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Hi guys, I began the Whole30 15 days ago in hopes of restoring my digestive health. I suffer from daily chronic diarrhea and have for about 2 years now. I can’t pinpoint a direct cause (i.e antibiotics, food sensitivities etc) because it really just started out of nowhere. Occasionally I’ll have a perfect poop (last one was on 07/04/17) but other than that I wake up every day and immediately feel a relatively urgent need to poop. It’s always loosely formed with visible bits of undigested food. I’ve wondered if I have IBS but I don’t feel any stomach pain or cramping during the day. It seems like my problem might me psychosomatic as in my brain is triggering me to evacuate my bowels directly upon waking rather than my digestive tract signaling to my brain when it’s ready. I’ve noticed little to no improvement and I’m two weeks in. Do I just need to give it time? Has anyone been through a similar situation and did the Whole30 work for you? I guess I’m just feeling a little discouraged and I don’t want to be popping Imodium on a daily basis. Thank you in advance.

Hey all I am 15 days into my first Whole30! I am feeling fantastic and loving every minute of it! Starting Saturday afternoon (roughly 2 days ago), I developed what I can only describe as a lump in my throat. It feels like something (food?) is stuck back there and I constantly feel like I need to clear my throat, swallow, and/or make some awful hacking sound to get the "mystery object unstuck". The feeling is nonexistent in the morning and worsens as the day progresses. I am not having any trouble eating, drinking, or swallowing. And it actually feels better when I'm drinking or swallowing. I haven't tried any crazy new (compliant) foods in the past few days that I haven't already had throughout my whole30. And I've never experienced something like this in the past (no history of indigestion or reflux). Other than this weird sensation, I feel great. Curious if anyone has advice as to what it might be? Or experienced a similar sensation? Hoping it leaves quickly, as it's rather annoying. If it hasn't disappeared in a few days, I probably will go see a doctor - just to have a peace of mind that it's nothing serious. Thanks for your input! I appreciate you! Laurie O

I know it's a common problem on W30 but it's making me a bit crazy. So, I've just finished day 9 of my first (and prob last) Whole 30. Prior to this, I've always eaten basically well, including all grains, legumes and dairy, but never enough vegetables or fruit, and way too much sugar. I had sugar in tea and coffee, frequent chocolate, and lots of biscuits and sweet treats! So I'm doing this to reset my diet and get rid of my sugar cravings once and for all. Normally, my digestion is very good, and although I did get bloated after a carb heavy meal such as pasta, once I took steps to reduce my sugar consumption and eat more veggies, my stomach would flatten within a couple of days. I have no medical issues at all. My challenges are that I have a one year old and I'm a working single mum, so I find it hard to get out to exercise unless it's pushing a pram around the streets. Now, I'm having problems I've never had before! Bloated always, a bit better in the mornings but worse at night, just as if I'd eaten a big refined carb meal. Gas (ugh). Bunged up for the first 5 days, then intermittent runs since then. And now, pale, floaty poo, making me think that I'm not digesting fat properly. It's NOT FAIR! I'm 100% compliant with the regime with no cheats or technicalities. Here is a sample of what I'm eating, what I had today (I'm getting lots of variety too with different meals every day, all cooked from scratch, including red meat, poultry, eggs and fish, many different veggies). 1. Scrambled eggs x 2, mushrooms sautéed in ghee, grilled tomato, baby spinach leaves and 1/3 poached chicken breast, plus 10 cashews. Mug herbal tea 2. Big bowl chicken and veg soup with homemade stock and 2/3 added poached chicken breast, 1 banana (veg in soup was sweet potato, carrot, zucchini and spring onion) Long black coffee Hard boiled egg and 6 cashews for emergency snack (don't usually snack but felt hollow today) 3. Roast lamb with roasted sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin and steamed broccoli, gravy made from pulsed leftover roast veg, pan juices and balsamic vinegar I usually have a couple tablespoons of coconut butter with an apple or a handful of berries after dinner, but didn't tonight as had already had banana for lunch. Plenty of water, at least 2 liters a day. The advice I'm reading on the forums for digestive issues seems to be to take enzymes and to add a probiotic. If this way of eating is so fabulous, why should I need supplementation to help my body do what it's always done well before (when I was eating "dirty")? Is it possible that some people's guts are just not suited to this regime, or rather, this regime is not one size fits all! I am starting to worry that a high animal protein/high fat diet could be causing lasting harm to my digestive tract. I don't want to turn into one of the many, many people who can't eat grains or legumes or dairy foods without getting stomach aches! Is this regime possibly going to cause me a problem where previously none existed?

