Should I do the whole30?

[SarahE85]

I had a wonderful pregnancy without much weight gain and feeling great. Since I stopped breastfeeding my hormones seem all over the place. I'm emotional, anxious, developed ibs type symptoms (without the toilet issues) and feel sick waking up and after eating. As well as weight gain. I'm now overweight. I went to my GP who tested my hormones, thyroid, cholesterol, blood sugars, blood pressure, everything really. It was all perfect. He suggested food intolerance. So I went into Atkins. Within 3 days of being on Atkins I felt amazing. I had my energy back and all my stomach issues disappeard. I purposely didn't have dairy because I know it causes me stomach. I've avoided dairy for years (in its pure form, I know it creeps into processed foods)

So I did loose on Atkins induction but more importantly felt great, currently finishing week 3 and still feel great.

I hate it. I feel restricted. I don't feel hungry but it's annoying having to weigh 50g of mushrooms or 50g spinach.

I feel I should make the switch to Paleo but I'm scared to lose the way I'm feeling right now (I feel amazing) and also gain the lbs I've lost.

I'm really tempted to do it.....

[SarahE85]

P.S I don't eat massive amounts of meat but I love fish and veg. Do you find it gets expensive with all the organic foods?

I grow veg in my garden but come winter I won't be able to, expensive to buy organic and grass fed in UK. Do you find it gets expensive?

[Tom Denham]

Only you can say whether you should do a Whole30. There are two things to read to know what it involves... the rules and the meal planning template. Read them both carefully. If this approach sounds like good news to you. Go for it. If you object to parts of the program and won't commit to follow the approach 100 percent, don't start.

 

http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/

 

http://whole30.com/downloads/whole30-meal-planning.pdf

 

You will notice from reading the rules that eating organic or grass-fed is optional. And you can eat fish in place of meat. 

[NoMoreCrunchyCravings]

I actually don't eat mostly organic. I try to when I can (and when my budget permits) but just try to make the best choices. Specifically with vegetables where I'm going to eat the skin, I try as much as possible. As far as protein, honestly at this point its just kind of cost prohibitive for me, so I try to buy wild-caught fishes etcetera, but have trouble affording some of the others, like eggs at $4-$6 per dozen when I go through a dozen eggs in about two days.

 

Do what works for you if you decide to do a w30.

 

Have you tried freezing or canning the veggies you grow in your garden? We didn't do a garden this year, but in the past have cut up and bagged then froze fresh tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis, eggplants, pumpkin, etc from our garden to eat all year round, which I then supplement with fresh produce from the green grocer. It worked out well but honestly having a second full size refrigerator in the basement really comes in handy for that.

[jolong]

Like NoMoreCrunchyCravings, I also do not focus on buying organic. I live in the heart of farm country so I have a freezer stocked full of meat from a farmer that we go to church with. I'm sure it's not organic, but I also know it isn't heavily processed like meat I would buy from the grocery store. I'm sure I do spend a little extra money on a few things every week, but generally I buy most of my fruits and veggies from the grocery store, and not the organic section. I spend $2 for a dozen eggs that I buy from a gal I work with who raises chickens. Once again, probably not organic, but also I know they are more fresh than I what I would buy in the store.

I just finished my 2nd Whole 30 and feel quite amazing. I'm not sure when I will attempt round 3, but I will try to continue eating Whole 30ish until then.