Starting Jan. 2

[Rebecca30]

I am in! I completed a whole 30 last year and felt great! I did one day in October before I realized I was setting myself up for failure due to my finals schedule in school and starting clinicals. I bowed out gracefully and told myself i'd start fresh Jan 2nd. Then I found this group!! I am honestly over crappy food and how I feel right now. I am definitely ready to start.

[MyrnaP]

I had a major life changing experience this past Dec 11th.  I almost died.  I had a bad reaction to birth control pille and had a TIA-minor stroke.  I had lots of bloodwork and MRI and will know more today as I follow up with 2 doctors.  I was very blessed and recovered fast.  I have been "doing" pale for a year now but not very strict.

 

I have tried doing whole30 but only got to 14 days.  Things need to be different now.  I have inflammation on my shoulder and lots of pain and aches.  I have ovarian cysts and gastro-intestinal issues.  When I do a strict diet I feel great...that is my hope again.

 

I will be starting 1/2.

 

The hardest thing for me is menu planning for the whole family since my husband is not into this....However, he is very supportive and can adjust.  Also, I am an exercice junkie and have not gotten the clue from my body that I need to tone it down.

 

Another thing...I live in Mexico.  I am Puerto Rican but we work in Mexico...finding organic products and healthy meats is a challenge.  I can find hormone free chicken and free range eggs and some organic produce(bad quality and old) but not much more.

 

I LOVE TO COOK!!!  I love to create in the kitchen and I am mindful of using fresh ingredients.

 

I have a partner...my oldest daughter Amanda(17 yo) that will do the program with me and she is very disciplined.  I am also a Christian and know that God is with me in this journey...He can give me "the want" to do this for my health.  I am 5'2" and 185 pounds...I need to loose 40 pounds.  I just turned 42 this past Dec 23rd.

 

I need to do this for my health, for my daughters and out of obedience to God.

 

Thanks in advance for all the support through this journey.

[sallyarchi]

Starting on January 2nd also.  I did a Whole 30 in August.  Giving up the wine was hard but I have never felt better.  I am doing it with my gym…I am a strength trainer for a 20 minute high intensity protocol and have clients and co workers who are joining me.  I followed a forum before and it REALLY HELPED!!  Make sure you get the newsletter also.  I feel awful and cannot wait to get started!

[ErinL]

I am so excited that there are so many people starting on the 2nd!!! I tried a recipe from Well Fed 2 last night and it was yummy. We served it over pasta as we had company, but I think it will be just as yummy with spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles!! I am actually pretty excited about starting this journey!! My biggest fear honestly is lunch. Starting this will mean having to toss out every lunch staple in our house! I am a homeschooling mom, so I can cook during the day as well as the evening, but changing the mind set of my 7 and 4 year old might take a little more work. Although, they are excited that olives count as a fat source! I don't like them, but they LOVE them!

[crazyears]

1/2/14, I'm in!!  Erin, I can totally relate.  I weigh 10lbs more today than I did the day I had my third daughter three years ago.  Worse than that is how I feel everyday (tired, sad, joint pain). 

I was told that I have several markers for Lupus and have my next appointment with an autoimmune specialist at the end of February.  I am really hoping I can turn things around before then!

[38flamingo]

MyrnaP - so glad you are joining us!  I am the same height and weight, and only recently recognized  that 30 days on the W30 program is just the beginning in terms of weight loss goals - just a realistic shift in perception, I think, so that I can appreciate 5 lbs if I happen to lose that and realize that it will be many many months before my weight loss goals can be met. 

 

As for cooking for your husband, what I have found with my son is that the main meat or fish or poultry dish is always good, as are the veggies, and I just add whatever other kind of thing he's used to, but don't have it myself.  Like regular pasta for him and spaghetti squash for me.  Or I bake him a small cornbread and don't have it.  Or a baked white potato or some rice while I have sweet potato or squash. But the main parts of the meal are always fine for everyone.

 

And as for difficult to get healthy meats and veggies, the only answer is to do the best you can.  Where I live there are many small, local farmers who are not organic, but whose practices are much less toxic than the large commercial growers.  There is also local meat and poultry that isn't organically certified, but well cared for.  Whatever your situation, just make the best choices you can!  Great that you love to cook, because I have found that one of the main secrets to success is cooking plenty and always having something there available to eat when needed.

 

To your health in this New Year!