Last year I did Whole 30 in January & saw that there was a shopping list for an "Anti-Inflammatory" version of Whole 30 - Is that resource still available? I couldn't find it anywhere.

Hi All, I completed my first Whole 30 last fall and am looking to start again sometime soon. On my first round, I noticed some great improvements in my skin, energy, and figure. However, I noticed some changes in my digestion for the worse. When not on Whole 30, I like to start my day with some fiber-rich whole grain cereal (Kashi) and greek yogurt. The combination of fiber, good bacteria, and protein keeps me full and aids in digestion. When on Whole 30, I ate a lot of eggs/ compliant sausage combos with some spinach thrown in the mix for breakfast (less fiber). Here's where it gets personal-- my bowel movements/ number 2s/ stools were noticeably looser/ more frequent/ less comfortable on Whole 30 compared to my regular diet. I'm all for the idea of purging your body, but I think regular loose stools to the degree I was experiencing them is not a healthy thing. I think starting my day with a dose of fiber helps my digestion throughout the day. When I search for fiber-rich compliant breakfasts, I see a lot of roasted vegetables (which take quite long in the morning, or never last well in the fridge overnight) or fruit-based breakfasts (sugar bomb?). I have a history of some digestive issues, so I do wonder if I'm more prone to these sorts of sensitivities than others may be. Does anyone have suggestions for quick fiber-rich breakfasts? I know that supplements are typically not recommended, but may that help in this case? Thanks for any and all input!

I can't seem to figure out my reaction to tomatoes. In my previous whole30, after about 3 weeks, every time I ate them I had really bad acid reflux and obvious digestion issues. So I stopped eating them. Then when I went off the whole 30 for the past month or 2, I was eating them much more and not really feeling the extreme effects (but I was also eating sugar, gluten, etc. and feeling inflammation and bloating from that so it could have all been a combined issue). Now in my current whole 30, I've been testing it again, and sometimes its really bad reactions, and other times I have none at all. If anyone can shed light on this I would much appreciate it. I really dont want to stop eating them so I keep finding reasons to "test it out", but I can't seem to come to a conclusion. I thought maybe the nightshades was an issue, but I'm fine with peppers and eggplant. I just don't get why sometimes its such bad gut issues and other times not.

This is a littler personal, but I've struggled with bad gas, constipation, and bloating for about 15 years (I'm only 29 - it started when I was a teenager). To the point sometimes the pain is so bad I can't even stand up and have to lie down. I've literally tried everything, even got a colonoscopy (which showed nothing). The only time I've really felt better is when I did a sugar detox last year, similar to Whole30 but you can still have some dairy. This is my first time doing W30 and I'm currently on day 23. I've noticed I'm losing weight but throughout most of the program my stomach problems seem to have gotten worse. I'm bloated almost every day, still constipated (although sometimes I get random diarrhea out of nowhere), and the pain seems almost worse than normal. My gut has also been very noisy, making "angry" noises when it's hurting badly. I was really hoping W30 would help but it seems to be making things worse - too many vegetables perhaps? If anyone has any insight, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm feeling very frustrated and upset; this is an awful way to feel every day.

I am hoping that maybe someone on here is in the same boat as me! I have had bad diarrhea for the past two weeks, at least from what I can remember. I wake up in the morning and after a few minutes, I have to go. Then within the hour I go at least 2 or 3 more times. I can't get to the gym until after an hour of waking up because I will have to use the restroom if I do. It's so frustrating, irritating, and my stomach hurts! I have been following program to a T since day 1 (not my first whole30 either). I'm just not sure what to do about this. It's really hindering my morning. Does anyone have any ideas? I've tried googling it but anything I read says nothing about it being so frequent so late in the game. Is my gut just not healed yet? Am I eating some foods that cause it even though I'm sticking to the meal templates etc. HELP!!!

