I have 3 more days.  Three days before I finish my first Whole30.  And I’m scared.  What happens on day 31?  I’m not gonna lie – I’ve envisioned a buffet of all the foods I’ve been without during these 30 days.  But then, I pause and think – my Lord – what was it all for if I just gorge myself on day 31? I can’t (and won’t) do that.  And really, it has not been this unbearable, horrible, experience  – in fact, it’s been quite the opposite.

The past 27 days have been transforming in many ways. The journey swims through my mind and here’s the honest truth about how I’ve done and how I feel.

First let’s talk about my (amazing) husband.  He and I have done this together – which I am SO thankful for.  Not only am I sure, beyond a doubt, that I wouldn’t have done as well without him, but also I am so thankful for how it has changed him and his attitude toward food.   He is a pizza loving, donut eating, butter and cream cooking fool. He’s an amazing chef who shows love through food.  (I know – poor me.)  So, to have my soulmate hop on board this journey and love me enough to go without for 30 days is an unexplainable gift.  But it’s not just my selfish desire to have him doing this to make it easier for me to do it – the gift really is his transformation that has happened right beside me.  He broke the rules and has weighed himself.  As of day 23 he had lost 14 pounds. Not a typo – 14 pounds. And,  I’m sure he’s lost more since then.  He looks good and feels good – mind, body, and spirt.  It has not only changed his cravings and decreased his waistline –  it has helped him physically.  As long as I have known him he has had chronic headaches.  He wakes up in the a.m. and takes pain meds and then continues to pop them throughout the day. At one point, he was told by a physician to reduce the amount of Ibuprofen he was taking because his blood tests showed his liver enzymes were out of whack.  Since starting the Whole30 he has reportedly (almost literally) been headache and pain killer free.  That is a miracle.  Not to mention his digestive system has been more regular  (but I won’t go into detail on that).   He has already proclaimed that this is a lifestyle now for him – and not just a 30 day whim.  Will he eat pizza ever again? – oh you bet!  But we have a plan of attack for that – I’ll tell you about that in a second.

And me.  Honesty right?  Perspective is a beautiful thing and I can honestly say – it has been liberating.  Really.  Has it been hard? – YES.  Have there been days, moments that I thought I couldn’t do it? – YOU BET.  (Like the time when I got La Gondola take out for my kids because during this Whole30 we have been running from baseball to scholastic bowl to tennis to music rehearsal to play practice, to banquets, and meetings every night; and I just needed some good hot food for them.  And the amazing smell of the garlic, cheese bread nearly killed me. And what did I do to get through it?? – [this is so embarrassing] – I tore off a piece, put it in my mouth, enjoyed the taste of it for about 10 seconds and spit it out. Seriously it’s that hard sometimes.)  But, I am here to tell you, garlic bread sucking aside, I feel more in control than I think I ever have in regards to food.  And, I’m NOT obsessing every minute of the day about it.  I’ve done many, many, many diet programs with points, shakes, pills and such.  And it never fails, I end up consumed every waking moment of my day with food and what I can and cannot have and how many points I have used or have remaining.  Even though there are things I cannot eat on Whole30 – there is so much I can. It is fun cooking new things and understanding the true function of the food, and feeling so darn good every morning I wake up.  My energy has been through the roof, my skin is looking good, my clothes are starting to fit better, and I know I’ve lost some weight (it won’t be 14 pounds like my husband) but it’s gonna be something. I have to be honest – I did cheat a few times.  We hosted an auction wine dinner and I did have wine and cheese.  I had a glass of wine at a banquet,  and 2 glasses out to dinner one night. But that’s it. (I feel like I’m going to confession – it feels good to get that off my chest).  I do regret these  departures from the plan because I know my results would be even better if I hadn’t.  But I am looking at this as a journey –  not a race with a beginning and an end. And I’m not done.  I’m going to take the next month and still live a Whole30 lifestyle but give myself a cheat day (or 2?) a week.  I’ve decided for me  – I have to designate a day or I will just find a reason to break the plan everyday and regret my life away. If I give myself a day – I’ll have something to look forward to and continue to work toward.  The Husband is on board for this as well (that’s where his pizza comes in) Then in June, I’m starting another Whole30.  (care to join me?)

So, as I stare at my #3 on my little, homemade countdown calendar – I’m not gonna lie – I’m nervous.  What will the scale say?  Will I be able to stay in control?  But, I hear a little voice in my head and for the first time in my adult life I believe  – as my good friend Diane would say… “Girl… You Got This!!!”

Whole30 countdown