candlesnfire Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Hi! My name is Amanda, and this is my first time posting but I've been lurking in the forums all month lol! I wanted to report my results on my first Whole30. This is long, so get comfortable. A little background about me first. I am 37 years old. Back in 2007, I weighed over 450 pounds. I was miserable, and I didn't think I'd ever be able to escape that hell. I did a stint of being vegan for about 3 years, during which I always secretly binged on meat. In 2010, I went vegetarian, then finally, just allowed myself everything (trying the whole moderation thing). Through those six years, I lost over 220 pounds, and also began running. Unfortunately, my deep dark secret is that I've always struggled with binge eating, and last December, it got really bad. I also suffer from seasonal depression and decided to try anti-depressants..and also gained 40 pounds back. I continued to binge, and my runs turned into walks. It wasn't a good time. I had read about the Paleo diet in the past and just never thought it would be a fit. I did stints of low carb out of desperation years ago...only to gain more weight back than I'd lost. I got tired of looking for a quick fix, I wanted something that was sustainable! Unfortunately, moderation in all things just doesn't work for me. Whole30 was my attempt at grasping at a straw; I didn't think I would succeed. What it has turned into however, is the way I would like to eat the rest of my life. I read online through the Happiness Project blog recently, that some people are moderators; they can eat things on occasion, like French fries, and sweets. Then, there are the abstainers, who prefer things in black & white, with no grey area. And that's how I would describe myself. If I have a cookie, I want 20. Same goes with bread. I just cannot seem to control myself around stuff like that. I crave order, and I need things spelled out for me. Whole30 does that for me easily! I don't have to think about my meals, and analyze things to death. Can I have this? Can I have that? I don't have to worry, because there's a list! And all of the protein & veggies have kept me full, so full in fact, that while I look forward to my meals, I am longer starving all of the time. I feel satisfied, finally! And meal planning comes naturally to me (see: crave order, etc). so that wasn't a huge challenge. I just designated a couple hours on Sunday to chop all my veggies and put together a weekly menu so I didn't have to stress during the week. So where to now? I am continuing on with the Whole30 for now. I am ok with having occasional Paleo items, but I really don't have any interest in the reintroduction of everything at the moment. I mean, reintroduction to what exactly? For me, the food that the Whole30 plan restricts are ironically the foods that I consider food without breaks for me, namely sugar (ok with natural like honey or maple syrup), gluten, and dairy. It's funny, because during my first week, I kept thinking about everything I would eat when I finished my first 30 days. And you know what? Now I don't care. I don't really want to stop, I feel too good! So, on to my results! I have my photos here. I don't own a scale anymore(sanity!) so I just went based on my clothing, most of which are ALL fitting better and some are even getting baggy! So, overall I feel amazing, and I am sleeping like a baby! I feel so much lighter and energetic! This has truly made a difference, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redjasmin Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Wow you look amazing you can see a huge difference! I feel the same, during my first whole 30 I was thinking about what I would treat myself to at the end of it - but when I got there my taste buds had changed? I did have a piece of my daughters birthday cake, and do you know what? It really didn't taste that great! Plus the next day my belly was noticeably more wobbly! I'm doing a second whole 30 now and then just plan to continue - you are so right about the reintroduction. Congratulations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFChris Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Congratulations - you look terrific and it's nice to hear how awesome you feel too! Keep rockin' it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Roy Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 That's awesome! Well done! You got this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlesnfire Posted July 20, 2013 Author Share Posted July 20, 2013 Thanks everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mary-t Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 I'm so very happy for you! Great progress! And congrats on finding something that works for you. There's a lot of peace of mind in that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driver695 Posted July 20, 2013 Share Posted July 20, 2013 Wow amazing well done x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzy1 Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Fantastic work, awesome effort and keep up the great work:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bet Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Wow, those results are great. I am on day 14 and already feel my bulges are a bit smaller. Like you, I will continue on the W30 (with maybe some minor lapses) forever. It's just the way I want to eat and be. Great work, keep it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Physibeth Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Fantastic results! Keep up the great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ophelia Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Congrats on your success! Your story is really inspiring, and really quite helpful. I'm on day 16, and not sure what my post Whole30 plans are. I have BED and a sugar addiction and think (know actually) I'm going to have to be an abstainer but I haven't fully accepted it yet even with all the positive results I've experienced thus far. Maybe I will feel differently at the end like you do. Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptah Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Great job, outside and IN. I'm on Day17 and feel the same way... Having lived/eaten this way, I can't imagine any other way to feel this good while being healthy and a healthy weight. Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cath3040 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Thanks for sharing! You are an inspiration! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calee Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Congratulations on your amazing success in finding a plan that works or you. I too am so grateful to have found It Starts With Food and this website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Annie B Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 YAY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marceeruns Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Congrats! Very inspiring, thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3TaylorBoys Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Wow! Your pictures are great. Thanks for sharing your story - it resonated with me. I'm on day 6 and feeling a little better but also feeling I have such a long way to go. Keep it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tj V Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Very inspirational and all the other people are right! You look great! Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takemetoseeice Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Bravo! It's satisfying just to read this, so I can only imagine how great you must feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peace_positive Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Thanks so much for sharing! Great job. Isn't healthy food so freakin delicious!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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