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Hi everyone!! I'm on day 10 of my first W30 and I am FINALLY feeling okay. I was struggling with massive bloating at first but I'm feeling fine today! That being said, I have an essential question for the pros out there. I work really odd hours as a morning news producer. My alarm goes off at 3am every day and I'm out the door by 3:40am latest. I have a 30 minute drive to work and then it's off to the races. I pack a breakfast (usually a spinach and tomato frittata with homemade chicken sausage and 1/4-1/2 avocado) but I don't eat it until around 9am. Before breakfast I'll have around 2 cups of coffee with nutpod creamer and a ton of fruit infused water. Then I'll have lunch at around 1pm at home, snack before and after gym at 4p, dinner at 7ish... bed at 8 or 9pm. Does my body not being "awake" at the ungodly 3am hour really matter that much? Or can I continue with my way of "waking myself up" at 9am with the rest of the world if that's what works for me? It's hard because it feels like I'm awake for so long ... meaning eating can easily get way out of control. I've thought of trying to eat 1 hard boiled egg as I'm leaving the house, but I can't see how much difference that would really make! And I'm also worried it might make me RAVENOUS all morning. On weekends, I'm definitely eating within an hour of waking no problem. Thanks for your help!

Today is Day 11 - As far as I know, I've done perfectly... till tonight. I sprinkled garlic salt on my food.... THEN REALIZED it had sugar as an added ingredient. Total accident. Start over?! HELP!

Hello! My name is April and I am excited to be on day 1 of my journey. I have a question about cooking with oils and wasn't sure where to post as it's not specifically related to cooking and recipes. As someone who used to "track macros" (count and keep track of calories and macronutrients), I can't help but think about the number of calories in coconut and olive oil. Yes, I know they're healthy but should I be concerned if I'm going from cooking with cooking spray to cooking with oils? I know the Whole30 isn't about weight loss but I also don't want to gain a ton of weight if I can avoid it. Thanks for your help! -April

I am going to Sundance Film Festival for 4 nights, I have to go for work, but I want to stay committed to my January Whole30 the whole time. I’ve never been to Sundance but have heard stories about it being a huge weeklong party: drinking and staying up late, shmoozing, eating out, drinking, drinking and more drinking. Ack! Anyone been to Sundance on Whole30? Anyone going to be there this weekend and want to check in with me? Would appreciate all the help I can get.

Hi. Not sure if this is the correct place to post this thread, but i'm wondering if anyone has experienced less migraines after doing the whole30? I have suffered from migraines since i was 5 years old, and i'm getting kinda desperate to find something natural that can help reduce the severeness of the migraines. I have been taking medication almost my whole life, and my migraines combined with the side effects of the medication is controlling large parts of my life. I'm looking for a lifestyle change, and i just want to see if anyone else has had a positive effect after doing the 30 days before i start to commit to testing this out. Thanks for any replies. xx

Hi All! I started on 1/3 and I have to say I'm surprised at how HUNGRY I am all the time. I'm staying away from everything off plan and am eating until I feel comfortably full. But it just seems, without fail, that I'm freaking ravenous within 1 to 2 hours. Did anyone else feel like this? I feel like I'm eating more now than I did before. Am I doing something wrong? I want to succeed, but if I'm worried that I will be miserable and hungry the whole 30 days if I'm constantly dealing with nagging hunger. Any advice appreciated!