I have been living a pretty healthy post W30 lifestyle for the past 2-3 years. I have done 3 W30's in the past 3 years. In the past two years I have had chronic diarrhea and digestive pain, with it getting much worse in the past 3 months. I am working with two MD's...one in Kaiser and one outside of Kaiser, who uses a far more holistic approach -- even though the Kaiser Md is delightfully more progressive than most. My Kaiser MD referred me to a GI specialist after hearing my complaints and after blood work had a celiac test come back slightly elevated. The GI specialist wants to to a double oscipy (at least that's what I call it)....endoscopy with a biopsy of the small intestine, and a colonoscopy....at the same time, to rule out Collitis, Celiac Disease and Chrons Disease. My biggest concern of all of this, I have to eat gluten -- and from the sound of it, lots of it -- for the next 3 weeks. I already know that gluten causes me a bunch of discomfort (pain, bloating, digestive issues, emotional troubles and brain fog), but from what I understand, there is not a way to do these tests properly without doing so. I'm torn -- my holistic MD says I can also just forego the tests and the discomfort, OR I can have my insurance actually pay for something to properly and medically rule it out. Any feedback? Why would any of you do?? Thanks in advance!!

I am currently on day 23 of my whole 30. The eating has been easier than I expected. Around day 10-18 I was having issue waking up really early in the morning. The suggestion was made that I wasn't getting enough fat. I made changes to up my fat through out the day and it's made a huge difference with my sleep and energy levels. I even hit a PR at the gym! Since then I have been having major bloat, gas, and loose stool. It's important to note that I only have the gas and bloat at night after dinner, the loose stool in the morning, and the bloat pretty much all day. The loose stool is so bad that I am woken up by my tummy rumbling because I need to use the restroom. I'm not sure if my body isn't used to the extra fat or if it's a possibility that this is connected with my menstrual cycle which started on day 21. I have been having these symptoms for over a week though. Here's what a typical day looks like when I work out. I'm usually pretty active as I'm a personal chef and on my feet a lot and have 2 large active dogs. -Breakfast: 2 eggs over easy cooked in coconut oil, handful of strawberries, 1/2 small or medium avocado -After Crossfit Snack: 1 hard boiled egg, handful of cherries or 1 apple -Lunch: Fist of fist and 1/2 of protein usually chicken or pork, zoodles, and 1/2 of a small or medium avocado -Dinner: Fist of fist and 1/2 of protein usually chicken or pork, zoodles, and 1/2 of a small or medium avocado What should I do? Continue with what I have been doing past the 30 days? Does my gut need more time to heal? I have really cut back on nuts since adding the avocados in. Especially since reading they can disrupt your sleep. I also try not to have to much fruit unless I need the energy for crossfit. I am going out of town for a conference tomorrow so eating specific things will be a little more difficult. I have a dozen eggs boiled, apples packed, and avocados ready to go. Help!

I'm on day 18. I've pretty much had gas issues since I started whole 30. Well, I've pretty much had gas issues forever. Even started out with severe colic says my mother. Anyway, most of the gas does not come out and that's the problem. It just sits in my stomach as bubbles or mild uncomfortableness. I was hoping it would be improved by now on the whole 30. So I've been looking at reasons why it wouldn't be. Is there some food that is whole 30 compliant that I need to cut out? Should I be looking into FODMAP this early on? I rarely get enough sleep. Maybe 6-7 hours a night. I have five kids from 2-16. So sleep will not be normal for a while. I have had periods of lots of stress, however I've been dealing with it better since I started eating better. I do have about 20lbs I'd like to lose of baby fat. I haven't been tracking my meals that well so I don't know if I can give a few days worth, but I'll think on it and write it in another post if I can remember.

