My Whole30 Success Story

[janelletingey04]

Just wanted to share my story:

 

For the last 10 years I have been obese.  We’re talking mega addiction to “Food-with-no-brakes”.  For the last 3.5 years I have had stomach pain every day.  Three different times, the pain has been so intense that it has landed me in the emergency room with no definitive answers as to what is causing the pain.  Pancreatitis? Acid reflux?  About two months ago, I spent 2 days in bed throwing up, not able to eat, and not able to take care of my children.  I vowed that it was the last time that I would let my poor eating habits affect me like that again.

A few days later, I started reading It Starts With Food and immediately began to change my life.  I didn’t want to start the Whole30 until I had finished the entire book.  But, I did change a lot of my eating habits.  Before I started the Whole30 I lost 16 lbs.  I still had stomach pain however.  Once I started the Whole30, the effects seemed to be immediate!  I had higher energy.  I slept better at night.  I was a morning person for the first time in my life.  I had zero energy crashes.  My skin was glowing.  My keratosis Pilaris started to clear.  Working out became so much easier because I was fueling my body the right way.  Today, I am down 40 lbs.!

If I had to pick the top two ways that the Whole30 has changed my life, one would be the fact that I have finally found what is causing my stomach pain.  I can’t handle gluten!  For years my body was so full of fat, sugar, and all things unhealthy – including lots of gluten – that I would have never been able to pin-point that gluten was causing my stomach pain.  I tried low fat diets (full of processed foods – and gluten), I tried low sugar diets (full of artificial sweeteners – and gluten) and never got rid of the pain.  Now that gluten is completely out of my system, even if I have one small piece of bread, the pain comes back in full force.  It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders – knowing that I can manage the pain, and get it completely out of my life!  The second reason that the Whole30 has changed my life, is that for the first time in 10 years I don’t feel chained to food.  I can walk right past the Oreos and Peppermint Patties without even hesitating about whether or not I should buy it.  I finally feel like I CAN be successful in my food choices and making my body healthier.  I crave healthy foods!  I have never felt that way before – even on a diet. 

Now that I am done with my first Whole30, I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.  I’m grateful that I can live without pain.  And I’m grateful that I can finally feel healthy and free from food addiction.  It truly has changed my life!

[ladyshanny]

Wow, what a great story!  I bet you feel like you're living in a whole new, bright and shiny world now!