Husband & wife changed for life!

[PonyLove]

Changed.

In just 30 days my husband (Tim) and I have changed our life!

It feels like so much longer. Not because it was hard and I couldn't wait for it to be over (quite the opposite!) but because it's hard to comprehend just how profound an effect it has had on our lives.

Although it started all about food and allergies and desired weight loss it quickly became about so much more. I am still working on the whole 9 now. No I'm not living a Whole365 but I will follow the principles and consider everything from now on. If I really want a beer on a Saturday afternoon I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I have so much more respect for my body and nutrition every day that those off-road moments will be treasured and not taken for granted. I have the tools to make the right choices and what's better I know how it really feels when you do make the right choices. My ‘what is normal' has certainly changed!

In the beginning I was worried about how I was going to cope. I felt I took on too much with the program, suddenly I was cooking all 3 meals for my husband instead of him getting his own breakfast & lunch and in week 2 I convinced my sister to start and I wanted her to succeed so badly I took on cooking for her. I was under pressure.

But I did the best I could worked my way through it and in no time my sister was doing really well and helping to cook in return. It was very encouraging.

What I know.

Melissa & Dallas know what they are talking about! The ‘what to expect' timeline is incredibly accurate. Combine it with the Daily 30 emails and I felt like they were following me around taking notes!

It's very encouraging that others have the same responses and experiences. I know it varies but in my case - Spot on.

Original Rational.

Why did we do a W30?

Elise – I discovered paleo/primal about 4 weeks before and started eating that way. I wanted to shift the last of my excess weight (I gained 10kg in the first year I was married! I want it gone) and to improve my fitness performance. I also wanted to get my digestion under control and routine. (If you read any of my log, preW30 it would be ‘normal' for me to go 4-6 days between ‘waste removal') FYI. Problem solved. It took about 18-20 days, I won't lie I was worried it had gone in the other direction for a while thankfully it has righted itself and all is well. I am no longer jealous of my husband for functioning bowels! Happy days.

Tim – Allergies. Tim was diagnosed with a severe allergy to dust because he would sneeze, sniffle, cough & clear his throat constantly (this really ticked me off, petty? Well it was annoying). He would take ibuprofen or similar far too regularly for headaches and over the past 6 months starting having midday digestion issues. He switched to lactose free milk thinking it was that and it helped a little but no real change. Plus he was a chocolate/sugar lolly addict! Every day/night he would reach for something and he felt that dessert should be had every night after dinner. Also.. an energy drink lover! Red Bull, Mother, Monster all of them in their evil form.

Personal challenges.

Past Fails.

I have a history of Yo-Yo diets, fitness programs, dropping out of education etc. Anything requiring discipline have been fails in one way or another.

I didn't grow up in a disciplined house. I don't think I ever developed the tools to follow routine or have discipline and it's made many areas of my life as an adult difficult. Things just seemed harder than they actually were.

Other people.

Throughout my journey I inspired seven people to start theirs and a couple more are thinking about it. Of the seven two have given up and that's okay. I know they'll come back to it when they are ready. You can't make people do it and you shouldn't because they need to make the decision for themselves so they are armed with their own goals and motivations to get them through the difficult times. But you can continue to inspire and be supportive and give them the opportunity to find their own way to being ready.

When a person I encouraged to do the W30 quit, I took it as a personal fail. I don't know why I just did.

Since then I've learned some people are not ready for change. And that is okay. In the beginning I was so happy and excited about what I was doing it was difficult not to feel like I was on a personal crusade to help everyone I knew change their lives like I was. But it's not for everyone and not everyone wants to or is ready. And some people really do just like their lives as they are. And that is okay.

You can't force it. Yes you can inspire and motivate and support but doing a W30 takes a whole lot of strength and persistence and you must be ready for it. So pushing people into it will most likely end in them failing, you being disappointed and them being annoyed. Changing your life is no small task and quite simply some people just are not ready. So I will be here for them when & if they choose to try it.

Measures – Psychological, Physical & some freaky bonuses..

Physical.

