My January Whole30 Results!

Without further ado...

Day 1   Weight = 155 lbs

Day 30 Weight = 145 lbs

Weight Loss     = 10 lbs!

This Whole30 was so necessary.  Beforehand, I remember just feeling so bloated.  I was avoiding half of my wardrobe because everything seemed to showcase my inflated tummy.  I started thinking about all the clothing that I gave away because it was too big, wondering if I should've kept it just in case.  I can never understand how I let myself get to that point.  I suppose it happens over time, but I really gave up trying to eat healthy at all.

Sometimes I think about growing up and how it impacts my eating habits now.  When I was young, I ate whatever I wanted with no remorse or real consequence.  My mom cooked delicious meals and there was always some kind of treat in the house.  I loved to eat and I was super active and I certainly never thought about portion control.  On one hand, it's awesome that I never had to think about any of it.  I took pleasure in food and didn't have any disordered thoughts as a young adolescent.  On the other hand, I never learned to practice self control of any kind... which takes us to college.

When I was at Penn State, I tried to watch what I ate and include veggies in my diet during meal time.  But if I was drunk (or hungover) all bets were completely off!  Drunk munchies consisted of 2-3 giant slices of pizza, an order of pokey sticks aka melt in your mouth greasy cheesy bread, or my favorite "fat sandwich" from R U Hungry? piled high with gyro meat, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, bacon, and french fries.  All drenched in ranch, of course.  I can remember watching the Victoria Secret runway show with my roommates while stuffing our faces with booze, pizza, and cookies and thinking it was hilarious.  I gained some weight, lost it during the summer, gained it back... it was only 10 lbs and it never stopped me from eating exactly what I wanted at 3 in the morning.

Fast forward a few years... I find healthy living blogs, I realize that food is fuel (not just something tasty to put in your mouth), I run a half marathon, I discover Paleo and CrossFit... I am a changed woman!  So why do I still find myself chowing down on five slices of pizza and feeling smugly entertained by it?

It's really frustrating to look back over the past few years on the blog.  My January 2015 starting weight was the same as my January 2013 and July 2014 starting weights.  I feel like I'm losing the same 10 lbs over and over again.  I know weight is just a number, the scale does not tell the whole story.  I know that I am getting stronger in the gym.  I know that my body is beautiful!  However, the way my stomach blows up like a balloon when I stop caring about my diet makes it's easy to see that that is not working for me.  Since this is my 4th Whole30 (plus a 2 month Paleo challenge), I guess it's pretty obvious that 30 days is not long enough for me to make the healthy habits stick.  For me, following strict rules for 30 days is the easy part... it's riding my own bike afterwards that is so damn hard.

Right now I feel great.  My skin is clear.  I don't need coffee every day.  I don't feel like I'm going to pass out at my desk after lunch.  My clothes fit again!  I don't finish meals feeling like I've got a food baby in my belly.  My stomach feels good, no weird pains.  Come to think of it... I didn't get ANY cramps when shark week came along this month!!!!

So what now?  After every other Whole30 I've done, as soon it was over I stuffed my face with a bunch of crap and then felt awful.  I am desperately trying to avoid that scenario this time around.  I am trying to reintroduce individual things (dairy, gluten, etc) to see exactly how they affect me.  After I test each thing, I am planning on staying mostly compliant at home (compliant + cheese) and being more relaxed when I'm out to eat or at a party.

So far I've tried a few forms of dairy without much of a reaction.  I think my tummy might not be a huge fan of crappy oils that french fries are fried in and that exist in some salad dressings.  We ate out a few times this weekend, but I made good choices and didn't make myself ill.  I do regret the roll I ate with my Saladworks for lunch today.  It was crusty, yet soft and delicious covered in grass-fed butter, but then it made my tummy feel yucky and bloated afterwards.  Tonight will be a true test at a Midgley family dinner.  There is always quite a spread of tasty appetizers, some wine, and I'm already thinking about the birthday cake.

My number one goal for 2015 is to commit to clean eating and don't let indulgences here and there take me completely off track, so now it's time to put my money where my mouth is!

Would you ever do a Whole30?!  Or do you think I'm crazy?



Looking for more Whole30 Results?

• My Whole21 - Results! 
• My April Whole30 Results!
• Guest Post: Sarah's Whole30 Results! 
• Guest Post: Heather's Whole30 Results! 
• Even More Whole30 Results 
• Guest Post: Julia's Whole30 Recap!
• My July Whole25 Results!

Don't forget to like Busy, Bold, Blessed on Facebook!