Whole 30...Lets do this!

Mike and I have decided to do the Whole 30 challenge a try. (Let me clarify, Mike talked with a co-worker who had completed the Whole 30 and had great results so he wanted to do it. After much reluctance, I agreed.) If you've never heard of Whole 30, this explains it, http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/. It's basically a 30 day commitment to eating whole foods and avoiding things that may be causing negative affects in your body. (added sugar-real or artificial, alcohol, grains, dairy, legumes) It's not about weight loss (though that's often a result) but about changing your eating habits and attitudes towards food.

For anyone who knows me, this is NOT natural for me.  I love sweets, Coke zero, and most forms of "junk food".  I've always been naturally pretty thin and haven't really struggled with my weight. So, I've used that as an excuse to eat whatever I want. While my health isn't bad, I know I could be healthier, have more energy and be in better shape. Also, the big 4-0 is looming around the corner and I know staying healthy isn't going to get any easier. 

I started doing lots of reading online about the Whole 30 and read a post saying that to help yourself be successful in the program, it's good to know your "why?".  I thought through that and came up with my reasons why I want to do this. 

1) Mike. 

 ~If he is motivated to want to get healthier, I want to support him in that. It would be much harder for him to do this on his own while the rest of us ate whatever we wanted. He's generally healthy but he would like to lose some weight and have more energy.  He works very hard at his job and is often pretty beat when he comes home. He would like to feel like he has more energy to enjoy being with our family after work. He has some family history of health problems and doesn't want to be unaware that he needs to keep himself in good shape. So, even if he was my only reason, that would be enough. But, there are more. 

2) My own physical and emotional health.

~I'm a busy mom and, like all moms, often am tired and want to just sit in peace and quiet. There's nothing wrong with that, from time to time. But, I am pretty sure if I were eating a healthier diet and not indulging in so many processed foods I would have more energy. I struggle with mood swings off and on also. I'm hopeful that eating better will help with my moods as well. I know theres no guarantee that my health will continue to be good but making better choices certainly can't hurt. 

3) My boys. 

~13, 1l and 8 year old boys are active and always up for adventure. They loved exploring national parks last summer. They love camping, hiking, swimming, anything outdoors. I know the time we have with them at home is quickly passing and I don't want to miss out on as many fun things as possible.  They're starting to be in the adolescent years when they will be able to go on longer hikes and explore new places. Mike and I know we will have to work at it to be able to keep up with them. 

4) Breaking bad habits. 

~ Like I said, I have built up a lot of bad habits of eating anything I want without thinking of how it affects my body. I have gotten into a bad habit of cooking what is easy or going out to eat. I need to break the hold that sugar, diet soda, and snacking has on my life. I want to begin to change those habits in my boys now too. I'm not going to expect them to follow the diet completely but I do plan to begin changing some of the ways we all eat. 

5)Last, but of greatest importance, I want to honor God with my whole life. 

~ My deepest desire is to live a life that honors and pleases God. Taking good care of my body is definitely a big part of that. If the foods I'm eating aren't helping me to be the best wife, mom, friend, mentor, Christian, that I can be...something needs to go! I am not a slave to my desires or cravings, but am a slave to Christ. He is a worthy master. Food is not. 

After a couple weeks of reading and planning, we are starting this coming Monday, April 10th. I have two weeks worth of meals planned. I intend to either duplicate that for the next two weeks or reevaluate and plan more. It worked out great that my good friend, Holly, had just decided to do this also. It's been very helpful having her as a support and encouragement. We've shared meal ideas and recipes. It will be great to have someone I can text if I begin to struggle or I want to quit who will encourage me to stick with it. I've already purchased some sauces, spices, drinks and snacks. I've made my own mayo, sausage, and chicken and beef broth (why is there sugar in beef broth?!?).  I'm going to Sprouts again (this week was the first time I ever set foot in a health food store!) this weekend to stock up on my meats, fruits and veggies. I'm feeling motivated and excited to see how this has positive effects on me and my family. I started weaning myself off coke zero and have only had two all week and shockingly, I've been fine! 

If you are interested in keeping up with this journey or considering doing it yourself, stay tuned. I'll be posting about my meals and how I'm feeling. Seriously, if I succeed at this...ANYONE can! 😉

Here are my menus for the 1st two weeks. Yep, I have a binder. 😀