So we’re done with week one of our Whole30 experience! I made a paper chain to help us get through the rough days and I am SO glad I did…because come day 5 we were grumpy AF! My sister also started the experience with us last week and asked me how I was feeling and I was NOT feelin’ it. She laughed and said…”You HAVE to read the Whole30 timeline!” So she sent it to me and we died laughing. It was incredibly accurate and made Aaron and I feel a lot better about ourselves. Let’s just say Day 4-5 is labeled: “Kill ALL the things!”
Accurate.
Anyways…we have passed the grumpy days and are now feeling a lot better. Just one week in and this is what we have learned so far about out lifestyle, our habits, our health, our moods, and our choices:
- We eat out WAY too much. Both of our jobs are on the go. Neither one of us sit in an office all day, making lunch-time “easy.” We both have chosen convenience over our health. It isn’t weird for us to buy lunch almost every day…that has obviously changed.
- I haven’t had a stomach ache ALL week. This is huge for me. I have suffered from stomach aches, cramps my entire life. Not entirely sure what causes them. I’ve thought about allergy tests, and all that jazz but just never got around to it. Let’s just say, I forgot what it felt like to feel healthy.
- The “no alcohol” rule was pretty hard in the beginning for us both. We truly enjoy opening up a bottle of wine with dinner. Or winding down from a long work week on the weekends. But come day 8 (today) we’re surviving! It feels good to be sober, clear minded, etc. But come day 31…alcohol will be one of the first things we bring back. The hardest part is all the events…and there are a lot of them in the wine industry!
- Aaron is missing his glass of milk and sandwiches and I’m missing my cheese and pasta!
- We weren’t aware of how much our diet effects our sleep. Aaron hasn’t woken up feeling as well-rested as he was before Whole30. I think his body is just taking more time to acclimate because I am sleeping very well.
- We are reading labels more than ever before! I am shocked at how much added sugar is in everything we eat! That by far is the most interesting thing we have taken from the experience.
- It has brought us closer. Except for our two grumpy days…we weren’t so lovely-dovey! But other than that, meal planning, prepping and cooking has created a lot of conversation. A lot of “checking-in” with one another. Did you like your lunch today? How are you feeling? How did you sleep? What dinner should we make this week? Let’s check out a cool recipe to try with chicken…etc! I’m really liking this aspect of the experience. Normally, the responsibility of meals and cooking all falls on me. But with this, it’s a team effort.
- I am personally getting a little sick of cooking every.single.meal…that has been a hard personal challenge. Aaron has been SO helpful with keeping up with the dishes but still…it’s a lot of cooking. I have realized how lazy I was before Whole30.
- Meal planning for the week takes a lot of time and preparing but is SO EASY and SO WORTH IT! I believe this has been a key to success so far.
- It’s been a fun mental challenge. Like Aaron was explaining to a family member last night…we made a commitment to try this out for 30 days, so we’re gonna do it. It’s all mental. I agree. We can so do this! (that’s what I keep telling myself…)
If you are looking to try Whole30 or maybe just want to incorporate some Whole30 meals/principles into your everyday lifestyle…I highly recommend it! It’s been an interesting week so far but overall we both feel a lot happier and healthier…and we’re only on day 8 people! Here is a list of some life saving products that have helped with our Whole30 experience!
xoxo, maddie
