Anyone here tried Whole30?

[bellanapoli]

Good luck! FWIW, eMeals has a paleo option. I used it for a awhile when I got stick in a meal-planning rut. To make it Whole 30 compliant you'd just have to pull out any honey.

 

[Anastasi]

I have a friend who posts daily pictures of her meals on Instagram while she is doing the Whole30. Most of the times her meals look delicious and are extremely healthy since they follow the Whole30 guidelines. I have even made a few of the meals myself simply because they looked so good. Now I am actually considering trying out this Whole30 challenge but other than her, I don't know a single soul who has even heard of the program let alone tried it. I am hoping some fellow Dis'ers may come through.

If you are not familiar with the Whole30 challenge, the gist of it is a 30 day challenge of eating meats, seafood, veggies, eggs & fruits while eliminating grains, dairy, sugar, alcohol, white potatoes and beans. Just 30 days, no cheating allowed. I guess it's designed to be a jumpstart to healthy eating.

My Primary Care recommended I go Paleo due to some health issues.

I tend to go with things like the Paleo Blueprint (Mark Sisson) which says that you do not have to be anal about it. You can allow yourself an indulgence such as that latte without messing yourself up. In fact, one of the facebook groups I follow just went into a whole spiel that made perfect sense about actually staying away from the Paleo fanatics.

As somebody else said, everything in moderation.

Nom Nom Paleo is one of my favorite groups/websites. Lots of great recipes.

 

[Dancind]

Anastasi, you mean PRIMAL Blueprint, and the blog is Mark's Daily Apple. Love his blog, and his plan allows a bit of butter, red wine, dark chocolate. He's gravitating more and more toward the Perfect Health Diet, a book by Paul Jaminet. I would say I follow that one more than Paleo these days.

OP, you really should get at least one book. The explanations as to WHY you need to switch to grass fed meat and dairy, eliminate grains, and which fats are healthy are kind of important. And motivating.

DD wanted to do a Whole 30 leading up to her birthday, so I did it with her. Then for her birthday, I made her a "healthy" version of my Mom's chocolate pie from a 50s cookbook. Gluten free crust and flour, pastured eggs and milk (Organic Valley Grassmilk, so good), coconut sugar, Kerrygold butter. Had to use regular old Hershey's cocoa powder, though, so it would taste like Mom's. Pretty darn good, but not Whole 30!

 

[Anastasi]

Anastasi, you mean PRIMAL Blueprint, and the blog is Mark's Daily Apple. Love his blog, and his plan allows a bit of butter, red wine, dark chocolate. He's gravitating more and more toward the Perfect Health Diet, a book by Paul Jaminet. I would say I follow that one more than Paleo these days.

OP, you really should get at least one book. The explanations as to WHY you need to switch to grass fed meat and dairy, eliminate grains, and which fats are healthy are kind of important. And motivating.

DD wanted to do a Whole 30 leading up to her birthday, so I did it with her. Then for her birthday, I made her a "healthy" version of my Mom's chocolate pie from a 50s cookbook. Gluten free crust and flour, pastured eggs and milk (Organic Valley Grassmilk, so good), coconut sugar, Kerrygold butter. Had to use regular old Hershey's cocoa powder, though, so it would taste like Mom's. Pretty darn good, but not Whole 30!

You are right - Brain Fart. Primal Blueprint. Funny thing is I had my kindle open to my book to make sure I got it right. Guess my brain was just focused on Paleo.

 

[MidnightParade]

The boyfriend and I tried out paleo back in January and we are still going. We read The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf(he's great!). I've lost 20 lbs since, not a dramatic loss but I'm all about the slow and steady. Of course I also hit the gym 4-5 times a week.

At first we planned a menu each week which made all the difference. Now we are used to eating this way and don't need it. I found I'm not as hungry anymore, the food that I am eating is better for me and my body can process all of it for what it needs unlike the processed stuff.

Do I still get cravings? Maybe, I think mostly its my brain thinking I want it when I don't, it just remembers when I used to crave it. Gotta train it to not think like that. With that said we do indulge maybe once a week. And I don't mean go crazy and have pizza and ice cream. We indulge a little. Last night I made a gluten free pizza but we did have cheese on it.

I think the key to sticking with something long term is not make it painful and hard to stick too. You deny yourself too much and you're gonna break. For breakfast we do alternate between eggs and steal cut oatmeal too. Breakfast can be hard.

A fantastic cook book is Against All Grain by Danielle Walker. I make a double batch of the banana bread on a biweekly basis!

 

[lakelandgal70]

Bought the book and thought it was really interesting concept. But too restrictive. However now found out that I have Celiac's so have to be restrictive lol. We never did the 30 day challenge but we are pretty much 80-90% Paleo.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Bought the book and thought it was really interesting concept. But too restrictive. However now found out that I have Celiac's so have to be restrictive lol. We never did the 30 day challenge but we are pretty much 80-90% Paleo.