Hello, I'm looking for some help with my Whole30. I am a 27 year old female trying the program out for the first time after hearing excellent reviews from co-workers. I bought the book and was really excited and motivated to get my Whole30 started. I was aiming at losing some weight (I probably had ~5 pounds to lose), to improve sleep, to improve mood (specifically, to be less fatigues and unmotivated by 2pm in the work day), and to help with swelling in my lower legs (called panniculitis). I had pretty high hopes after hearing about the program and reading the first few chapters of the book. I'm currently on day 22 and I'd go as far to say that it's pretty much a disaster. I'll back up and provide some more detail. The first week was great! I felt excited, motivated, energized, and my pants were less tight! Around week 2 I started noticing some undesirable side effects. My acne (which isn't really acne... I usually get 2-3 pimples per month) was TERRIBLE. My skin was extremely oily and broken out all over. They ranged from small, hard pimples on my cheeks and forehead, to under the skin painful welts on my chin. I read on this forum that nuts could be doing this. So I decreased my nuts. I will mention that I am a pescitarian, so I don't eat poultry/beef/pork. I do eat fish, seafood, eggs, and dairy [when not on the Whole30]. So I cut out nuts and stuck with my other protein sources. I also started noticing my mood getting worse (sad, angry for no reason, unmotivated). So for this, I read on here to increase my fruit and starchy food...I ate more starches and fruit daily. My side effects from week 3 up to now is what motivated to seek help here. I am depressed, unmotivated, and a completely different person for the worse. I am SO agitated all the time (when people talk to me, I was to cry and/or scream), I'm tired beyond belief, the acne has not changed at all, I have a hard time staying asleep all night, and I haven't seen any improvements in my lower leg swelling. Oh and to top it off, I'm now experience bloating, constipation, and terrible gas (sorry, TMI) that I never experienced before my Whole30. Again, I've looked up most of these symptoms on here and I got info on the depression side; eat more starchy foods and fat...but I already am. As for the gastrointestinal issues, I'm at a loss; seems like the Whole30 foods are causing me issues that other people eliminate during their Whole30. With only 8 days left to go, I'm seriously considering blowing it off. For whatever reason, the Whole30 isn't working with my body.Here is a sample meal plan to help guide any advise that you may have. I really appreciate it. Breakfast - 2 eggs fried in EVOO, homemade hash browns with onions, and half an avocado with S&P (I'll throw in some fresh berries if I still feel hungry) Lunch - baked sweet potato, sautéed kale, and a fruit (usually an apple or banana) Dinner - grilled salmon, lemon garlic grilled shrimp, and roasted veggies with EVOO & balsamic Thank you in advance, I really appreciate any help

Hello! I am on my first round of Whle30 and on day 14! woo woo half way practically! but I would love some critic to see if there is anything I might be able to improve on or maybe something im actually doing all wrong haha so here's a little play by play of my day and meals from this week ( week 2 whole30) Just a preface, I come from a "bodybuilding" background of fasted cardio and calorie restriction. Before whole30 I was most recently eating keto and macro tracking because I felt it helped with my hormone imbalance (high test low estrogen, no cysts so im told its not PCOS) with terrible cravings, mood swings, low libido, and hunger signals all out of whack, my poor husband! I have suffered from amenorrhea for the past three years and my weight has fluctuated between 130-170lbs during that time. I have a history of binge eating and anorexia that I believe will forever haunt me. Any way just some useful information I figured. Currenly i am happy with my weight although its been two weeks since i weighed myself (obeying Melissa) but im probably 140lbs 5 foot 6 inches and an athletic build (ex gymnast but still pretty muscle dense and fairly lean but not unhealthy i would guess about 17-20% bodyfat) 4:30am - Wake up (I work 6am-2pm) I have been weaning myself off this slowing so I don't shock my body but I used to do 30min on the stationary bike 5 mornings a week fasted, so far I have it down to 15-20min, next week I am aiming for 10-15min and probably cut it out the week after next. 5:30am I usually drink an espresso with 1/4 cup lite coconut milk and about 1 TBSP MCT oil ( I love the thickness it gives the coffee) on my way to work, and then eat breakfast once I get there ( I do this to give myself the max sleeping time but still don't want to eat while driving so I can give my full attention to my breakfast). 5:45am Breakfast - 3 cage free eggs cooked in a spoonful of ghee (fourth and heart) , 2 huge kale leaves cut up and sautéed in another spoon of ghee with peppers onion and garlic. 11:00 am Lunch - 1 can wild salmon (I think its 6 or 8 oz) , 1 heaping spoon of primal kitchen mayo, 1 open handful or olives, on top of about 2 cups spinach and 1 cup spiraled zucchini washed down with a Hint water. ( usually a decaf coffee with again about 1/3 cup lite coconut milk some where before I leave work) 2:00pm off work 3:00 pm Work out ( 5 x a week) - usually lasts about an hour and consists of about 40 mins circuit style weight training and 20 min treadmill or stair master hill intervals. 4:00 pm get home and usually make dinner while packing my lunch and prepping my breakfast for tomorrow. 4:30 or 5:00pm Dinner- a palm sized portion of pork tenderloin that was roasted with veggies ( Brussels, onions, garlic, beats, and cauliflower) coated in EPIC brand beef tallow) served on a bed of arugula and topped with a Tessemae's or primal kitchen dressing. 5:30pm - take my pup on a 15-30 min walk and then get ready for the next day or hang out with my husband until around 7:00 when I shower and settle down with some herbal tea or crio bru with coconutmilk and my book. Usually asleep around 8 or 9pm. * I have found myself being able to follow this template fairly easily, I find on some days I get very hungry between meals 1 and 2 or even after dinner before bed. about once a week I will have a what I call mini binge session where I stay compliant but its a bad habit and I always wake up feeling slightly swollen, puffy, hot, and exhausted regardless how much I sleep. Its not always that im hungry i feel physically full at times but just feel drawn to the fridge on these nights it happens! For example this happened last night. around 6:30pm I found my self dipped brussel sprouts in mayo and ghee and eating coconut oil with a spoon ( improvement from the first week where I ate three lara bars, 2 epic bars, and so many nuts) since then I have banned nuts, dried fruit, and bars from my whole30 (straight abstainer here). the binges have only happened twice since i started the whole30 (14 days in) but prior it would happen like twice a week on bad food and carbs so its an improvement. im sorry for the novel but i hope i can gain a little perspective and criticism on this post! thanks so much! i really want to gain control over my relationship with food!

