I was starting to feel great, exercising regularly, eating well and not having insane cravings or uncontrollable binges.
Then I got pregnant.
Then I had a baby and was breastfeeding and HUNGRY.
Said baby is now 6 months old. And I have 15lbs to go to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Which is not terrible, considering that I gained about 40lbs during pregnancy!!
The worst part, though, is that all my old habits have returned. Craving sweets after eating any meal. Blackout/mindless eating. Cheese on everything. Desserts, carbs and Dunkin Donuts galore.
I feel AWFUL.
Enter the Whole 30. I've seen it around for a long time. My friends have done it. I've read a lot about it. I told myself I could never do it. I was fine just eating healthier-it worked for me. Then I realized that what I really needed was something strict to jump start me to hopefully get back to the healthy eating place I was in before. Something to help me eliminate the psychological hold food has gained back over me.
Food is fuel.
Sure, sometimes its enjoyable in the moment. But that feeling literally lasts seconds or minutes, then my body feels terrible and I don't even remember what I just ate or how good it tasted.
I don't ever want to be at a place where I long term restrict certain foods or food groups. If I am out with friends and want a fruity drink or a brownie, I'll have one. But in general, I need to get to the point where I'm not craving those things and I can stop before I eat the entire brownie pan.
The whole 30 is going to suck. I know I'm going to struggle. But I really think its what my body needs right now.
Per usual Kara fashion, I did the research. I read that the way to succeed doing the whole 30 is as follows:
1) PREPARE. And have I ever prepared. I have read all the do's and dont's, all the allowed and not allowed foods, and I have stocked my fridge and pantry. I may have spent just shy of twelve million dollars doing so and gone to 4 different stores, but I did it. Children-scribbled grocery list and all!
I have the emergency hangry snacks (almond butter individual packs sweet potatoes, avocado, apple chips, lara bars, rx bars)
I have the boiled eggs ready. The nutpods ordered. The ghee. The avocado oil. Enough tuna, ground turkey and chicken to feed an army. The cauliflower rice and riced broccoli. I have my own shelf of the pantry!
I have meticulously meal planned the next 30 days. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I've read the daily breakdown of how you'll likely feel. Days 10-11 are supposed to be the hardest. I know you're likely to reach a breakdown, a point of irrational feelings about killing your spouse. Fatigue. And even a little weight gain in the beginning. I'm as ready as I can be!
2) ACCOUNTABILITY. I've asked friends and family as well as my spouse if they want to join me. I was met with a resounding "HELL NO." One friend even said "if by "the whole 30" you meant "let me put a whole 30" pizza in my mouth then yes". And I must say, a few months ago I would have said the same thing!
This may sound silly, but one of my favorite authors and role models (Jen Hatmaker) is doing the whole 30 right now so in a way she's an accountability partner for me. She's halfway done. I've found her posts about it to be very inspiring and encouraging. I've even gotten some recipes and lots of tips from her!
This blog is meant to be my accountability partner also, which is why I started it. I want to be able to hold myself accountable with the hope of looking back in accomplishment when I'm done.
So here we go! The next 3 days will be filled with all my favorite foods, because, birthdays and such.
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