Shall I keep going on after 30 days?

[Lyolya]

I should probably post this into the 'athletes' section, but I feel like the post should rather go here since I'm trying to resolve a problem. 

 

I have just finished the Day 26 of my 1st ever Whole 30. What it says about changing my life is absolutely true - you just cannot imagine...

 

Nonetheless, some of the 'side-effects' of the Whole 30 that I've noticed is that it indeed provides you with a high-octane body: I just ran a half marathon last weekend and did not get tired at all! I am overall fit, but with this goes with little to no prior training so the result has scared me a little bit. 

 

Thing is, I don't know if I shall go on further. I have a marathon to run in a month, and it will be my 1st one (so as my Whole 30), and I am afraid to lose the 'high octanity' of my body if I start reintroducing and evaluating worthless foods (though I still want these scones!).

 

Also, a friend has just jumped on a Whole 30 board, and she is running with me, so I could be of help and support to her if I continue.

 

Also, my 1st Whole 30 has not been perfect: I was acquiring the information on the go, also have occasionally found added sugar or preservatives in some products I was eating (like, who puts added sugar into dried cranberries?!). Also, the thoughts about if I can have a fruit (and I love fruits) make me almost paranoid. I am very strict about what I eat: I won't even have almond milk (what are you, the mysterious 'natural almond flavorings'?) or stuff with 'vegetable oil'.

 

My family thinks I'm nuts. I don't object.

 

On the other hand, the Timeline says that Whole 30 is a temporary thing to do, and may be, for my first time, I should not be doing more than 30 days. Also, I'll be leaving the country where I am at now very soon, in a month time, and I really will feel sorry not being able to taste some original things like high tea with scones and clotted cream or a Scotch Egg (the real thing with a real crumble, and not the paleo version of it). Just don't know what to do. 

 

I was thinking, as a compromise, to do 30 + 6 days (since 36 is my favorite number)...

 

Any advice welcome.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[runninglawyer88]

 

 

On the other hand, the Timeline says that Whole 30 is a temporary thing to do, and may be, for my first time, I should not be doing more than 30 days. Also, I'll be leaving the country where I am at now very soon, in a month time, and I really will feel sorry not being able to taste some original things like high tea with scones and clotted cream or a Scotch Egg (the real thing with a real crumble, and not the paleo version of it). Just don't know what to do. 

 

I was thinking, as a compromise, to do 30 + 6 days (since 36 is my favorite number)...

 

Any advice welcome.

 

Thank you.

It sounds like you know what you want to do and I think you probably should do 36 days at the most because food is a huge part of experiencing a culture and I know I'd be very regretful if I were you and left without trying things that I really wanted to try.

[GFChris]

First, I would finish your Whole30/36, and then do a controlled reintroduction of any food groups you're either curious about (in terms of your physical/psychological reaction), or that you know you want to eat again.  It sounds like gluten and dairy would be on your reintro list.   

Once you've done that, then you can decide how you want to eat going forward. Unless you have very severe reactions to gluten and dairy, I would enjoy the scones, scotch eggs and clotted cream on your trip.

Also, think about the goals you wanted to achieve while on a Whole30. Once you're done, assess whether you've met all of them or not - that could be a factor in deciding whether to continue. And also being able to maintain what you've achieved is a consideration as well.

[Lyolya]

Thanks for your opinions, running lawyer and Chris!

 

I actually don't like dairy, but clotted cream is a part of the pack, so I kind of will stand it as a one-time thing.

 

The problem is that on the go (every week) I discover new issues, bump into new challenges and psychological reactions and naturally want to deal with these as well. I got on this track leading me to 'perfect me', but I am afraid that this is an endless road, and that it should not be all resolved in one go.