I'm a celiac (10 years). Luckily I no longer find being wheat free restrictive. I certainly could not do this long term but the 30 days should break my bad habits with sweets, junk food and snacking. I will definitely want my dairy and gluten free grains back! I'm sure I could use a significant decrease in my cheese consumption though. I start the challenge a week from tomorrow so DH and I are going to meal plan this week.

 

[lakelandgal70]

I'm a celiac (10 years). Luckily I no longer find being wheat free restrictive. I certainly could not do this long term but the 30 days should break my bad habits with sweets, junk food and snacking. I will definitely want my dairy and gluten free grains back! I'm sure I could use a significant decrease in my cheese consumption though. I start the challenge a week from tomorrow so DH and I are going to meal plan this week.

Honestly I thought going gluten free would be hard but since we switched to mostly Paleo wasn't so bad. I am cooking more at home and we only go out once a week now. When I tell someone they just can't believe I have to eat gluten free. They all say they would die if the had to. Just been gluten free since February

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Honestly I thought going gluten free would be hard but since we switched to mostly Paleo wasn't so bad. I am cooking more at home and we only go out once a week now. When I tell someone they just can't believe I have to eat gluten free. They all say they would die if the had to. Just been gluten free since February

Oh yes they would all just die if they had to modify their grain eating habbits. 10 years ago when I was diagnosed there was very little in terms of gluten free foods in the grocery and I was a college student. It was tough but I made it through. Only thing around 10 years ago was the Adkins craze and that didn't help me much.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

For anyone that cares, I started the Whole 30 challenge today. DH agreed to do it with my so we both sat down last night and meal planned this week (tougher than I though). I also realized I have only collected about a weeks worth of recipes so week 2 is going to hard if I don't round up more recipes.

I started with black coffee and scrambled eggs with salt and pepper this morning. YUCK! I suppose I never realized that putting butter in the pan, adding milk to the eggs and topping them off with a sprinkle of cheese made them a heavenly delight. I also add lots of creamer to my coffee so my black coffee was super bitter. I will be adding veggies to my eggs and making clarified butter tonight so I can cook with it. I may try coconut milk for the coffee or just switch to tea. Wish me luck everyone! I need it.

 

[Chikabowa]

I absolutely hated black coffee at first. But over the 30 days it really grew on me. Now I like it! And I've saved a ton of money on coffee rather than buying the expensive lattes and mochas I used to live on.

For eggs...
Simple recipe to add more taste... Take 2-3 eggs, a tablespoon of canned green chili (no additives), a 1/2 tsp of white vinegar, salt and pepper. Whip and cook in avocado oil. Tasty! If you are feeling exotic sprinkle some onion powder in with it as well.

I also often cook my eggs in some sort of animal fat as thy adds a tremendous amount of taste as well.

Good luck!

 

[Vernie822]

GOOD LUCK!!!

I have been thinking of doing a Whole30. My friend and her fiancé tried Paleo and loved it. I am running a half marathon pretty soon, and I don't know if I can adjust my eating habits with being two weeks out. However afterwards, I definitely want to work harder to stick to paleo!! I have been trying it here and there. I don't eat much dairy other than cheese or occasional Greek yogurt. But carbs are my BFF. I'm glad there's a group here for support though!!

Also.. paleomg is a great recipe resource!

 

[Tiggeroo]

I finished a whole around three weeks ago. I reintroduced foods slowly. I believe I had a bit of trouble when I I introduced dairy and gluten. I wanted to test those foods in a it more slowly again but I took a spring break trip and hosted Easter dinner. This meant lots of backsliding. Now my stomach hurts and I'm not really sure what did it. I'm going strict paleo for a week and then a reintroduced week. I follow Chris Kresser who is not strict and permits dairy non gluten grains and beans if your system handles them in small quantities. Also small amounts of rice and white potatoes. Dh did it too and lost tons of weight but he has a physical job and is struggling with such a low carb diet so I want to put some of those things back in. I blend my coffee with coconut oil and coconut butter. Yum. I also do meat with breakfast nitrate free bacon or Turkey sausage.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

GOOD LUCK!!!

I have been thinking of doing a Whole30. My friend and her fiancé tried Paleo and loved it. I am running a half marathon pretty soon, and I don't know if I can adjust my eating habits with being two weeks out. However afterwards, I definitely want to work harder to stick to paleo!! I have been trying it here and there. I don't eat much dairy other than cheese or occasional Greek yogurt. But carbs are my BFF. I'm glad there's a group here for support though!!

Also.. paleomg is a great recipe resource!

I had a friend who kept instagraming photos of her whole 30 meals and I thought, I could eat like that for a month. I'm a huge dairy and sweet eater so this will be tough for me but I figure I can do anything for 30 days.

