Fueling up for a healthy life!

It’s just a little over a week until our wedding!  It’s been a crazy busy, but fun few weeks.  We’re getting ready for a beautiful day and a warm tropical honeymoon – yay!

“honeymoon luggage style”

In the last post, we were in the middle of our first Whole30, and I definitely did not want to leave our Whole30 journey on that type of cliffhanger.

On or around Day 17, the Whole 30 came to a close, specifically for me.  It was week 3, and I found myself creating extremely low carbohydrate meals day after day.  My energy was low, I was having a few issues in other aspects of my health, and I just lethargic.  Let me note, Devin did not have similar symptoms.  When I mentioned to him that I wanted to end my Whole30 journey, he was a little confused because he was feeling really good. 

This was when I did a little digging to see if I was the only one, specifically only female, that had issues with the overall Whole30 experience.  While Google does not translate to solid scientific research, it can at least give you a sense, that in fact, you are not a crazy person.  Surprisingly, there are many articles related to the subject of women, Paleo, and Whole30.

 “morning runs require some carbs, specifically from the night before”

So, after Day 17, I added in some quinoa and had a bowl of oatmeal.  My conclusion was I had eaten too low carb for my lifestyle.  I was adding more running back into my routine thanks to some warmer temperatures and also getting over being sick, my overall activity levels were picking back up.  This is why I think the lower carb intake the first week or two did not have the same effect on me. 

We learned a lot during the Whole30 journey.  I only ate that one bowl of oatmeal and have maintained a pretty similar eating pattern at breakfast.  I’ve given up on coffee creamer, and I’m now opting for plain almond milk.  Devin and I continue to focus on vegetables and protein first when creating the meal, and we now eat a lot less rice, quinoa, and pasta.  Our sources of carbohydrates tend to come from fruits, vegetables such as sweet potatoes and potatoes, and occasionally quinoa and brown rice. 

“My typical breakfast now: bananas, berries, nut butter, coconut, and a sprinkle of granola” 

What about sugar cravings?  Our Whole17 did not eliminate my sugar cravings.  However, one piece of chocolate satisfies me.  I don’t feel the need for a huge piece of cake every day.  If you’re thinking of doing a Whole30 to eliminate sugar cravings, this is my piece of advice (coming from a registered dietitian): I’m not convinced that eliminating cravings is accomplished completely through elimination of the food you are craving.  I believe cravings stem many times from emotional and mental sources and even sometimes from how well we’re resting. 

As a nutrition professional, I try many diets so I can experience and understand what many of my clients are experiencing.  I’ve tried vegan, vegetarian, clean eating, juicing, and now Whole30/Paleo.  What I’ve learned through these diets is there typically is at least one part of each that may work for you.  The Whole30 helped me work certain foods out of my diet that were superfluous such as coffee creamer and extra sweets.  Vegan and vegetarian taught me how to incorporate more fruits and vegetables and cook delicious meat free meals.  And juicing taught me that I definitely prefer eating food as opposed to drinking my food :)  

“eating out, while maintaining a healthy mindset”

The point of a diet is to find a way of eating that helps you live your healthiest life.  I’m very thankful for the 17 days in the Whole30.  I’ve learned new cooking techniques, recipes, and ways of eating that have made my life even better. 

**All opinions are strictly my own.  If you are interested in making a change to your diet, discuss with your doctor and a nutrition professional.  Feel free to contact me to inquire about one on one nutrition coaching for lifestyle, weight management, and sports performance.

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