I will be starting, November 1

[Vanessa Vee Query Arnold]

the latest post in my blog, Unchained Sunday:

The image says, “I'm doing the Whole 30.†I'm not doing it, yet. I will be doing it, November 1–30.

I am telling you in advance, in case you're interested in joining me.

The Whole 30 is sort of a diet, sort of a cleanse. It's about cutting out toxic, chemical, processed, and potentially problematic foods—sort of going hardcore paleo—for 30 days.

“Certain food groups (like sugar, grains, dairy and legumes) could be having a negative impact on your health and fitness without you even realizing it. Are your energy levels inconsistent or non-existent? Do you have aches and pains that can't be explained by over-use or injury? Are you having a hard time losing weight no matter how hard you try? Do you have some sort of condition (like skin issues, digestive ailments, seasonal allergies or fertility issues) that medication hasn't helped? These symptoms may be directly related to the foods you eat – even the ‘healthy' stuff. So how do you know if (and how) these foods are affecting you?

“Strip them from your diet completely. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, inflammatory food groups for a full 30 days. Let your body heal and recover from whatever effects those foods may be causing. Push the ‘reset' button with your metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you've been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you've been eating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health.“

This will not be as drastic for me as it would be for most people. I've been on-and-off, more-or-less, following a paleo diet for years: focusing on eating whole, traditionally-prepared foods (meat and seafood, vegetables, fruit, dairy, fermented foods), and laying off the gluten, grains, legumes, and sugars. I read ingredients lists, not nutritional facts.

(Since I am a follower of Mark's Daily Apple, “primal†might be a better word than paleo; I also consider Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions to be my bible, so “Price†might be a good word, too.)

Labels, labels. In many ways limiting, but good for building community. Whole 30 is another label, too, marketed by the Whole 9 people to the extent that it kind of just looks like an elaborate flashy selling point. Doesn't it though? But I've been following the paleo community for a while now, so I know it's not—it's the testimonials and commendations of bloggers I've grown to trust that has convinced me to give it a go.

Why give it a go? That's a long answer. Basically: I have a history of health problems, many exacerbated by pregnancy/birthing, many persisting despite eating/living paleo. And I've been slacking lately, not always making the best food choices (life with a toddler is easier with convenience foods). In the past, when I've felt like this, I've done a sort of reverse-cleanse: Rather than eliminating a lot of food all at once for a short period of time, I slowly take away things with the intention of staying off them more-or-less for good.

But right now I am inspired to try something a little different. I feel like I need a reset. And I am a little lazy and like the idea of having a clear-cut road map.

(Oh and, there's a possibility that if Hurricane Sandy takes away our power, I will delay the start of my Whole 30.)