Today I began a 30 day re-set program for my eating habits.
Whole3o was developed in 2009 byMelissa Hartwig, sports nutritionist and Dallas Hartwig, functional medicine practitioner and sports nutritionist.
Many people report remarkable results with this approach (not a diet!) reducing symptoms and even reversing disease conditions and dramatically improving their health and over-all well-being.
Eating really well has been a big factor in healing myself from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia in my thirties and from Lyme’s Disease five years ago.
I never think of the way I eat as a deprivation but as a joyful form of self care that lets me feel fabulous with lots of energy almost all the time. While I don’t consider any foods “bad”, I certainly notice that some foods have negative effects on me. Some of those I never eat and some I eat as special treats.
When I am feeling really healthy my body is resilient and can occasionally enjoy treats such as ice cream, brie or wine with no noticeable effects.
Recently I wasn’t so careful and it caught up with me.
After having family here for several weeks and choosing more often to eat things I usually savor as rare treats, I feel many signs of inflammation.
My joints hurt, my digestion is off, my face looks a little puffy. Yesterday I felt so tiredand achy I napped and read all day and stayed home in the evening from a party I had looked forward to for weeks.
I am grateful for this fabulous feedback from my body. It’s empowering to me to know that this happened because of choices I made and to be confident that now I can shift it with different choices.
I am eager to recalibrate my body and habits into a more aligned state and to feel great again.
So I decided for a month to go on the Whole3o plan.
Simple and very clear Whole30 guidelines for these thirty days:
Eat only whole foods with very high nutritional density: vegetables, fruits, fish, pasture raised meat, eggs and good fats.
Do not eat any of the foods most likely to cause inflammation: processed foods, dairy, grains, sugars of all kinds (even honey), legumes or alcohol.
Do not weigh yourself or take body measurements during the 30 days.
This is very close to the way I usually eat and right now it feels beneficial - and even fun!- to commit to the full program to see what effects I notice. I joined the 30 day online group for daily email support and encouragement (always an important part of creating positive habits).
You can find more information, recipes and lots of resources on the Whole30 website.
Have you tried Whole3o?
Let me know. I’d love to hear from you!