Whole30 Pitfalls
Doing a Whole30 isn’t easy. But if you have the right mindset and you want to “Change Your Life” as we like to say, you can sail through it. Rarely is there a perfect Whole30. Life doesn’t usually allow it. Curve balls thrown weekly!
Here’s some of the Whole30 pitfalls I see a few of my clients struggle with. I have some ideas to help you maintain perspective to get to the end of your reintroduction. A good Whole30 combined with a GREAT reintroduction will fill you in with good information about what works for YOUR body. This information will start you down the yellow brick road of health care.
You get bored after Week 2.
Traditional diet mentality is to blame. How many times have you read the book, cleaned out the pantry, gone grocery shopping and then derailed the first weekend? We are impulsive by nature. We love everything shiny and new. There’s a whole fashion industry built on that premise. Billions spent on new, look here! So maybe you want a little excitement. That’s cool. Get a new kitchen utensil. Make a recipe that is WAY outside your comfort zone. Perhaps you are doing too much and need to just have a few days of assembly type meals. Or grab a box from True Fare**. Whatever it is, shake it up - but keep going.
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
“But Teri Turner made this really delicious dinner and mine didn’t look like that.” “So and so blogs all her meals.” Insert any person’s name here and any skill. First off, Teri cooks FOR A LIVING and has staff to help her manage. People blog for a living. You may have a full time job, 8 kids and a mother in law staying at your house. In that case, a bunch of lettuce on a plate with some chicken and salad dressing is beautiful and absolutely, positively fine. You aren’t those people. You have to do YOUR Whole30.
My moderating partner and friend Theresa Newman has a gorgeous kitchen and loves to cook. I would love to make the dinners she does. My reality is that I don’t want to remodel my kitchen, I want to sell my house soon and move into my bus. I work a full time job and travel a lot. We have different lives. But you know what? I’m going to go take my Southwest points and visit her in her beautiful kitchen and let her cook for me. Ha ha ha! All you can do is be the best you. Melissa Urban says - I have childcare, I workout as long as I want and I go into the office at 10am. It’s a privilege. I love that she tells people that because she knows she’s the face of Whole30 but that is her JOB.
You Start to Fade About the Weekend of the Third Week
Reconnect to your WHY. I have done plenty of Whole27’s. You don’t want to do that. Trust me. Stay the course. There is a reason it is 30 days. That’s the minimum effective dose for reintroduction of allergens. That Friday, list out all the reasons why you are doing Whole30. Better yet, pull out your Non Scale Victory Download and start checking things off. That will help out a lot.
I Don’t Care Anymore
I get it, you are at a function and the (whatever, fill in the blank) looks so good. My friend just handed me a glass of wine. So what? You do care. You cared enough to come this far. Don’t let food pushers or being tired, hungry or angry bring you down. Grab your emergency snacks, shove them in your “used to be pie hole” and stay on your Whole30. Proper planning will keep you from going down this road. Eat before hand, or eat the emergency food. Call your coach. Just don’t go down that road. You want to get rid of your auto immune disease. You want to be able to play with your grandkids, you want to be in less pain. You want to be healthier. You want a lot of things and that rank canape isn’t what it really is.
No One Gets Me
We have entire communities for that. I am one of the moderators for the Whole30 Fabulous After Fifty Facebook Groups. Online there are so many Whole30 groups. I will say this though - any social media people that make you feel less than stellar about yourself - delete.
You can also check on Meet ups, Or reach out to me, I’ll see if I can find anyone in your area for you to play with. It’s always a great idea to have a friend do one with you, if possible so you can meal prep and swap or grocery shop together.
Maybe you have people undermining your Whole30 success. Stay strong. You are on a healthcare journey for the long haul. Like all relationships, some may fray. There is no shame in seeking new friends or groups that suit your goals. YOU have to walk your walk and talk your talk, seek like minded people who support your efforts.
Like attracts like and building a healthier future for yourself is a noble and wonderful feat. Don’t discount it for anyone. Support yourself with new information, mindset changes and new habits. Go forth Whole30 Soldier. Change your world.
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