Before Whole30, I spent years ignoring my body’s wake up calls.
My nice clothes had gotten too tight. I was down to one pair of jeans and two pairs of dress pants to wear. My knees were sore, especially after jogging on the treadmill at the gym. My squat weight was a third of what it used to be, simply because my knees hurt with increased weight. Despite of the fact that I work out 4-6 days a week, I couldn’t seem to lose weight. In fact, over the past 6 years, I’ve steadily gained weight, even with my regular gym attendance.
Each morning, I was congested and felt like I was getting a cold. I took cold medication every morning. I had various muscle and joint aches and pains, so I was also taking pain pills several days a week. I developed asthma, and woke up in the middle of the night wheezing. It was accompanied by vivid nightmares of drowning or smothering. I was on two different inhalers to manage my breathing.
I had a rash on my lower leg that I refer to as “perma-rash.” I tried every cream and ointment out there. I have had itchy skin and an itchy scalp, with dandruff, for years.
My mood fluctuated frequently throughout the day and week. I often felt sorry for myself, despite having a wonderful life. I also felt restless at all times, by mind always on the ten other things I needed to do. I could not seem to just live in the moment.
I turned to food for comfort. My sweet tooth was out of control, and I was up to 12-15 coffees a day. I felt out of control in regards to my eating. Finally in June, I decided something must change.
I had coffee with a great friend whom I have known for many years. She mentioned she was going to do another Whole30. I had no idea what she was talking about, so she told me about Whole 30 and how it changed her and her husband’s lives. I was fascinated! She recommended the two books: Food Freedom Forever and The Whole30 Cookbook.
That conversation with my friend has truly changed my life.
I’m writing this on Day Thirty of my first Whole30. Here are my Non-Scale Victories.
My knees are not as sore, and are getting better each week.
My old clothes are starting to fit again, my current clothes are too big.
My Whole30 meals are satisfying, delicious and leave me feeling nourished.
My coffee consists of one coffee black in the morning and once a week a decaf in the afternoon. I am enjoying herbal tea as a substitute.
My long term congestion disappeared on Day Two. Not one sniffle.
My use of pain pills was zero during Whole30, I simply didn’t need them.
My mood is consistently happy and even. I feel a sense of peace and serenity that I haven’t felt in years. I feel wonderful mental clarity.
My leg rash that has been with me for over 10 years is virtually non-existent.
My asthma is gone, I haven’t taken an inhaler in 4 weeks. I still keep them with me, just in case.
A sense of pride and self love that surprised me. I am worth taking good care of.
Thank you so much for this program … it means a lot to me! – Cathy