Let's start here because it's usually the motivation people need to originally commence any kind of change.

You know how every girl has an outfit or a pair of jeans tucked away they plan to fit into again ‘one day'. Yeah (smug face), I can wear anything in my wardrobe now. Well that's not exactly true, I need to put a lot of things away that are now too big for me!

I always assumed that thanks to genes I have a particular type of body and that's just how it was. Every girl has ‘problem areas' that when we look in the mirror we are immediately drawn to. Never mind the bits that look good, we judge ourselves on the bits that we don't like. I have quite a few ‘I don't like bits' but I have literally watched my body transform in 30 days. Maybe my positivity has had something to do with this? A new level of satisfaction perhaps? From a visual point of view, I have less puffiness and fluid around my ankles and wrists, I have a leaner look and my fat bits (cellulite areas) have a much better appearance now! From the weight loss and better workouts my body has dramatically changed shape.

I'm not afraid to wear shorts or skirts any more. This is HUGE for me. I have lived in long pants for such a long time because I was ashamed of my legs. I live in Australia. It gets bloody hot here!

Happy to note.. they are actually starting to look pretty good.

So here are some stats for you..

Tim Start / Finish / Difference

Waist - 89 / 77 / 12

Hip (cm) - - - -

Left Bicep (cm) - 33.5 / 32.5 / 1

Right Bicep (cm) - 33.5 / 32 / 1.5

Left Thigh (cm) - 61 / 57.5 / 3.5

Right Thigh (cm) - 59 / 57.5 / 1.5

Tummy (cm) - 96.5 / 89 / 7.5

Bum (cm) - - - -

Bust (cm) - - - -

Weight (kg) - 85.5 / 78.6 / 6.9

Weight (Pounds) - 188.5 / 173.3 / 15.2

Elise Start / Finish / Difference

Waist - 78.5 / 72 / 6.5

Hip (cm) - 89.5 / 84.5 / 5

Left Bicep (cm) - 32.5 / 30 / 2.5

Right Bicep (cm) - 31.5 / 30.5 / 1

Left Thigh (cm) - 59 / 57.5 / 1.5

Right Thigh (cm) - 60.5 / 59 / 1.5

Tummy (cm) - 89 / 81.5 / 7.5

Bum (cm) - 103 / 97.5 / 5.5

Bust (cm) - 88.5 / 89.5 / -1

Weight (kg) - 64.4 / 60.9 / 3.5

Weight (Pounds) - 142 / 134.3 / 7.7

Note: (Tummy - Measured about 2cm below belly button - Podge test!)

Surprising result for Elise - Bust increased! I was terrified I'd lose my boobs to get to my goal weight & that was not the case!

Tim

Age - 26, Height 187cm (6'1")

Elise

Age - 33, Height 164cm (5'4")

• Yes.. I am a cougar.. don't be jealous (lol)
  

From this point forward I will no longer measure my success on the scales. I am the dress size I want to be, my future goals are fitness related and about body fat %. I just want to improve what I've got, not make it smaller!! Stupidly I didn't think to take BF% at the start of the program.. I did do it a couple of weeks ago & today it was 0.5% less than then so that's good!

Training.

I did not change my workout schedule at all. I have been doing the exact same routine since I started my weight loss/fitness journey one year ago.

Monday – Zumba

Tuesday – Body Attack (1 hr intense cardio conditioning class)

Wednesday – Body Pump (1hr weights training class) Since W30, I've put up all my weights after almost a year of doing the same thing!

Thursday – Run & Yoga

Friday – Off

Saturday – Horse riding

Sunday – Play day.. riding, running, farm work, beach walking..although I spent alot of my W30 sundays shopping & cooking!

Over the whole year I lost 6kg.

In 30 days I lost 3.5kg (almost at the end zone!!). This is amazing! I am at the business end of my goal now and it gets a little harder to shed so to have those results in 30 days without calorie restriction is amazing! And although I haven't changed my regime, I get so much more out of my workouts because I walk in there with more energy, positivity and strength than ever before. I LOVE IT.