I had a very bad night last night. And while I am doing better today, I'm still feeling very discouraged. The first 15 to 20 days of my Whole30 I continued to struggle with upper GI issues I have battled since I was 18, nearly 15 years of it. Somewhere near day 20 this finally began to get better. And I finally felt like my digestion evened out and was more average or normal for me. Then near Day 30 I started to observe new symptoms, lower GI issues. It could be they were there on Day 20 and I didn't recognize them because they were mild and I was so relieved to have the upper GI distress done with. I can't really say at this point. But I can say that I have had only one or two days since Day 30 where I could count my digestion as having no issues what-so-ever. No gas or gurgling at all. And this is what I find discouraging. Am I expecting something I shouldn't? I thought I was supposed to have invisible digestion. And when I was able to have multiple days in a row of that, THEN I could do a re-intro. I am on Day 44. I have tried to do a corn re-intro and a rice re-intro. While I think I know what symptoms I can attribute to those grains, I can't really know for sure because, in my mind, I never stabilized and had no symptoms at all. I have been researching FODMAPs and have been trying to cut them out but have not been successful. There are just SO many of them, and with it being harvest season I just can't justify passing those foods up. From the research I've done, I would be limited to squash, greens, and many root veggies, along with some citruses and olives. And that's basically it. I think I can do that for a while later into the winter, but I just can't start doing it out of the blue at this time of year. I was so discouraged last night I didn't even eat dinner. I was battling over whether to go out and get a Thai curry (comfort food) or not and basically throwing a pity party tantrum. I kept wondering why I should continue to bother. If I can't do re-intros, why not jump to riding my own bike. I won't know how things affect me one way or the other because I never don't have symptoms. So while I didn't break down and get curry, or a hamburger, I did decide to give myself a break today. I allowed in some dairy this morning and will in my dinner plan as well. And I expect to be back at compliance tomorrow, with FODMAPs. And I'm just going to wait until later in the season and see if I can find the right time to cut out FODMAPs to observe the affect. I know this is long. I needed to vent. And I'm looking for some support. I'm still pretty weepy over this. It just feels dumb and hopeless. I'm seeing other positives, but how can I possibly know what I can and can't digest well when it seems like I can't digest /anything/ properly?

Hi guys! I just purchased the Kindle edition of 'It Starts With Food' and am really enjoying it. The reason I bought it and am now going to start the Whole 30 program tomorrow is because for the last 18+ years I've struggled with IBS symptoms of the diarrhea, cramping, and bloating type. It comes and goes in severity and frequency but it's always there. I'm fortunate that it's never gotten to the point that I've been bed ridden but the symptoms certainly interfere with my health (obviously), my energy levels, and my ability to work. Case in point, I recently stopped working as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor because I was so drained (I was working too much overall but the IBS definitely played a role.) What I'm looking for is some stories of Whole 30 program success from those with similar IBS situations, particularly the diarrhea-type IBS... What worked for you what didn't? Any advice about additional measures, dietary changes that you found helpful in controlling/lessening your symptoms? (Ex. cutting out FODMAPS, coffee, etc.) Did the Whole 9/Whole 30 protocol take care of all symptoms, lessen them, or make them worse? Here's a little more background on me... I'm at a healthy weight (and don't want that to change), ~30 years old, and my husband and I are planning on starting to start trying to conceive in January. I do have a regular cycle but I do worry about how my digestive issues will affect my actual chances of conceiving and the health of a growing fetus. I take medication for hypothyroidism, Vitamin D, Vit C, fish oil, and a multi. I had a full blood work up two weeks ago and all levels are normal. I do have a history of anxiety and depression due to my family history as well as the deaths of two immediate family members. Was on medication for a year but now control with meditation/yoga, exercise, and talk therapy. Coming of the medication (Cymbalta) wrecked havoc on my IBS so I'll do whatever I need to to stay off of it! I was working out entirely too much because of my job (read 2-4 hours of exercise 5 days per week) and am so glad not to be doing that anymore (since 3 weeks ago). I took a week off from anything except walking and stretching and now try to get in some activity 5 to 6 days per week but keep it around 45 min and moderate in intensity with the exception of a long hike each weekend. I don't plan teaching again anytime soon so I am on the job hunt and hope I can get back to feeling healthy and energetic before starting a new position. ETA: My face has also been breaking out a lot lately and that rarely happens. Could be from the change from working out a ton to now being active a reasonable amount. I will interested to see how the Whole 30 protocol affects this. My diet is overall quite good and not that far removed from the Whole 30 program... *Lots of fresh veggies at lunch and dinner *Moderate amount of fruit, usually at breakfast *Almost always have a small afternoon snack in addition to my three meals (typically a non-dairy KIND bar sometimes with fruit) *Cut out Gluten containing foods, and the remaining small amount of dairy products I still ate a month ago *Usually have eggs, fish or occasionally beef once a day *Drink 1 cup of coffee in the morning and 1 in the afternoon *Drink lots of water. I often drink home brewed, unsweetenend herbal tea and homemade lemonade made with fresh lemon juice and lemon stevia from NuNaturals. *Generally drink a cup of coconut water after workout/run etc. A typical day of eating now looks like this... Breakfast ~7am: 2 Egg and 1 banana pancake topped with nut butter, figs or strawberries, and cinnamon (also have 1/2 to 1 cup of coffee with almond milk) Lunch ~12pm: big greens and veggie salad topped with salsa and avocado, 1 slice homemade gluten free bread, and 1 portion canned salmon Afternoon Snack ~3pm: non-dair kind bar with or without fruit or homemade oat/nut/flax seed granola with almond milk (also usually have 1 cup of coffee with almond milk) Dinner: Usually very similar to lunch but sometimes make homemade sweet potato soup or homemade gluten free, dairy free veggie pizza. Evening Snack/Dessert: homemade oat/nut/flax seed granola with almond milk and berries (Lots of water and herbal iced tea in the morning, when active, and throughout the day.) The main changes that I need/want to implement to be on the Whole 30 is... *Cut out the non-gluten grain products I'm eating daily, particularly oats *Cut out any soy and legume products (usually have them ~once per day *Make my own almond milk to replace store bought (used to do that but stopped because of cost and the fact that it spoils easily) and replace any other processed foods *Eat more meat *Cut out my evening snack/dessert (generally homemade oat/flax/nut granola with almond milk) *I generally eat sunflower butter instead of peanut butter but need to cut the PB out completely *Eat more meat/fish *Stop consuming stevia. Sorry this is such a long explanation - any help, advice you have is much appreciated. Thanks so much!