I finished a whole around three weeks ago. I reintroduced foods slowly. I believe I had a bit of trouble when I I introduced dairy and gluten. I wanted to test those foods in a it more slowly again but I took a spring break trip and hosted Easter dinner. This meant lots of backsliding. Now my stomach hurts and I'm not really sure what did it. I'm going strict paleo for a week and then a reintroduced week. I follow Chris Kresser who is not strict and permits dairy non gluten grains and beans if your system handles them in small quantities. Also small amounts of rice and white potatoes. Dh did it too and lost tons of weight but he has a physical job and is struggling with such a low carb diet so I want to put some of those things back in. I blend my coffee with coconut oil and coconut butter. Yum. I also do meat with breakfast nitrate free bacon or Turkey sausage.

I won't reintroduce gluten since I am allergic but dairy and rice will be definite for me. My hope is that after doing this I will only need small quantities to get what I want out of dairy. I used to put cheese on everything so I am looking forward to cheese becoming a treat rather than a staple.

I haven't tried to find bacon yet but I head to the grocery this afternoon and we will see. Do you recall what brand Bacon you found to be compliant? I found hotdogs at target of all places today. I'm not a hot dog eater but I need options and DH likes them so it's an easy quick protein to have on hand.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Whole foods is the only place I found with a whole30 compliant bacon. It actually says paleo on the front label. Now I don't stress it too much. I pick a natural nitrate fee bacon with very old sugar instead of sugar free. Trader joes had quote a few low ingredient sugar free sausages and hot dogs. Not expensive and good. I but the chicken ones and use them with breakfast. Salsa is a great addition. Look up Chris Kressers site and book. If you test in dairy ok he allows two servings of full fat dairy a day.

 

[Dancind]

Good luck! DD is fine with coconut milk in her coffee, we also use almond milk. Just be careful and read the labels, some have nasty additives. I used coconut butter in mine.

And get some ghee! Much easier than making your own, a little goes a long way. Not fond of TJ's ghee though, too much milk fat. You will find grass fed beef at TJ's though.

Just got a notice from a local ranch we were thinking of buying a side of beef from. Prices are up this year due to the ongoing drought. They've cut their herd by about half. Guess this is everywhere in the West.

Check Costco. They occasionally have some things like nitrate free bacon, organic chickens. Not ideal, but ok in a pinch if you can't get to Whole Foods or buy local.

 

[Chikabowa]

Trader Joe's has clarified butter on the shelf! That is cheap and easy.

As for the cheese obsession... I was a cheese-o-holic before my first Whole30. But once I cut it out, I never really went back to putting it on food regularly. I don't crave it now like I once did. What I did find is that cheese is, surprisingly, a trigger food for me. So the minute I start eating it, I start eating and craving a lot of sweets. Now it's just habit to not eat it much. I still enjoy a piece of REALLY GOOD cheese on occasion... but just cheap everyday stuff? Not worth it.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Trader Joe's has clarified butter on the shelf! That is cheap and easy.

As for the cheese obsession... I was a cheese-o-holic before my first Whole30. But once I cut it out, I never really went back to putting it on food regularly. I don't crave it now like I once did. What I did find is that cheese is, surprisingly, a trigger food for me. So the minute I start eating it, I start eating and craving a lot of sweets. Now it's just habit to not eat it much. I still enjoy a piece of REALLY GOOD cheese on occasion... but just cheap everyday stuff? Not worth it.

Having some of the foods back in my diet for a few days set of tons of triggers. Now I feel like I'm starting over. Not likely to do that again.

 

[LilyWDW]

Honestly, I see no point in it. Just another prepackaged way to cut calories.

I have never succeeded on weight loss when I had to give up things I enjoy. Even for three weeks. Now that I realized what caused my failure, I am losing weight and feeling better then ever. I do If It Fits Your Macros and 80-20. I eat healthy, clean, basic foods 80 percent of the time and then eat those other things 20 percent. I also make sure to get enough Proteins and Fats, then allow myself Carbs. All while counting calories.

It's way more awesome then cutting stuff out you don't have to.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Honestly, I see no point in it. Just another prepackaged way to cut calories.

I have never succeeded on weight loss when I had to give up things I enjoy. Even for three weeks. Now that I realized what caused my failure, I am losing weight and feeling better then ever. I do If It Fits Your Macros and 80-20. I eat healthy, clean, basic foods 80 percent of the time and then eat those other things 20 percent. I also make sure to get enough Proteins and Fats, then allow myself Carbs. All while counting calories.

It's way more awesome then cutting stuff out you don't have to.

Whole30 is really a stringent clean eating plan. The thirty days is to help reduce your cravings for sugar and starches. It also allows you to test in foods that have been completely removed from your diet to see if your body handles them well. Many people post whole30 do 80/20. There are paleo plans that allow healthy carbs after the first 30 days in moderation.