Having A Slight Freak-Out Re: Reintroduction? On Day 29.

[annnewjerz]

Hi everyone!

My Husband and I are on Day 29 of our first Whole30. We feel great, we've both lost weight (DH has weighed a few times, I have not), we sleep like logs, we have better workouts than before and we never suffered through any of the crankiness/huge cravings/lethargy that comes along with a Whole30. It has been all positive, all the time (well, maybe except when DH realized that he couldn't have pizza and beer for the SuperBowl).

Now that our 30 days is almost over, I'm already starting to sweat it coming to an end. I have been so by-the-book for the last 29 days, it's giving me anxiety to know that the "reintroduction" period isn't going to happen the way it should.

Wednesday is Day 31, so the plan would be to reintroduce something (probably dairy). BUT, on Thursday we are heading to Atlantic City for the night for Valentine's Day/DH's birthday and I know that will mean no way to really track what we are reintroducing. DH will want to have some drinks. We will be going out for Mexican food at Dos Caminos and I know DH will want to eat chips with his guac. And birthday cake is a whole different story. I may indulge in a glass of champagne, a bite of dessert and something that was cooked in a non-compliant oil for dinner.

The plan for us is to continue following the Whole9 lifestyle as much as possible now that our 30 days is over. I may start a new Whole30 on Monday. DH will probably stick to it around 90% of the time, allowing himself something non-compliant when we go to a restaurant or he needs a treat.

So, how do we approach reintroduction? Skip it since we plan to stay 90% compliant? Do another Whole30 when we know we can do reintroduction properly? Stop worrying and just go with the flow?

I've been in such a stress-free good mood for almost 29 days now and I can already start to feel the anxiety creeping back in.

Ann

[CAK911]

I wouldn't skip it, because you get a lot of valuable information about how foods affect you by reintroducing them one at a time. I'd maybe reintroduce dairy or non-gluten grains first (depending on what you think you'll hit more of). But, it sounds like you don't have time for a real reintroduction period. I'd maybe consider doing another Whole30 -- or at least a Whole15 or something like that -- right after the Atlantic City trip and then do reintroduction after that. It's really hard to tell when lots of things are getting introduced at once which thing (or which things) are the real problem.

[Tom Denham]

I would stay Whole30 until leaving on your trip and then eat as you want on vacation. If you want to eat mostly meat and vegetables, great! If you want cake or alcohol, okay. Enjoy yourself. You can always do a Whole7 or 15 when you get back and then experiment with proper reintroductions.

[annnewjerz]

Thank you both!

You've put my mind at ease a bit --- I know reintroduction will be as important as the 30 days itself, so I just want to make sure I give it a fair shot. For the Hubster, I think we'll stick with Tom's idea and let him eat what he wants for his birthday meal(s) and then do another Whole15 or so after the weekend before a proper reintroduction period (I don't think back to back strict Whole30s is an option for him). For me, I'll probably start another 30 days on Monday --- assuming I decide to give in and have a drink or two while on our trip --- and then reintroduce after that 30 days is up.