Have you ever heard of the Whole 30 Food Challenge, based on the book It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig? It is a life changing experience that could change the way you eat, and live your life.
I tried this challenge last year, starting on January 1st. It was extremely hard at first but I lost weight and felt so much better by the end of the challenge. I am trying to get the motivation to start the challenge again soon. In the book it encourages you try the full 30 days, and then if you need a boost to be healthy again, you can pick any amount of time to base your meals of this challenge.
The 30 day challenge includes eating NO: Added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. Alcohol. Grains. Legumes. Dairy and White potatoes.
It is saying YES to eating: Meat, Seafood, Eggs, Lots of vegetables, Some fruit, and plenty of healthy fats.
My hardest obstacle was no chocolate or peanut butter. It started my love for almond butter and I even tried 100% dark chocolate (cause that was the only way you were allowed to eat it). It tasted like chalk. I even tried to melt it and dip it in fruit to make it more enjoyable for my chocolate craving… it just wasn’t meant to be.
However, it was the perfect way to start the new year and feel good about what I ate. It also made me very conscious of how to read labels and in the first couple chapters it explains what to eat and WHY. It was so interesting learning what foods do to your body and that makes it so much easier to read why it is bad in black and white!
For anyone who is trying to be healthy, or go on some crazy smoothie diet, rethink it. This is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change. After trying this challenge it gives you ways to introduce back the foods, and after 30 days, you may not even want the foods back into your life! I know after this challenge, chips, cookies, chocolate, etc did not sound as appealing since I was use to not eating it.
I encourage everyone to give this book/challenge a try before any other program. It is the healthiest way to learn what is right and wrong. With a busy schedule like mine, it is not always easy to fit in a workout, especially when it is getting cold outside. So as long as I know the foods I am putting into my mouth will help me stay lean, I stay in a great mood!
Here is the link to their main page where you can read about success stories and recipes to give it a shot today!! http://whole30.com
GOOD LUCK!