Psychological

Relationship with my husband. I wish I could see myself through his eyes. He certainly doesn't see any faults with my body, yet one look in the mirror and I'm drawn to the areas I don't like. We have so much more energy and time for each other and this lovely side effect of natural euphoria just makes life so damn pleasant! I am so impressed by his strength & commitment during the program it has made me see him with a whole new level of appreciation.

Relationship with food. I am no longer scared of it. I can eat plenty of food and have the energy and body I want when I choose the right foods! I have not been hungry on the W30. Not once. In fact in the early days, I had moments like really? It's time to eat again? Interestingly… (Pre-W30) I love coconut but I rarely ate it because I thought it was fattening. I did however eat yoghurt almost every day because I thought it was good for me and I don't even like yoghurt. Pfft!

I have realised I have a lot of inner strength and when I am focused and truly believe in something I am doing I can find the discipline required. I feel like I can achieve in so many areas now. “My inner goddess jumps up and down with cheer-leading pom-poms shouting yes at me.â€! (A little fifty shades reference for the ladies).

Natural Zen.

Tim & I are both so calm and confident. It is astounding how much food effects how you function on an emotional level. Stress at work is handled with grace and for Tim this is HUGE. Tim has always had a problem with frustration and is very easily rattled when anything doesn't go to plan (probably why he was so good at this, the man is built for routine) but all through the program and especially of late his tolerance levels are at an all time high. He has never looked so good or been so calm and in control in the whole time I have known him.

Freaky bonuses.

Boobs – Um.. they are bigger! not by much but considering the weight loss you would think it would go the other way.. at least that was the fear.. my only theory here is because my hormones were under control and I had no nutritional deficits that they stayed how they should be but I've responded better to weights training and perhaps built up the muscles in my chest.. just a theory. I know a lot of girls who want to lose weight but are unhappy about losing their boobs.. and it probably would have happened on a calorie restricted diet. Certainly a happy outcome for me & for Tim.

Whiter Teeth – I have no idea what the scientific explanation for this is as we haven't changed toothpaste or routine but both Tim & I have noticeably whiter teeth.

Mistakes made, lessons learned.

Don't dwell on the past choices. This is difficult especially when you start losing weight. Yes it's really exciting but there are moments when you hate yourself for ever letting it go that far. I am mad at myself for not looking after my body in my 20's. I sometimes feel like I've done irreparable damage and now gravity is not my friend. But to see how much I have changed in such a short period of time I know I can have the results I want and I am different. I'm not 20 anymore but I'm a strong confident fit woman!

Yo-Yo Brain.

I have moments of ‘ugh, I'll never look the way I want to & I've worked so hard yet there is still so much to do'

Alternate this thoughts with

‘Wow! Look how far I've come, I feel better & stronger than I did in high school!'

This up/down mentality is one of the biggest struggles. W30 like any fitness/diet program is 100% a mental battle. In this case it's a mental battle that starts with food.

SLEEP – There is a ceiling on how good I feel at the moment and I know with 100% certainty that it is due to a lack of sleep. My sleep bank is in major deficit. 6.5-7hrs per night is not enough. I know it and I plan to fix it. The nights I did manage to get in 8 hours or more, holy crap did I feel the difference. Today is one of those days! I am really on a high today. I DID IT!!

Rewards.

Now I don't have food as a reward.. although I'm sure having a nice dinner in a great restaurant won't be part of celebrations in the future, I now reward myself in other ways.

At the end of week 3 – I bought 3 pairs of new tights for the gym. Yes I needed new ones but now I really do because they are a size smaller! I bought the expensive ones I've always wanted but never actually bought.

At the end of the W30 – I bought kitchen appliances!! I love cooking & I bought myself a new electric skillet & electric griddle to cook up my ‘well fed hotplates'!

Permanent change & future off-roading.

