N00b Starting on September 1st, 2016

[SteferstheGreat]

Hey there! 

I'm starting my first 30-day commitment to Whole30 on September 1st, 2016 (I'm taking the next 15 days to read the books and deplete my current pantry), and I'm a little nervous. Am I capable? Will this actually give me results? Let me take a moment to explain my situation.

I've always been bigger. I honesty don't remember a time when I have not been overweight, even as a child. I tend to vacillate between sedentary and intense activity depending on how severely my depression is hitting me (chronic for over 10 years now), but lately, I've made some commitments (Planet Fitness membership as well as a year-long contract with ILoveKickboxing.com) to make sure that I use the tools I've given to myself simply due to knowing that if I don't, that money will just disappear. 

When I say I've tried everything to aid in weight loss, I have. Except for bulimia. Just couldn't do it. But pills, fasting, cleanses, extreme workouts, calorie counting, low carb, Atkins, B12 injections, etc... I have done it all. But nothing has worked. And it's not like I tried it for a week and gave up either. I made each attempt with gusto (except for the unhealthy ones) and only stopped when it obviously wasn't doing anything for me. Some lasted 3 months or longer, others lasted a few weeks. 

Recently, I have noticed some concerning weight fluctuations that didn't seem to be tied to anything specific, so I went in to see my primary care provider. My labwork resulted in astonishingly healthy levels, especially for my size. Turns out I'm one of those "metabolically healthy obese" folks who, at the moment, isn't suffering from the side effects of obesity other than the emotional toll it can sometimes take. My doctor is flummoxed as to why I keep putting on weight, since for the last 2 months I have been active, eating "healthily," and so on. Now, I put the word healthily in quotations, because sure, I eat salads balsamic vinegar / olive oil instead of ranch, I don't consume all that much salt as a general rule, I don't eat a ton of carbs. My diet mostly consists of grilled chicken and broccoli slaw, but I will go out on the weekends and eat what everyone's having. Non-smoker, and I drink maybe once every 3-6 months. 

That being said, I'm curious if the foods I've been eating are actually causing me problems and, as such, I hope to discover how my body reacts to certain foods. Whole30 seems one of the best ways to investigate, so here I am!

Wish me luck!

[Mommas Baby Phat]

Hi Stef, all the best to you and I believe if you prepare you will do this. I am starting on the same day as you, do you mind becoming accountability partners?