Hello!!! I am new here to Whole30... my boyfriend and I started our first round on Monday. We're on day 3! Besides an awful headache yesterday, a not so bad headache today, and a few cravings.... we don't feel half bad! I was expecting to feel a lot worse! HELP! Am I doing something wrong here?!? Is anyone else expietencing this?! Thank you so much!

Firstly, let me start by saying that I know weight loss is not the point of W30. I know it is about NSVs but given that I’ve achieved many NSVs already, my primary focus is weight loss as I am about 10-15kg overweight and have been trying to lose it for over two years. In the past two years, I have done 6 W30s and eat mostly paleo the rest of the time. During my first two W30s, I lost 4kg but did not lose any weight in any of my subsequent W30s. At the beginning of this year, I began another W30 to try lose a bit more weight – this time I cut out fruit of any kind as well as nuts (unless as a garnish on a salad). 6 weeks later, I have not lost a single gram. I exercise 3-4 x week. I have PCOS/insulin resistance – I know this makes weight loss difficult but I am so frustrated and disappointed not to be losing weight. I am ashamed to say I am considering re-adopting a Weight Watchers style diet. I know that WW is completely rubbish and is a terrible way of eating but I lost about 18kg using WW 5 years ago, which I have never been able to achieve with W30/paleo. Typical meals for me: Breakfast 2 boiled egg, roast sweet potato, cauliflower, kale, kimchi, olive oil Chicken thigh, roast vegetables, ½ avocado Beef mince, roast vegetables, ½ avocado Lunch/dinner Kale/spinach/lettuce base, roast chicken, roast vegetables, ½ avocado, olive oil, kimchi Beef mince, cauliflower puree, spinach, broccoli Kale/spinach/lettuce, 2 boiled eggs, carrots/cucumber/red pepper, ½ avocado, tahini, kimchi Kale/spinach/lettuce, beef meatballs, mixed roasted or raw vegetables, olive oil, kimchi Pulled lamb, spinach, cauliflower, tahini, ½ avocado Shakshuka/baked eggs (2 eggs) with ½ avocado, kimchi I think I am eating enough because I don’t get too hungry between meals (although I am always hungry by the time the next meal comes around). I rarely eat a pre/post workout snack as I normally exercise around dinner time anyway (30-40 min run or 1 hour strength training). I eat a lot of kimchi, drink kombucha and a use apple cider vinegar in salad dressings and drink a diluted glass of ACV most days. Does anyone have any advice? Am I doing something wrong?

Brand spanking new to Whole30 and couldn't be more excited to start this new adventure! However, I have a wee snag and could use all the advice I can get my eyes on! I work out of town and reside in a camp when I'm on shift. Before I fly up, I pack as many Paleo/Whole30 approved snacks and a couple of frozen homemade meals. However, while I'm in camp, my meals are prepared daily, I'm not allowed to leave the camp during my shift (so no grocery shopping), nor can I take leftovers for lunch the next day. The bright side is the camp does provide fresh raw veggies and fruit. My main concern is the protein. Because I have zero control of my meals, the quality of the ingredients, or their preparation, I fear I will not be successful on this adventure. Is anyone else in a similar position and have been successful on the program? Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do regarding my protein intake?

