I am a Whole30 CHAMPION! That’s just to say that I finished
the Whole30 Challenge from January 12 to February 10 along with my wife. After
going through the full 30 days, I consider anyone who completes it to be a
CHAMPION. So for all those out there who did their own Whole30… Congratulations!
For anyone curious about what I am referring to, you can
find all the answers at The Whole30 Program overview
and in the book It Starts With Food.
Here are the 4 main points that I was concerned about:
1)
I want to have a “healthy psychological response”
to food.
2)
I want to have a “healthy hormonal response” to
food.
3)
I want to have a “healthy gut.”
4)
I want to “minimize inflammation.”
And in the end, my overall health improvements prove that
many of these areas were addressed. I can attest to the same benefits that many
other Whole30 CHAMPIONS claim (weight loss, less inflammation, healthy skin,
that sexy feeling, etc.) Many of these stories can be found here. But the most beneficial parts of this journey were learning new things about
myself, discovering new recipes, and uncovering areas of more focus.
LEARNINGS
a)
I Love the Kitchen & Cooking: Who knew the kitchen
was actually a room worth spending time in? Prior to this challenge, I spent a
total of maybe 15 minutes a day in the kitchen pouring a bowl of cereal or
reheating leftovers. Since starting this journey, my kitchen-time has grown
exponentially.
b)
SURPRISE! Poisonous Food Alert: Who knew our modern diet was
inundated with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), soy products, and other “baddies?”
Prior to this challenge, I couldn’t have cared less about the ingredients on
food labels. Now, I pick up products simply to read the horror stories
on the back.
c)
Beware Judgmental Attitudes: Many paleo converts talk about how they
are viewed strangely when discussing their diet & lifestyle with others.
But I recognized myself becoming
judgmental. I would glance at the carts of my fellow grocery shoppers and
silently judge them for their gluten-riddled, HFCS-laden foods while I
righteously purchased produce items that cashiers couldn’t identify without their
handy-dandy flip charts. Be careful people; our diet doesn’t make us better
people…just a bit healthier.
FAVORITE RECIPES:
Top
Recipe #1: Bone Broth from Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook
During
the thirty days, I caught the cold my four children had and passed around. Bone
broth relieved my sore throat, eased my stuffy nose, and helped me recover just like a yummy bowl of
soup. Homemade chicken broth is much better than the canned/boxed stuff. And
buying chicken feet is an adventure in and of itself.
