Whole30 - The End

Today marks my last day on the Whole30. I'm technically a day early, but I'm traveling tonight and tomorrow and can't wait to share a bottle of wine with my sweet heart.

As I mentioned, I did the Whole30 as a Whole45 in January/February 2012 (or was it 2011?) I don't remember, but I do remember I stuck to it and lost 4 pounds. I was SO frustrated. But I'm doing things differently now. I'm seeing a naturopath and acupuncturist to get my system to let go of what it doesn't need and between that and consistent exercise and doing the Whole30 again, I've officially lost 9.6 pounds and 6.75 inches since May 1st. It's the most weight I've lost since I hit about 25 years old without doing something drastic and extreme. Although I suppose some would say the Whole30 is drastic, but I found a quote yesterday that said "Paleo isn't low carb, it's low crap." And that's a fact. Cutting out sugar has been AMAZING!

I haven't been perfect. I've had sushi three times. I had quinoa and sour cream when I went to Phoenix. I went wine tasting last Sunday. I put a few drops of Stevia in my coffee a few times. But you know what I didn't do? I didn't let my sushi nights lead to another meal or day off plan. I didn't eat any of the crackers or candy that were put out at the wineries. I didn't put 10 drops of Stevia in my coffee just 2 or 3. I ate a cutie tangerine the other day and couldn't... it was too sweet. It's amazing how your tastes change with you limit the sugar and sweetness you ingest. I cannot eat 72% dark chocolate anymore. If it's not 88-90%, I don't want it, it's too sweet.

I've loved this and can't wait to do it again. It was challenging and I had hard days (traveling on this plan is difficult) but I'm thrilled with the results and feel like I finally have some inertia and momentum to keep focused.

I've also developed an interesting side effect of eating too much or too fast. If I eat too much or too fast, I get a bit of a stomach ache and lump in my throat that feels like I swallowed a tennis ball. If anything will make me rethink a second helping or remind me to slow down, it's a tennis ball in my throat! LOL

Anyway... this has been great and I expect I'll officially do it again in January, but I'm going to keep attempting to keep sugar intake to a minimum. Make my own salad dressings and mayonnaise when possible to cut down on unnecessary sugars and preservatives, eating whole foods and not packaged foods, and limiting happy hours and restaurant outings whenever possible. Here's hoping I keep going... I have 17 more pounds before I get to my first weight loss goal.

Have a great day everyone!