Hi everyone! Today is day one for me! I am excited and nervous. I just ate breakfast- 2 red apples with almond butter and coffee black with cinnamon. I noticed that many of the recipes are not exactly vegetarian friendly. I was wondering if my fellow veggies out there could give me some tips of what their favorite recipes were throughout the Whole30 or maybe some resources to find recipes? Also, I am so excited we are allowed to have potatoes and nut butter (besides peanut). What is a go to vegetarian breakfast for you guys? What about lunch and dinner? How much water are you drinking? Thanks so much and I am so excited to start this journey. I should also mention that I am an avid runner in my mid twenties so this will be interesting performance wise but I am willing to sacrifice my athletic performance for a brief period if it means being healthier in the long run. Thanks guys! Looking forward to some feedback!

Hi, my name is Stephanie and I'm a sugar addict. No seriously... I don't remember an entire day that I have gone without chocolate EVER. Until yesterday, which was my very first day on the Whole 30. This is my first Whole 30 and I have been doing research and reading "It Starts With Food" and the "Whole 30" book for over a month before I decided I would start Jan. 2, 2016. My first day went surprisingly well. Despite my constant cravings and my sugar dragon ROARING all day, I did it and I felt AWESOME doing it! I was, however, a terrible planner. I went to Whole Foods that morning to buy ingredients for Day 1 recipes... which cost $70... 3 meals... $70. So for all you veterans and Whole 30 pros out there.. Where do you grocery shop and how to make it more affordable? sheesh. So day 1 went well, and then I "woke" up. I put "woke" in quotes because I hardly slept last night. I was tossing and turning all night with a slight headache. IS THIS NORMAL? So for anyone who has done this before or experienced some of the things I have, I'm asking for advice! I'm also looking for support because I have two roommates; and one is a functioning alcoholic who eats dominos every day, and the other is a firm believer in sugary carbs for breakfast lunch and dinner followed by more sugar for dessert. So if anyone else is on this journey with me, I'd love to connect! Newbie, veteran, anyone! I just woke up to day 2 and I'm ready to start my day! YEAH!

Hi, I'm on day 7 of my whole30 and feel progressively worse everyday. I started for 2 reasons - 1. I have ulcerative colitus, and am looking for a way to control it though diet and 2. though years of flares, I've become overly reliant on carbs and sugar for energy - time I've spent feeling so unwell that the only thing that appeals is jelly on toast, and I think that's had a psychological effect on my 'need' for carbs and sugar. (Worth noting, though, that I was no flaring when I started). But I just feel awful and so frustrated. I'm training for a marathon, and I suck at running since I started. I feel constantly light headed and sick, and because nothing else appeals I'm eating too many nuts and dried fruit (I know, I know - tell me how to stop). My stomach feels almost as bad as when I'm having a UC flare, and I look about 5 months pregnant. Plus, I live in Greece i.e. carb and legume heaven. It is *so* hard to find complient food here - and I cannot get my hands on a sweet potato no matter how hard I look. (On the plus side, incredible olive oil!!) I'm searching for some tips, some encouragement, reasssurance that I'll feel better soon, because I am so close to just throwing in the towel, eating some jam and bread and actually being able to enjoy my long run today... Thanks all.

