re in (or not.  You really don’t need the book).  What’s a girl (or boy) to do?

The good news for you is that Whole30 has an extensive website available to you free of charge. You can access it by going to www.whole30.com!  During my first Whole30, I found it particularly helpful, because if I was at the grocery store and wasn’t sure if something was Whole30 compliant, I could go onto the website on my smart phone and figure it out.

Below are some shortcuts to my favorite links from Whole30:

The Whole30 Summary.  From the creator of Whole30 herself.  I've paraphrased it here in this post, but there's a little more explanation in this link.

The Shopping List.  I found this really helpful.  You can print out a copy and leave it in your purse for quick reference at the grocery store.  If you have a specialty diet (ie vegetarian/vegan or egg-free), they have shopping lists for them, too, on the website.

Preservative and Additive Cheat Sheet.  For all those sneaky additives that you aren't sure if you can eat from memory, this is a good quick reference. 

Meal Planning.  How much protein should I have?  I can have that much avocado?  This handy guide let's you know how your meals should be composed.  Remember this guide is per MEAL.

Grocery Guide.  Let's you know the best options, what to avoid, and some in-between choices.

Seasonal Produce Guide.  Pretty much says it all.  Also points out which produce you should definitely buy organic.

Sneaky Sugars.  I feel like most people know these, but it's still a good guide to have.  I remember talking to someone about Whole30 and telling her there were no sugars allowed - even natural ones like agave and honey.  She told me she uses "special" 99% stevia, so that's OK, since it's natural (which it actually isn't).  I explained to her that it doesn't matter if it's 100% natural (like honey), sweetener is sweetener, and not allowed (except some unsweetened fruit juice can be used in cooking on Whole30).

Travel Guide.  I've mentioned a bunch of these foods in past posts.  Good on-the-go Whole-30 approved snacks.

Non-Scale Victories.  Remember how I mentioned in my last post that you can't weigh yourself (or take any body measurements) while on Whole30?  Yeah, you still can't.  But this gives you an extensive list of non-scale victories for your Whole30.  Things you'll notice throughout your journey: you're sleeping better, your clothes fit better, your skin is clearer, and so on...

So what exactly is Whole30?

Last night I had dinner with a friend, and Whole30 came up (naturally).  She looked at me quizzically and asked, “what is Whole30 exactly?”  And it occurred to me…for all the talking about Whole30 that I do, not everyone knows what it is or what it entails.

So with my upcoming Whole30 group, I decided I’d put together some notes about Whole30. 

In its simplest form, Whole30 is the following:

• No grains
• No legumes
• No dairy
• No sugar (natural or artificial)
• No alcohol (that includes vanilla extract)
• Certain preservatives are off limits (for example: Carrageenan, sulfur)

So, naturally, your next question is “well then what CAN I eat?”  That’s simple too: fruits, nuts (except for peanuts, they’re legumes), eggs, proteins, potatoes (plain or sweet), olives, all the vegetables...

BUT... Whole30 doesn’t allow for substitutions for non-Whole30 compliant foods like pancakes, even if all the ingredients are OK on Whole30 (there is apparently some crazy famous recipe for pancakes made out of bananas and eggs…while those foods individually are Whole30 compliant, those pancakes are not).  It can get a little tricky.  

Whole30 also strongly discourages snacking.  Three meals a day, plus a pre- and post-workout meal if you exercise, and that’s about it.  Eat your meals till you're full, there’s no portion control, but once your meals are done, there’s no eating until your next meal*.

Oh, and you can't weigh yourself FOR THIRTY DAYS!  Yeah, there's that too....

Whole30 really does become a way of life, and while it may seem daunting at the beginning, it really becomes easier as time goes on. Case in point?  I wrote this entire blog post on my walk to work this morning.  Off the top my head.  If I can do it, so can you.

* There are obviously times for exceptions, but you shouldn’t be snacking every single day.

Whole30 number 4 coming very soon....

When I'm on Whole30 -- and even when I'm not -- I'm constantly talking about Whole30.  I'm sure a lot of people are tired of hearing me talk about it, but there's one person who apparently couldn't get enough.  My friend who owns the barre studio where I teach wanted to start a Whole30 group and asked me to lead it!  We'll be starting at the end of September.  I'm super excited (but I'm pretty sure my hubby is going to kill me).

I think the group setting is going to be good because for a lot of people it will give them accountability.  They'll also have the added benefit of being able to know someone going through the same thing as they are at the same time as they are.  And they'll have someone who has done it before to help them through (that would be me).  I'm so excited to be sharing this Whole30 with others and doing it as a group.

On a recent trip to Florida, I bought some cooking magazines to look at to get ideas for new recipes.  I guess I bought the right ones, because so many of the recipes seemed easily adaptable for Whole30 without having to change too much.  I have a lot of recipe testing to do over the next several weeks in preparation for my next Whole30 adventure.

Stay tuned for info and updates about this joint Whole30 endeavor!