Whole30 with Antlers and Rosé
Starting 2019 off Whole and Healthy
Alright friends. Raise your hand if you have completely fallen off the health wagon and then that health wagon ran you over. Yup, that's me. Basically, anything that is in front of my face I will eat it... cookies, pastries, doughnuts, and bagels OH MY! The sugar devil has taken complete control over my brain and my body is taking a toll. I'm tired, sluggish, sore and HATE how tight my waistband feels, ughh!
Ok, enough with the depressing news. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of The Whole30 Program by now. Well my friends, 2019 is here and I'm going to start it off right and commit to The Whole30. Accountability is a key factor for success and I would love some friends to join me. So, if you are trying to kick a sugar addiction, trying to say goodbye to unhealthy eating habbits or would love for your favorite levis to fit again, join me by saying "hell, yes" to The Whole30.
For years I wanted to give the Whole30 a try but I always had a bajillion excuses why not to. But last year I committed and I'm not gonna lie, the first 6-8 days sucked but then something magical happened. I started to have insane amounts of energy, my skin looked amazing and I lost weight (8 lbs to be exact). So I can honestly let you all know this lifestyle change is worth it.
SHOP my LOOK
Since this isn't my first rodeo, I've gathered 5 tips that helped me be successful my first time with The Whole30 Program. Disclaimer- By no means am I an expert on The Whole30 Program, I'm just a girl trying to keep my eating in check and look fly in my jeans:).
5 Tips for a Successful Whole30
Tip #1 Read the Book
Read The Whole30: 30 Day Guide to Total Health to Food Freedom (or skim the book like I did). Why? Because it's important to understand why certain foods and food groups are elimnated during the program. For me knowing "why" really helped me say "no" through those first 3-4 days when I was craving sugar.
Tip #2 Do It With Friends
There is something to be said for support. For knowing that others are cheering you on, holding you accountable, and can relate to your experiences. Annnnd... let's be real, it's comforting knowing that others aren't sippin' on rosé and aren't enjoying their (insert favorite whole30 non compliance food here ) as well. Let me know if you would like to commit to The Whole30 Program with Me by commenting "hell, yes" in comments below. By following along here on my blog, feel free to ask questions, share recipes and your Whole30 experiences highs and lows, in the comment section below. Let's start 2019 off Whole and Healthy and do so by supporting eachother.
Tip #3 Understand What you CAN & CAN'T Eat
Can - Eat Real Food - Protein, Vegetables, Fruit, Natural Fats, Coffee
"Eat Moderate portions of Protein - meat, seafood and eggs. Lots of Vegetables, some Fruit, Natural Fats and herbs, spices and seasonings. Eat foods with very little ingredients, or better yet, not ingredients listed at all because they are whole and unprocessed." Whole30 Program Rules
Making Meals Easy
Can't - Eat Anything Else - Grains, Dairy, Legumes, Sugars, Treats/Junk Food, Additives
"More important, here's what not to eat during the duration of your Whole30 Program. Omitting all of these foods and beverages 100% for the 30 days will help you eliminate cravings, restore a healthy metabolism, heal the digestive track, reduce inflammation, and discover how these foods are truly impacting how you look, how you feel, and your quality of life." Whole30 Program Rules
Don't be fooled, there are many sneaky ways sugar is hidden in our foods. Educate yourself about label reading here.
Tip #4 Plan and Prepare
I can't stress the importance of this step enough. If you haven't planned and prepared ahead of time, most likely you will not succeed and I'm speaking from experience. When I'm hungry and I don't have any Whole30 compliant foods in near reach and there's a delishish plate of some godly sugary something- guess what, I'm going to eat it. For me, this is the hardest step to get used to, but I promise it will get easier. To better plan and prepare my meals, I bump my morning routine up by 30 minutes so I have plenty of time to prepare my breakfast, lunch and snacks for the day (preferably before my crazy littles wake up).
There is an endless amount of free Whole30 Shopping List / Meal Recipe printables online. Here are a few of my favorites:
Whole30 Grocery Guide Here
Whole30 Pantry Stocking Here
Whole30 Shopping List Here
Whole30 Dining Guide Here
Tip #5 Celebrate with Coffee or Flavored Water!
Normally a celebration calls for a little bubbly, but for the next 30 days the only bubbly you are going to enjoy is a glass of La Croix:(. Seriously though, I recommend drinking your water out of a fancy glass and adding a little lemon or lime. Adding natural flavors to your water will make drinking so much of it, more enjoyable.
Set up coffee dates with your girls, if you think going out at night will be too tempting for you. Remember, it's only 30 days, but if done 100% you WILL have great results!
Trade in your Milk for Almond - but make sure to read the label, many brands of Almond Milk have added sugars.
Only shop the perimeter of the grocery store- don't even bother walking down the aisles.
Whole30 is for you,
for your health and for your state of mind.
Who's in?
xx, Brook