I will never absent mindedly put food in my mouth without knowing/considering what is in it. I'm not saying I'm not going to indulge in a tub of Ben & Jerry's or a glass of wine every now and then. But I can tell you I will consider the contents and the effects beforehand making an informed decision and really truly enjoy every crumb, sip or lick. I guess what I'm saying is my plan forward for off-roading is ‘I will not waste any treats on junk or something just not worth it. If I want to eat a piece of bread, it will be my favorite fresh from the bakery or hot out of the toaster slathered in butter! If I want a cupcake it will be the freshest most delicious perfect cupcake you can buy. It's really exciting to think I get so much pleasure from food. I've always been a foodie, no doubt. But I treated myself everyday and took things for granted. There is so much more pleasure to be had when it is truly a special treat and something you long for. (I'm still talking about food!)

Another Whole30?

Yes I've already committed to 1 Feb 2013. Why? Because I arrive home after 3 weeks in Hawaii, the first holiday in 3 years! And the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I'm attending the ISWF Seminar while I am there (ticket already purchased!) and I'm sure I will come home inspired & more knowledgeable for the 2^nd go round.

More specific goals for W30 Take 2.

Reduce – Body Fat %

No dried fruit in snacks

SLEEP – No.1 priority for my next W30 is to be strict with bed times. 8hrs min.

Fruit – Limit to 1-2 pieces per day, only eaten with breakfast or lunch (never after dinner)

Coffee – I'm still undecided/uncommitted on this but I think I will limit to 1 cup per day.

New Awareness.

My danger zones

1. Extreme tiredness – Guaranteed I will look for comfort in food.
   
2. After dinner – Time to be reminded I am full. I have eaten. I do NOT need anything else!
   

I don't drink enough water. I can't seem to form the habit no matter how hard I try. I go into my workouts dehydrated. MUST FIX THIS & FORM HABIT. Hmm.. perhaps a new Whole30 all about water intake? Rather than leaving things out I must drink a bottle with every meal and one in between. After all my talk of discipline and being a new person I don't know if I want to set myself up for that kind of failure! Jokes!

Food additives

Unbelievable at first. Many a tantrum was thrown in the supermarket looking at ingredient lists. I was stunned at first and really upset that I have been unknowingly putting all kinds of crap in my body for years. I know how to read but I'd never bothered to learn about what I was reading. I always read the labels for fat content and because I didn't have any obvious allergies the ingredients list was never a priority.

Re-Introduction.

I'm doing it! Starting today. Not that I plan to eat everything I've eliminated but mostly because I'm so curious! I will log the progress and results.

Final words.

The W30 is about making you the best version of you. In heart, mind and body I honestly feel I am well on my way to being the best version of myself I can be. I am thankful I found the program and I had the courage to do it. I almost fell over when my husband said he was 100% on board.. no convincing required. I honestly thought he'd quit, I did not give him any credit. I am amazed by him. He has done so well, had amazing results and I know he feels the same way I do. Now the W30 is over I shall eat my slice of humble pie!

BONUS – While typing this (I'm on my lunch break) I had a bunch of flowers delivered to my work with thanks from my husband for helping him through the Whole30 along with a gift card for my favorite workout clothing store!

I can honestly tell you, I am a different person than I was just a short time ago and I have never had such a profound response to any lifestyle/fitness/diet/discipline/program ever in my life.

The W30 has not only effected my diet and physical state, I am more organised, disciplined and I get the most out of every day now. Yes there is a lot of work involved. You don't get something for nothing. But being forced to be so organised with meal planning flows through your entire life.

I don't know if you'll find this inspiring or just same old, same old.. I haven't overcome any major health obstacles/illnesses but elated is how I feel.. I'm almost choking on my emotions I am so proud, so happy and so inspired!

I feel ready to conquer! What? Everything and anything.

Elise.. very happy, very satisfied customer.

[Kirsteen]

Fantastic story. Well done both of you

[SummerGirl]

Wow, fantastic Elise! Enjoyed reading your W30 report. Delighted to hear of so many positive changes!

[GintyGirl]

Excellent report! It's great to hear of such positive changes in many aspects of your life. Very inspiring!

[Andrea D.]

VERY Inspiring!

[Renee Lee]

Love this story!