I've been using NOW Super Enzymes for a few weeks now and I noticed a difference, although I am not the best at remembering to take them before every meal, but my stomach still has some issues and I want to make sure that I am still on the right track to healing my gut. I bought NOW HCL as I saw someone recommend it in the forums. Can anyone speak on taking the two supplements together? I'm not sure if the HCL is meant to replace the Enzymes or be taken with them for additional support. I just want a normally functioning gut all the time! Ugh.

So, I have searched the forum for the answer to this question and I have decided it would be easiest to post here: What kind of sauerkraut should I get. I bought an on shelf organic sauerkraut that contains only cabbage and sea salt. I thought I was buying the right kind, but I see on this site that it needs to be unpasteurized and from the fridge section. Well, I have already opened my $7 jar of sauerkraut and had some with my lunch. Will it help me at all with my digestive troubles to eat this, or should I return my second jar and try to find one that is labelled unpasteurized? Thanks!!!

Ok. So i have always had digestive issues (diarrhea) for as long as I can remember. I am on day 15 of this program (woot woot ... halfway!) so I know that a lot of people say that they don't get full effects until closer to the end. BUT, this is bad. I'll get REALLY bad gas pain (like crippling) and usually instant "digestive issues" after that. A couple days ago I realized I was eating mostly protein and very little carbs. So I've made sure to include carbs now. But, I still have the same issues as before. For instance, this morning I had a casserole that consisted of eggs, egg whites, sweet potato, spinach, ground beef (bought from US Wellness), onions and mushrooms and I ate less than half an apple, I also drank some Yerba mate tea (nothing added). I drank plenty of water and still as soon as I got to my desk at 8 I was up and in the bathroom! It'd be one thing if something totally different was happening while on the Whole30, but this is exactly how I felt when I was eating non-paleo. Any help, advice or explanation would be greatly appreciated. P.S. I haven't exercised since beginning this program but this morning I started T25. This may or may not be the cause of the issue today. But, it certainly was not prior to today.

