On my Whole30 to Whole90 Summer journey, I’ve made some fatal errors that have sabotaged my success this week. Yesterday (Day 5… or Day 3, if you expect me to start over from last week’s fail), I had a business meeting in the morning at a Panera so I skipped breakfast and drank black coffee. Then off to a lunch appointment where I had my seared tuna salad, olive oil and salt/pepper for its dressing. Good! Handful of cashews for a mid-afternoon snack.
Dinner was the challenge. Met my beloved after work at a winery owned by a former work friend of mine. It was a cool night and we sat by the fire pit under the stars. At 8PM, he was famished so we ordered a salad and a pizza for delivery from a local shop. A half glass of wine (“You have to taste it!”) to a full glass to a slice of pizza and I was off the rails. Again. Weak, I admit it. A night of heartburn and lack of sleep was my penance.
But it’s a great lesson for myself and others who are considering a Whole30 in their future. Here are lessons learned from this latest attempt.
Whole30 Lessons Learned
- Don’t skip meals. Skipping breakfast made me EXTRA hungry, so by the end of the day, I had a hard time maintaining control of my appetite. IF (Intermittent Fasting) and Whole30 don’t work well together.
- Don’t even think of having alcohol – not even a taste. Sure, a person can justify the 110 calories in a glass of their favorite wine. But the big factor is that it weakens your resolve. Soon that devil on your shoulder becomes a demon. Soon “just one bite” or “just one sip” leads to another and another… and you’re back to Day 1 tomorrow, for reals this time.
- Timing is everything. While I was committed to starting my Whole90 journey at the start of summer to show off my resolve, that was a really bad decision. Perhaps even impulsive. To do it right and to get the results I got earlier this year, I need to do it after the summer vacations, birthdays, and evenings under the stars by the fire. Or I need to have greater fortitude. But I’m just not feeling it.
- Don’t make it harder than it already is. Whole30 is an emotional journey as you explore your relationship with food. It’s easier to fuel your body with specific foods and meals than it is to overcome the emotions attached to certain habits. I love mellowing out with my hubby and friends over a good meal. Better choices are hard enough. It’s best to NOT start until after some of those days when you know you’ll want to cheat (birthdays, holidays, etc.) are behind you in the calendar.
Whole30 is NOT a lifestyle. It was never intended to be. It is a 30 day elimination diet that’s challenging to complete under the best of schedules. Enjoying the pleasures of summer and the rigors of T&E (travel and entertainment) means finding a more doable solution to maintaining and losing weight. September and January seem to be better months to do a complete Whole30 the right way and to do it for another round. Until then, I’ll look at improving my diet without going ON a diet. Could be keto. Could be paleo. Details of that to follow.
Here’s a great post on another Whole30 advocate’s lessons learned, as a reality check. Read it here.