[jayelle]

Tick tock.  I'm in planning mode to make sure I have what I need on hand for my 1/2 start - brought almond milk to work for coffee (yes, I can drink it black, but prefer not to); stocked up on veggies (including frozen leafy green blend that's great for throwing into eggs, etc.).  I'm still eating badly, but looking forward to feeling better (doesn't that sound slightly insane?).  I am an addict.  No doubt.  Sugar is poison.

Happy, healthy and fun new year to all!!!  See you back here on 1/2 if not before. 

[LC1386]

Hi! I'm planning on starting my first whole30 on January 2nd. The cabbage is compliant, but I have to have my peas on New Year's Day, lest I have bad luck all year

 

I'm meal planning and making my grocery list right now. The Whole30 won't be drastically different from the way we normally eat and I already cook 95% of our meals, so I'm not intimidated by the kitchen work. But I'm pretty terrified of the no sugar thing. I have a raging sweet tooth, so this will certainly be challenging for me. Good luck and happy new year!

[led121]

I am a 33 year old single female, planning on starting January 2 as well, and was so happy to find a group of people doing the same!  This will be my first Whole30--I have just gotten too far away from sound nutrition in the last few years and am craving a reset.  I'm lucky in that I haven't used caffeine for more than 10 years, but I am a wine lover and will have a hard time giving that up.  But I'm committed to the change--if I'm going to do this, I'm in 100%.  I look forward to participating in this community and embracing this change.  Happy new year to everyone!

[texasgal]

My husband and I are in for the Jan 2 start. Our first Whole30 and we are excited (ok, I'm excited, my husband is resigned.)  I just finished "It Starts with Food" and we've already been trying some of the recipes and doing some shopping in preparation. We are both in our 50's and headed for Type 2 diabetes if we don't make changes to stop it. Even after a couple of days of eating the recipes from the book, I'm feeling better. Can't wait to see how I feel at the end of 30 days!

 

Looking forward to the January journey!

[michellet]

So many on the journey together!  It will be great for support.  Giving up the wine will be difficult too for me, and beer for my husband. But for 30 days we can do this and then decide.  

 

Our family has thought we were nuts for years as we've always looked for the healthiest diets.  Oh well, they can chuckle, I just want to feel better.  So, Jan. 2 here we come!

[amyswan]

I'm in for January 2nd! I completed my first whole30 last November and I was feeling really great. Thanksgiving and Christmas totally did me in. I'm an all or nothing kind of person and I definitely feel it right now. My husband has no desire to eat healthy, although he doesn't give me a hard time about the food I cook.  For me it's about the late night snacking and stress eating, and the food I have in the house for my husband calls me at night - even though I'd never eat it usually. I know that whole30/paleo eating is the right way for me to live, but I need a swift kick to get me started again. 

 

Let's go!! :-)

[Jinkse21]

I re-read my first Whole30 journey log to remind me of how successful I was last April and it was an eye-opener!  Plus, it helped to remind me that I can make it work again because the results were awesome!

 

I encourage everyone to keep a daily log under the community section in the "Your Whole30 Log" section.  It's a great place to track your progress as well as how you feel feel through your journey.  On the days when you think of giving up, you can read day 1 and see what kind of changes happened for you.  No matter how small, celebrate every little victory!

[jayelle]

Hi, January 2 team! 

 

While I am not doing the Whole30 solely for weight loss purposes (I'm a 3x cancer survivor, so my focus is more about health and eliminating intake of engineered toxic "food" and the evil beast, sugar), I am hoping to get smaller as a result of healthier eating. 

 

I'm thinking about making a couple of changes to my approach, namely more lean protein (less red meat, more chicken/fish) and less healthy fat. For instance, 1/2 avocado at lunch instead of a whole one; avoid nuts except for pre-workout.  I will still roast my veggies with olive oil (although I love coconut oil with eggplant) and make curries with coconut milk, but I'm planning to cut back a bit on fats.  If I find myself hungry, which I didn't during my previous Whole30, I'll adjust accordingly.

Thoughts? 

TIA and healthy, happy new year to all!

Jodi

[GFChris]

 

I'm thinking about making a couple of changes to my approach, namely more lean protein (less red meat, more chicken/fish) and less healthy fat. For instance, 1/2 avocado at lunch instead of a whole one; avoid nuts except for pre-workout.  I will still roast my veggies with olive oil (although I love coconut oil with eggplant) and make curries with coconut milk, but I'm planning to cut back a bit on fats.  If I find myself hungry, which I didn't during my previous Whole30, I'll adjust accordingly.