From what I understand, around 2T of fermented foods with each meal will help with your gut transition to whole food eating. There is a lot of scattered info on fermented foods. Can we start a one-stop list of compliant fermented foods? Possible Fermented Foods with compliant ingredients: Kimchi Sauerkraut Beet Kvass (What about Pickled foods (pickles, herring, etc) or Olives? Tea? Coffee?)

Introduction: I have spent the last several years trying to reclaim my college figure, which really started about 5 minutes after I graduated. I have been plagued over the years with seasonal allergies, a horrible caffeine addiction, uneven bouts of energy over the course of a day, poor sleeping patterns, and gut bloat among other things. Over the years, I tried so many “diet plans†and options including (1) calorie cutting, (2) meal replacement shakes/ drinks, (3) diet pills and supplements, and (4) crazy exercise routines. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, I heard about Whole30. I originally learned about the plan from my friend Sarah, who was in the last days of her first Whole30. Turns out a college friend, Laura, also had experience with Whole30. Between these two ladies, I had a good accountability and support system. After hearing their personal testimonials, I decided to begin “Mission Whole30 Educationâ€. However, even with the support system and research, I had to deal with myself. Time and time again, dieting had failed for one reason or another. When it came down to it, I was afraid. Afraid of the unknown, afraid of changing the routine at home, afraid of admitting I had unhealthy relationships with food, afraid of a new lifestyle, afraid of the financial and time commitment required for clean eating, and the biggest fear… Failure: “It will be too hard and this isn't a good fit for my lifestyle, so I already know it won't work.†At the end of the day, the only thing I had to be afraid of was my future. Did I want my future to be one where food controlled or contributed to my mood, sleep, health, stress level, work productivity, or personal relationships? The answer was a resounding “NO!†inside my head. And food is linked to all of those things. Whole30 promised a lifestyle change, not a temporary diet as so many before had done. I felt this time was truly different. So, after a lot of researching and soul-searching, I was ready to move from pure contemplation to actual preparation. In the few days before my start date, my determination only continued to grow. At that point, I was sure that I would make it to 30. Method: I was 99.9% compliant with the program—only one small issue with some salad dressing during my first week. During the Whole30, I ate beef, chicken, seafood, eggs, fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, olives, clarified butter or ghee, and healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and coconut oil. Notes: The Whole30 involves a lot of prep-work and planning. No really, a ton. I spent about $100 just buying non-food supplies that I would need for the new plan which included extra plastic storage containers, Ziploc bags in all sizes, an insulated lunch bag, freezer packs, Nalgene water bottles, and cast iron pans. (In case you wondered: Plastic storage containers and Ziplocs are for pre-portioning, freezing and traveling with food. The lunch bag and freezer packs were also for food travel, mostly to take to work. The Nalgene water bottles—2 of them—were to make sure I was drinking the recommended half-my-body-weight-in-ounces of filtered agua per day. Agua means water, I live in Texas folks. Cast iron is generally thought to be a safer cooking tool than non-stick pans, which will eventually start to degrade and become an undesired “additive†to your food. When eating chemical-free, fresh food those additives are highly undesirable.) My only setback occurred with salad dressing on a business lunch. I called prior to the reservation, spoke to a manager regarding my restrictive diet, and was assured that a dressing option was available without sugar, only to find out that was not the case… After I was halfway through the salad, of course. I chalked it up as a “learning experience†with the Whole30 moderators, as it was purely accidental in nature. Also, I indulged in some faux-ice cream during week 4, around day 26. It had 100% compliant ingredients (frozen bananas, unsweetened cocoa powder, fresh ground almond butter, and coconut milk blended) and I only ate a small amount, which did not affect the remainder of my meal or the day. Therefore, I do not regret that decision to have a little “faux-creamâ€. Lastly, I was not compliant in breaking up with my scale. I did not get good measurements for myself on day 1 of the program. Therefore, I used once weekly weigh-ins to help me determine my progress in addition to the changes in the fit of my clothing. Looking back, it would have been much more fun to be totally surprised on day 30. I think I will stick to that on my next Whole30. Results: We have arrived to the conclusion section for my personal results in following the Whole30 food regimen. WEIGHT: Lost 10.8 pounds. Obviously, the first 2-4 pounds were water weight. After that, my body began using fat stores as energy instead of the previously negotiated route of readily available insulin (aka blood sugar) and glycogen. Also, there are very noticeable improvements in my mid-section: “gut bloat†has drastically reduced, love handles are nearly gone, and I can see my abs again! Who knew all those gym days were actually creating results underneath the yucky-tummy?? INCHES: I did not get full measurements on day 1. I believe the total is somewhere between 5 and 6 for my arms, thighs, waist, and stomach. I should have included my neck, chest, calves and butt but I didn't. Next time I will be more diligent. CLOTHING: I am down one size in women's clothing (which is really 2 numbers). And I am, in fact, wearing jeans that I have not been able to fit into since undergrad. I purchased these Lucky Jeans, I believe during Summer 2005. So we're talking about 8 year old jeans that now fit again. Woo-hoo! SLEEP: I am on a normal sleep schedule, for the most part. During the week, my brain begins sending “tired