How did your hubby's allergies do? Did they improve? I didn't see them mentioned, but I may have missed it

[Derval]

Wow, thank you for taking the time to think through that and put it in writing, what an inspiring report!

[CSB1960]

I really enjoyed reading your story! I bought the book recently, just haven't buckled down to do the whole30 yet....I think fear of failure (yet again!) is holding me back.

[PonyLove]

I really enjoyed reading your story! I bought the book recently, just haven't buckled down to do the whole30 yet....I think fear of failure (yet again!) is holding me back.

Hi! Love your pic.. I have a pony! He is the love of my life! hehe

Seriously just DO IT!

Read it first, the more knowledge you go into it with the better you'll cope with the hard times. That is my experience anyway.. I think I was so involved with mine and got so much more out of it because I had a greater understanding of all the how's & why's rather than someone just handing me a copy of the rules and saying DO THIS.

The book is great, it's also really funny and easy to read.

My advice.. do it sooner than later.. The holiday season is fast approaching and there will be many temptations. Pick a day and start. But preparation is key! Know what you are going to do for meals for your first week before you start. That first week is a bitch. Be prepared for some pain but remember your goals and pain is temporary.

GOOD LUCK! I hope to read a log from you soon.

[PonyLove]

Love this story!

How did your hubby's allergies do? Did they improve? I didn't see them mentioned, but I may have missed it

OOPS! I didn't wrap it up so well! I was concerned about how much I was writing!

Of course.. the original goals!!

Well I certainly achieved mine that is clear but Tim is the really interesting one here.

Although he really was on board from the beginning I guess when I was explaining it to him I leaned heavily on promises that he could potentially cure his allergies and even out his temper!

I don't want to make him out to be cranky, he is a really lovely very kind person! Tim's problem has always been himself. He doesn't take things out on others but when he's frustrated he snaps and gets angry and if you're around, it's not nice to see especially when you can he him taking things that weren't his fault personally.

So the answer is:

• YES. The Whole30 completely cured Tim's allergies.
  
• YES. The Whole30 changed his ability to cope with unexpected changes at work and frustrations.
  

Firstly the allergies.. pre-W30 Tim would go through boxes of tissues every week. He almost always had a little niggling cold, sinus headaches, coughing, clearing his throat etc. He went to the doctor about it years ago and had all kinds of testing and they said he was super sensitive to dust. He was constantly taking medications for it, allergy preventers, pseudoephedrine (probably spelt that wrong) to clear his nasal passages etc.

His doctor even told him to stay out of the house while his wife was cleaning, particularly vacuuming! At least this is the story he gave me. Bloody nerve I tell you! Hehe

These symptoms cleared up by Day 10! One night I remember lying next to him in bed wondering if he was alive because I couldn't hear him breathing! Silence. His breathing is now perfect.

He has now taken his headache pills out of his lunch bag because he won't need them regularly now.

100% Success.

Mood changes. Unbelievable. I always assumed it's just how Tim was; I even had him see a counselor a few years ago to help with coping skills when plans changed or work was challenging.

He is now as cool as a cucumber! 2 weeks ago, he had one of those days with about 4 different bosses each coming and telling him something different after he'd just done what the previous supervisor told him to do. Painful! But Tim was seriously so laid back about it all and just went with the flow.

When he told me that night I could have cried with happiness!

I read the book ISWF.. I've read people's stories and experiences but now I can first hand experience with the success it's still mind boggling to know that moods and ability to cope etc is so directly related to what you put in your body. Unreal.. It's like we've unlocked the secret for the happy future we want to have together!

Now.. the really interesting parts are coming up.. we had a dairy test day yesterday. I will start logging today and you can see the effect it's having on Tim! I think he's in mourning today for the things he used to love because he knows now that they are not worth all the new found happiness and freedom he has from eating the right foods.

[MtnRunner]

Wow so awesome and inspiring to hear. But I agree, even after a week I feel like my energy and mood swings have mellowed out. Amazing how sugar will do that to you!

Congrats and here's to many more victories!