Hello Whole30 family! I'm finally going to start the Whole30 next Monday. I'm waiting mostly because I'm moving this coming weekend and don't anticipate having a ton of time to cook/prepare food over the course of this week. My live-in boyfriend and I are doing it together because we tend to enable each other's sugar monsters (do you want to go get froyo?" "I'll go if you want to.") and want to live a healthy life together. Because I've got a whole (hah, punny) week before I officially start, I'm trying to make this my "slow start" - eating pretty healthy, but still allowing myself to indulge 1-2x/week when we say goodbye to our various friends and favorite restaurants. Plus, I'm hoping it'll be easier since we won't have to throw away any food and can start this journey in a completely new environment, one free of ghost-of-ben&jerry's past. I would definitely classify myself as someone who wavers a lot with her diet; I have done sugar cleanses, carb-free months, etc., and always manage to fall back off the wagon pretty hard. I have a weight range of 155-170 lbs that I generally fall under, and I'm at that 170 right now, which is pretty difficult for me to see. I would love to be at 140, since I'm 5'5," but I'm really trying not to make this about weight. Luckily enough I already stay away from the scale, if not for my mental health than more so for the fact that I'm always scared to see the number. I'm someone who really values her mental health and that's why I want to do the Whole30 - I really want to learn how to actually listen to my body and have a healthy relationship with food, not the one I have now where the "I'm bored, what's in the pantry" thought comes into my head way more than it should. I also struggle with positive self image, ie moving between "I should be proud of how I look so I should be able to eat this doughnut because who cares what other people think" and "well eating that doughnut makes you feel awful but it tastes so good so what do I do." I'm also a mediocre runner; prior to a week or so ago I was doing 10-15 miles/week. Last week I wanted to take a break from running to try and focus on making healthy choices from a food standpoint. I want to start running again, though, so it'll be interesting to see how running fits into the whole30. Besides all of that, I'm starting law school in a few weeks, which is a lot of the reason I want to do the whole30: I want to make sure that through the stresses of studying and reading and exams I can keep a healthy lifestyle and not sink into old, bad habits. I probably should have started this earlier, but I honestly knew nothing about it, and I don't want to wait until further in the semester when I'm shoulders deep in textbooks. Any words of encouragement are more than welcomed, especially in regards to keeping from snacking and staying satisfied while in school! I'm excited to start this journey and am praying for success!

I am just finishing up Day 2 and I just would like to know if I am eating enough of the right food and enough food in general. I am still getting hungry in between meals and dull headaches. Not sure if I need to change anything. Here is what i had for food yesterday and today: Day 1 Breakfast Hard boiled egg Half an avocado 10 oz of black coffee (getting used to this with no cream/sugar) Lunch 1/4 lb hamburger w/Hawaiian salt to taste(no hormones, steroids or antibiotic raised beef) Spinach salad with salsa, hand full of coconut flakes and less than hand full of almonds Carrots Packet of mustard (compliant) Snack 1/4 lb hamburger 1 TB of coconut flakes Dinner A little more than palm sized steak (no hormones, steroids or antibiotic raised beef) Grilled zucchini tossed in EV olive oil, organic sulfite free lemon juice and Hawaiian salt) Baked potato with EV olive oil side of homemade olive oil mayo Day 2 Breakfast 3 scrambled eggs with dill weed red peppers tablespoon of mayo Lunch Can of soy free tuna mixed with mayo & extra virgin olive oil dill weed, small tomato, red pepper, small amount of broccoli watermelon Dinner Left over steak (smaller than palm size) hard boiled egg baked potato with EV Olive Oil broccoli with mayo and EV olive oil, dill weed and salt Thanks!

So today is my OFFICIAL first day on the Whole30 program. I got some reading done in the ISWF book last night and have started to understand a little better how food fuels the body. I did a soft start for the last 2 days, but it is on like donkey kong now! Question: I have been searching for a pain reliever (aleve, advil, ibprofin, aspirin, tylenol, ANYTHING) that DOESN'T have a filler in it that is not approved. Most have corn starch or another grain additive and a lot have coloring like Blue 40 (or whatever). Any suggestions? Thanks, team! It's good to get this thing started. I am excited to see what results this life change may bring.