signals†about 1.5 -2 hours post dinner. At that point, I have listened (instead of fighting) and begun the preparations for sleep. Most nights, I have refrained from using electronic devices within an hour of falling asleep, to aid my brain in beginning the resting process. Re-reading It Starts With Food has been a good, easy way to make my eyes (and brain) more tired. Once I am asleep, I rarely waken until morning. I am sleeping a solid 7 to 8 hours per night, which is a gigantic improvement from the 5 to 6 hours (not including the mid-night awake periods) of the previous routine. It seems that my body has adjusted to the patterns of light and dark better than ever before. I have not felt tired or lethargic during the day either, with no thoughts of napping or resting at all. ENERGY: Let's talk about the energy! When I woke up every morning, my energy was drastically better than it was pre-Whole30. No one would have ever described me as a “morning person,†especially not without caffeine. Things have changed. After the first 4 days of adjustment, I no longer needed a sugary latte in my morning routine. I actually quit caffeine in the morning, because my body wasn't telling me that I needed it anymore. When I did have a morning beverage, it was either (1) water or (2) decaffeinated tea. (Water became a much bigger staple in my daily routine too!) There were a few days during my Whole30 that I did not get as much sleep as I would have liked, which resulted in a slightly different day energy-wise. But I was able to chug through them without using caffeine as a crutch. If you had told me that was possible 60 days ago, I would have laughed in your face. When I got 7- 8 hours of sleep, I did not experience a change in energy during the course of the next day. My energy level stayed stable between meals and even heightened during workouts, which used to be a battle just to “gear myself up†to find the energy. Obviously, the energy began to dissipate after dinner, which is actually the normal pattern of good sleep. So all good in this department! DIGESTION: Well, no one really wants to talk about this but I'm going to anyway. Because people will wonder about it and have questions on their own Whole30 journey. I asked questions and had discussions with my girlfriends about the topic. So here we go. My bowels and gut were definitely “irregular†before Whole30. I might have even had an acute case of “leaky guy†as it is so named in the medical community, based on my usual symptoms after eating an unhealthy meal. Bloating, gassiness, distended abdomen, and general heaviness in the stomach are not normal bodily reactions to food. Now, my digestion is normal—stomach never feels nauseous or heavy after eating; my restroom habits are regular and comfortable (Google it!), absorption of water and other liquids is high, and no bloat even when digesting lots of red meat and dense vegetables. And the best result: My brain now tells me when I am full! I don't have to wait until I am miserable for the message to transmit from stomach to brain! IT IS MAGIC!! SKIN: Since I have been in middle school, I have (like most women) struggled with one week per month of misbehaving skin. Obviously, this is mostly an effect of the rapid change in hormone levels that surrounds that oh-so-lovely time of the month. *Note: Gentlemen, feel free to applaud us for dealing with this every month for a 40 year timeframe.* The rest of the time, my skin was usually classified as “good†with only a few dark spots, slightly oily in the T-zone, acne scars, uneven color, etc. No matter what I tried—regular facials, new washes/lotions/gels/creams, shower steaming, picking/ not picking—I still had issues. Pre-Whole30 I decided to stick with the exact same skin regiment during the 30 as before, so that the control stayed the same and the only difference was diet. Over the course of 30 days, I saw an overall improvement in my skin. I decided not to have a facial, to see how my pores reacted to zero elimination. Even during that typical problem week, I had far fewer issues. My skin looks more evenly colored and natural. The typical T-zone oiliness has significantly diminished, although not disappeared. I have heard more than once, that my face and eyes are “glowingâ€. Which has been followed with a question about pregnancy on two occasions (but no, I am not pregnant.) Maintenance: Here is the difficult part: Defining and maintaining with a successful plan for the future. Like say, staying away from horrible caffeine addictions. In order to successfully maintain, I will have to constantly remind myself about the positive changes that have resulted from the completion of the Whole30. I will continue to internalize the benefits of the program through self-testing and continued education, focusing on the meaningful and worthwhile information. I will have to be patient with myself, realizing that years and years of bad habits cannot be undone in only 30 days. This lifestyle change will be a continuing struggle and I will not be perfect, but I will continue to push myself and stay committed to the future. Starting today, I will stay on a Whole30/strict Paleo diet, until a food item that is so delicious and worth the indulgence crosses my path. At that point, I will make a conscious choice to come off plan for that special item. These indulgences will be well-thought, not impulsive, and unrelated to alcohol fueled situations. I will not cave to grocery store cookies, cheap chain fast food meals, not-so-special sandwiches, and other ordinary and easily obtained items. I will be prepared for events and occurrences where off-plan food will be served, armed with back-up snacks and approved food items. I will continue to grocery shop for healthier food when available, while also reminding myself that whole food is better than processed, ingredient added food no matter the conditions. I will not allow myself to be controlled by the lack of convenient, easy food options; I will remind myself that my health is worth the extra effort. Lastly, I will stand strong in my decision to create this lifestyle change even when met with opposition, because this is MY BODY and MY HEALTH. The only person I am cheating by cheating is me.