Thoughts? 

 

 

Just be sure you're eating at least the minimum recommended fat portions per meal as directed by the Whole30 meal template: http://whole9life.com/book/ISWF-Meal-Planning-Template.pdf

 

 If you end up being hungry between meals, that would be a sign to increase your portions of fat, veggies, or protein.

[fahrenam]

I'm in for January 2nd, can't wait to start!  I'm doing this both for weight loss (I've put on about 10 pounds since having knee surgery in August) but also to feel healthier, have more energy, and break my 2-glass-a-night wine habit.  I think that will be my biggest challenge, but can't wait to just feel better.  Happy New Year everyone

[FantastiKate]

Hey all! 1/2 starting! Not sure if I am going to do it with my toddler, but my hubs and my niece and her BF are on board! We eat pretty clean so I am not worried about the grains, dairy or sugar (course I never given up sugar so ask me about that on 1/10). HOWEVER...I am not sure how I am supposed to function without cocktails. Also...I am not much of a meat eater...so....here we go!!...Also, is anyone else starting 1/2 because they think the idea of nursing a hangover and doing the Whole30 at the same time absolutely absurd, or is that just me?

[fittergirl]

Starting my 2nd Whole 30 on 1/2.  I have maintained all that I lost until  Thanksgiving.  My memory is still drastically  improved.  So thankful for this.  Looking forward to the reset.  I did my last W30 w/o ISWF.  Looking forward to ISWF landing on my doorstep this afternoon.  I figure with a year of wanting something and I still want it, it must be something I really want. 

[LoriLifts]

I'm in on January 2 too!

I'll start a blog tomorrow...

[Tina R]

ErinL Good Luck on your Whole30. I just learned that many teas have soy lecithin in them so they are not Whole30 compliant. Read your labels carefully I have a Bigelow Green Tea that is ok but the Bigelow Green Tea with Lemon has soy lecithin in it.

[Duviv]

Starting Jan 2nd too! oh boy! I will need all the help I can get. Anyone live in SF and want to cook for me?

[LizK]

I'm in for the 1/2 start and although I'm nervous about sticking to it, I'm excited!  Have not been able to lose any weight, and have swelling in my legs, tired and unmotivated.  All kinds of tests have not revealed any reasons for the swelling and lack of weight loss, so I figured I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing my first Whole30. 

[ybalanced]

Hi all! I'm a first timer starting with my Day 1 on January 2nd.

 

I have done something similar to this with the Standard Process cleanse and was considering doing it again or the Advocare 24 day challenge. Going through the Standard Process cleanse I learned a lot about processed food and chemicals in our food and drinks and saw great results. I am not a huge fan of "meal replacement" shakes, smoothies, or bars so I was hesitant to do the Advocare challenge even though it is very similar. I then stumbled across Whole30 on Pinterest and heard some good reviews about it from family who were familiar with the program. So...here I am!!

 

Along with the weight loss, I am looking forward to:

• more energy and not feeling so sluggish
• doing good for my body
• eliminating foods that are inflammatory in nature and contribute to my headaches, migraines, and digestive issues
• setting a good example for my kids and teaching them about nutrition along the way

 

I know I will struggle with:

• caffeine - I often turn to caffeine to help with headaches/migraines
• sugar - same as caffeine (I know...it sounds odd, but it does help)
• condiments - I am the Condiment Queen; the good and bad ones
• support - my family has a tendency to derail me because they don't personally want to make the change along with me but I am the main food purchaser and prepare most meals

Even with all that said, I know that the benefits will be well worth it and I look forward to going on this journey with each of you! Here's to a healthier and happier you in 2014!!

 

Tracy

[rollo]

I'm in, too!!

 

I had some great results from earlier this year, but the last 3 months...yikes and yowsa...so, i'm really looking forward to this.

 

Going shopping tomorrow (i checked, WF is open on 1/1).

 

 

Hey, if anyone's in LA and wanna get together and support, lemme know!

 

Rollo

[Daniel Smith]

Hi, My name is Daniel, Im 35 years old, I feel fat and its time for a change. No better time to start than the new year!! My mate Fooch 'highly reccomended' this program so we are kicking it off together. I weight about 93 but should weigh about 85kg. Pictures and real weight to follow as baseline. Like Erin Im starting on the 2nd of Jan so here goes.