Hi everyone! I'm trying to start my very first Whole30, but I'm very anxious about how to do it. I am a freshman living in an on-campus dorm at a very small University, which means there are a lot of restrictions on what I can and cannot eat. I'm trying to figure out how I can possibly do it, and I hope you all can help! Here is a list of the specifics about what food is available to me: 1. I am required to be on a meal plan where I have 15 meals a week. One meal is equivalent to $4.08 and can be used on any restaurant on campus (which include: Sandella's, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, Chickfila, a coffee shop, and Einsteins Bagels), and also in the cafeteria (more on that in a second). Anything over that amount I have to personally pay, and I do not have the budget to do that on a consistant basis. This also means that anything I purchase has to be $4.08 or less, meaning I can't stock up on fruits and veggies that are sold at these places. 2. The cafeteria has very limited options. There is always hamburgers and fries, pizza, and a do-it-yourself station for both sandwiches and salads. The salad options very and there is never any grilled chicken available to put on the salad. The only form of protein for the salad bar is a hard boiled egg, which is only available about once a week. There is a homestyle foods station, which can sometimes serve grilled chicken and potates, but more often than not serves fried chicken, chicken covered in sauce or meatloaf (which i think may be Whole30 approved?). Finally, there is an international station which serves things like burritos, french onion soup, and is completely random and changes daily (unpredictable). 3. I have little to no money to spend on food. I don't have a job, and I rely mostly on my meal plan to sustain my eating habits. Furthermore, I have no kitchen in my dorm, and crockpots/burners (etc) are not allowed due to safety reasons. This being said, I really do want to do the Whole30 and I am committed to doing it. I just honestly have no idea what to eat! My cafeteria rarely serves fruits and veggies (seriously, they almost never have fresh fruit or any sort of vegitable). Before now, the way I was getting my fruits and veggies in was by drinking Naked Juices, but i know smoothies are off-limits. I really don't know what to do, so if you have any ideas, PLEASE let me know!! Thank you, and sorry for the lengthy post!! Emily

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!

Hey everyone! I'm attempting my 2nd Whole 30 on Jan 2nd. I did one in November - and although I did almost perfect - I did break the rules a few times. So I'm planning on doing it 100% this time around. I'm going to give some info on my experience with Paleo and I'm hoping if anyone has any input - please give me some advice! Thanks! I'm not overweight by any means but I have always had to watch what I eat and stay active to stay in a good weight range. I switched to about 80% Paleo lifestyle in May of this year - ditching processed foods altogether. I am very active with work and was a runner - about 3-4 days per week. I lost 5 pounds right away. I felt great and I felt like it was effortless. I was then hurt in a work accident and had to be in the hospital for 7 days. I then lost 10-15lbs in just a matter of a couple weeks. I saw numbers on the scale I had never seen before. I was not allowed to run or work for 3 months. I kept up with my 80% Paleo lifestyle, and about a month and 1/2 after my accident my weight started climbing back up = 1-2lbs per week. Then got up and above my original weight before the accident. By this time I was back to running, started strength training, did a 95% Whole 30 in November and still have not lost a single pound. After the Whole30 in November I didn't lost any weight but did feel less bloated and my jeans fit better. When I took my measurements I had lost 0.5" off my waist - but that was it. I'm still currently eating 80-90% Paleo - as I feel great and really believe in the science. I have tracked what I eat - low carb, moderate protein, moderate fat macros, drink drink almost 0 calories, calorie range around 1400-1600/day, I sleep 11pm -7am, I do LISS and resistance training plus have a very active job. I do eat plenty. I am never hungry and if I am I eat- I have eggs/kale/spinach for breakfast, have protein + veggies for lunch and dinner. I follow all the rules of diet and exercise to get leaner - and it's not working. In the past I have been able to just clean up my diet a little bit and workout a little more - and boom - 5 lbs gone....this time - nothing. I was hoping someone could give me some words of advice/encouragement... like it's from the stress of the accident and one day your body will adjust - when? The accident was 5/31/14! To give numbers - prior to accident I was 125 - I'm 5'2". I liked that weight. My lowest was 113 after the accident and now I'm about 131. I'd say it's muscle - but my mid section is not lean by any means. I know it's more than numbers on the scale - but it's just so frustrating to work so hard and eat so well and not see results when everyone else seems to be getting them! Thanks for letting me vent!

Hi everyone, My name is Jenna, and I have attempted to complete at least four Whole30s but have been unsuccessful. I attempted to do multiple whole30s during my accelerated honors nursing program which was high stress and emotionally taxing. This was probably not the best idea, but I just wanted to feel better and lose weight. I am currently struggling with an eating disorder for which I am seeing a psychologist. I am excited, but also nervous for this whole30 because I am afraid I might succumb to temptation or a binge before I get to the end. First off, I would love some thoughts/idea/suggestions about starting a whole30 today. I have two trips coming up that are centered around alcohol...do you guys think it is a good idea to try and adhere to a whole 30? Should I just wait until I come back from the trips? Secondly, this might be too much, but if there is anyone else out there struggling with an eating disorder and trying to stay whole30- contact me! I would love a buddy that I can contact who knows the struggle and we can support each other! Lastly, I would greatly appreciate someone's advice on how to deal with the desire for sugar, cookies, etc. I have tried to scour the forum, but I am looking for specifics about this battle for someone with an eating disorder...I feel like the deprivation is so powerful, and I have a hard time with the logical thought that "it's unhealthy" or "sugar is poison" when I am in those moments to reach for it and ruin my whole30. Lastly, thank you to everyone on this forum who is helpful, supportive, and vulnerable- what a special community. Best, Jenna