I'm in the home stretch.. Day 24! Up until this past weekend, I was starting to feel really good..good enough to continue on to a Whole45 or 60. I think I finally found a good balance with food/enough water/pre and post workout meals. My sleep is definitely deeper, but I do wake up once or twice a night to use the bathroom but I'm definitely feeling more rested, even when I get up at 5 fo rmy work out. I am not recapping what I ate completely...just noting the meals that had new foods during this Whole30, if I need to provide more detail, I can. Saturday-- My stomach started to not feel very well and blamed it on the 2 cups of coffee I had. During the week, I've gotten down to just a half a cup or so I take from home since I'm not a big fan of the coffee at work. On the weekends, I will have a little more while I have breakfast enjoying the morning. For the rest of the day, my stomach was definitely upset. That night we made a chicken and shrimp pumpkin coconut (with broccoli and peppers) curry over cauliflower rice. I started feeling a little bloated, but nothing too bad. Sunday-- My stomach bothered me all day and I had a tough time getting things going.. as the day went on, I didn't feel as bloated but I still didn't "go" as much as I would like. Dinner included brussel sprouts again. Monday-- Not so much bloated or feeling bad....but no luck in the bathroom. I picked up some kombucha to try along with my meals. My analysis... something to do with the cauliflower/broccoli/brussel sprouts. Does anyone have any feedback? I'm definitely staying away from those, eating plenty of sweet potatoes with the skin on...when should I feel back to normal?

Ahhh, the toilet troubles are back. I'm in my 4th week of my second Whole 30, and am experiencing a rather stunning silence on the poop front. Things that are probably helping: - trying to eat some kind of cooked leafy green every morning (kale or spinach), along with a few ounces of protein and other veggie matter - I get plenty of sweet potatoes (usually eating those at least 1x day, often more) - have been laying off the eggs because I suspected they aren't helping my digestion - Also taking a dose of Natural Calm (calcium/magnesium supplement) in the morning and the evening - Trying to get a few ounces of kombucha in each day, too Things that are probably hurting: - have been under tons of stress at work for the past 1.5 weeks... working 14 hour days and other nonsense - almond butter. There, I said it. The same thing happened last time I did a Whole 30. It really annoys me. I guarantee that if I went off-map and had a few gross Standard American Diet meals, things would start moving again.... I never had digestion problems before the Whole 30. It's a little discouraging to put this much work into my diet and then experience this kind of result. Open to any advice.