Five Tips for a Successful Whole30
I just finished Whole30, and I’m feeling fantastic! My energy level is off the charts, and my attitude is super optimistic. But while I’m feeling great now, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I’ve completed Whole30 three times now and let me tell you, the first few times were not so successful. And now that I have a few rounds under my belt I want to share my best tips for a successful Whole30 so you can feel amazing right along with me.
TIP # 1: PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
Review your calendar! Choose 30 days free of birthdays, holidays, and special occasions. You do not need to start on Day 1 of a month or the first day of a week. Start whenever it fits best in your calendar. That could be the 27th day of a month or a Thursday.
Even with the best planning, a last-minute dinner date, work function, or get-together might land in the middle of your Whole30. The key is to decide ahead of time what you will eat.
Do you have a dinner date with friends or co-workers? Most restaurants will accommodate a request to grill fish or chicken and a side of veggies with only olive oil, salt, and pepper. It may not be the tastiest meal you’ve ever had, but you’ll be sticking to your plan and won’t miss a night out with friends. And if the restaurant is not able to accommodate your dietary restrictions don’t dwell on it. Make the healthiest choice available (no pasta dishes and baskets of bread) and move along.
Are you attending a party or get-together? Ask the host if you can bring a side dish or appetizer then prepare a veggie tray, fruit salad, garden salad or my fave, this Whole30 compliant potato salad. If your host refuses to let you bring a dish, pack some Whole30 compliant snacks in your purse or car. Mixed raw nuts, sliced veggies or bite-sized fruit (think strawberries, blueberries, grapes, or pre-sliced clementines) are great options.
TIP #2: TEST DRIVE RECIPES AHEAD OF TIME
Make Pinterest your BFF! Find recipes that look appetizing and match your culinary skill level then give them a trial run. When you’re in the thick of it, you’ll want food that is yummy and filling while also adhering to Whole30. If you make a brand new recipe amid this major exercise in self-control, and the meal doesn’t do it for you, you will be more willing to throw in the towel and get takeout instead.
Don’t stress yourself out unnecessarily. Find at least five Whole30 compliant dinners to have at your disposal. At the very least you can make those meals one day a week for the next four weeks. That’s 20 days of dinners!!! And the recipe does not have to be 100% Whole30 compliant right off the bat. If it sounds yummy, look for ways you can substitute or leave out ingredients to make it Whole30 compliant.
When testing out recipes, pull a few soup and chili meals. These will become lifesavers! Find at least two soup or chili recipes, make double batches then freeze into gallon-sized bags and tuck those bad boys away for when you’ve had a long day and are unmotivated to cook or if forgot to prep something and everyone is hungry. These days will happen, most likely in weeks 2 and 3 when you’re questioning your commitment to the long haul. And when they do, you will be grateful you planned for it. Just pull out a freezer meal, kick back and relax.
It will take some trial and error, but don’t get discouraged. I had some significant wins and some major yucks! But in the last fifteen months, I’ve accumulated 30 husband-approved Whole30 compliant dinner recipes. You can find some faves here.
TIP # 3: IMMERSE YOURSELF IN HEALTHY EATING
What helped me stick with it was reading a health-focused book while completing a Whole30. Whether it’s a book, audiobook, magazine articles, or Pinterest articles, make sure the content focuses on healthy eating or what happens to your body when you eat poorly.
Consuming this type of content will keep your head in the game, which is crucial when your cravings or withdrawal symptoms are begging you to give up. I also recommend keeping a journal to write out your physical symptoms, as well as your thoughts and feelings throughout the 30 days. It was empowering to go back through and notice your symptoms recede, and your thoughts get more relaxed and almost joyful. And, if you decide to complete another Whole30 in the future, you can refer back to your journal and prepare yourself for what’s to come.
During my first Whole30, I read the Whole30 Daily Guide. The journal has space to write your thoughts, record your energy levels, cravings, and includes a daily completion checkbox for visual motivation. I especially love the day-by-day information about what your body might be feeling. Knowing what might be in store in the days ahead prepared me mentally to handle the cravings, the hangover feelings, and the exhaustion. Other books I read during my Whole30s are Eating on the Wild Side, How to Be Well, and Anticancer.
TIP #4: SPRING CLEAN THE HOUSE
Yes, it would be nice to get your hours all clean and shiny to start your 30 days of food freedom. But what I mean here is remove all the junky, processed, tempting foods. Throw it out if you can. If you can’t clear out the house at least get everything out of your line of sight. Move all the wonderfully tasty, but oh-so bad for you, foods to shelves that are either too high or too low for you to see easily.
Another option is to hide the junk. Quite literally, put it at the back of a closet you rarely go in to or put it in your husband’s office, give it to your kids to put in their bedrooms. Whatever it takes to get it out of your sight. I once hid a bag full of Easter candy in the back of a cabinet in my craft room in preparation for a Whole30. I did not find that bag until months later when I was moving furniture around in that room. By that point, it was stale, and the temptation to hold on to it was gone, so I pitched it.
TIP #5: TELL ERRRBODY
Tell your family, co-workers, friends; anyone, you will interact with during your Whole30. You’ll not only be telling people upfront, “I’m doing this tough thing, please don’t make it harder by tempting me with happy hours, cake in the breakroom, or office donuts.” But you’ll also have a support system to reach out to when it gets hard. Or at the very least, the people in your life should be warned not to push your buttons during this time. Because irritability and tolerance for bullshit during the first 14-21 days is REAL.
Even with my tips, you may find completing a Whole30 to be a superhuman feat. I may have completed three Whole30 rounds, but I’ve attempted five. And I’ve been cleaning up my diet slowly for the last eight years.
Regardless of your outcome, I applaud your efforts. Whole30 is no joke. If you fall off after a week or two, don’t beat yourself up about it. One or two weeks of eating clean, unprocessed, no sugar added foods is WAY better than if you hadn’t tried at all. Take baby steps and keep moving forward. Start with a Whole5 or a Whole7 and see how it goes. Then turn that Whole7 into a Whole14 and then maybe a Whole21 and finally a Whole30.
Regardless of how you approach Whole30, do yourself a favor and eventually get to a full Whole30. The results you see and feel in that last week are sooo worth the frustration of the first three weeks. And getting to that place will give you the motivation and validation to continue on your healthy eating journey.
Have you tried Whole30? What was your outcome? Do you have any tips to share? I’d love to hear about your experience.