Tomorrow will be day 10 of my whole30 and I will be attending a wedding. I'm a little stressed out over what to eat.. Dessert/alcohol is no issue for me but during cocktail hour and dinner I'm a little nervous about navigating what I can and can't eat... Any advice?

Hi, I am one month away from turning 39 and feeling horrible! For the past 2 1/2 years I have been on a downward spiral of eating poorly. When mama eats poorly, so do her children! In my household we have: my husband (overweight), me (overweight), 16 year old son, 13 year old daughter, and 10 year old son. Believe it or not, prior to this past 2 1/2 years our family ate very healthy, and I was able to get rid of stomach issues as well as headaches and allergies. My daughter's allergies are back, as well as her headaches; my headaches are horrible, and I feel nauseous most mornings; my older son (16) is working out and gaining muscle, but he is not eating well at all....mostly carbs! So, I took the plunge to guide us back to a healthy lifestyle...We started May 12, 2014. Here are some issues right now: 16 yr old feels week while working out at gym...should I add more protein???? He is used to mostly a refined carb and protein diet since he started working out. He could lose some body fat, he is not able to though...I think it was the carb intake. 13 year old is super active, almost no body fat and a lot of muscle. She tumbles, cheers, plays soccer. She does not like meat or eggs very much...she is getting lightheaded. What should I add? She's eating fruits, veggies, cashews, almond butter...a lot of these foods! I have a problem getting meat into her...she gags! I am tired!!!!! But I know this is like a withdrawal effect. I am excited...but worried about the kids energy needs! I haven't started my 10 yr old yet....well I have incorporated more fresh fruits. There are no more processed anything ( I hate the stuff anyway). But I have not taken the bread and rice and pasta away yet....Not sure how to handle this. He is allergic to eggs....so I am thinking duck eggs will work for him. My husband is away this week for work. Thank god! Or I may bite his head off....I am very moody right now! He has not started....having trouble with motivating him. The GREAT aspects: We have been planning every meal together (for the past 3 days...lol) We have been talking about the foods as we pack lunches for the next day. The 10 year old is a part of it and is asking more questions about the foods he eats. We are all in this together!!! I am happy to get back to what I enjoy and believe in....clean eating!

Hey everyone! I'm on day 20 of my first Whole30, and coming from a background of fairly clean eating, so it hasn't been too tough so far. I'm nervous about tomorrow, though, because my partner & I have planned a 50ish mile bike ride, the longest I've ever done. I'm worried about awakening my Sugar Dragon again with things like dried fruit & barely-compliant Larabars, but I also don't wanna bonk! What's a girl to do?? Any advice is appreciated!! Thanks & good health to you all!

I am disappointed in the information available for those who have completed their Whole30 and want to live close to the program. This was my first Whole30 (completed August 11). I did it because I am trying to find allergies. Therefore, I have to bring in foods that otherwise would not be on the program one at a time (so far I have done oatmeal, corn, brown rice, and whole wheat). I get one new food per week, which makes this a long process for me. Oatmeal is the one I am thrilled to have back as my morning workout was challenging me and not in a good way, the rest I can take or leave. On to why I am writing...I know there are healthy foods and not-so-healthy foods, however, I am trying to find information on the not-so-healthy foods as far as options that would be "better" and alternatives I may not have thought of. For example, I would like to make a dip for a veggie platter, but what could you use as a base - sour cream? beans? etc? Then if you venture down the road of sour cream (as an example) which is the "better" option, no fat? low fat? whole fat? How about what to use as a thickener for soups or stews? All the cooking methods I am aware of would use a rue (flour and butter), corn starch, flour, or white potato. I believe in the health benefits of the program, and I do not plan to eat from the not-so-healthy items on a regular basis, but when making the decision of off-roading, I would like more information on how the foods stack up. Since I can't find anything on the Whole30 site or the forums, does anyone else have a source?