Our January Project

Now that it is done and I am beginning to collect hindsight, I'll tell you all about our venture toward better health and wellness that I'll affectionately call "The Terribly Painful, Initially Hopeless, and Eventually Worth It - Diet Overhaul". 

I'll tell you the name of the program we followed, but not because we are paid advertisers or because I think this is the only great thing out there, but because we needed somewhere to begin, and this happened to be it: The Whole 30

It all began with a quick conversation I had with a friend about recurring colds and winter illnesses. I had been dealing with annoying head colds for weeks and weeks without any sign of total recovery. Both girls were catching some sort of bug almost every week since the end of summer, and Josh and I were both constantly dazed by fatigue. "It's pregnancy!", "Winter stinks", "It's our season of life... we'll get over it in a few years." - all the reasons we gave each other for feeling like we did. So, I mentioned to a friend that the latest bug to bring Noa down seemed to be dragging on for much longer than it should. A Dr. looked her over and said she just needed more time to recover. This friend said she noticed the same thing happening to her kids, until she changed their diet. Not just a small change, but a radical overhaul that eliminated some things that I considered staples in our home, like sugar, flour, and dairy. I shivered at the thought but went home haunted by the prospect of a once-again healthy family. 

So I spent a couple of weeks researching this program she used to upgrade her menu plan and shared my thoughts with Josh. He was more than happy to see some healthier meals at dinnertime, and who would complain about a few less colds next month? I was hopeful but not too sure. I had built up an impressive habit of sugar consumption every day. I almost penned a blog post a couple of months ago titled "Snickers and Squats", if that gives you any idea... Cereal for snacks, spaghetti for dinner, ice cream for relief from a long day. This was my treasured routine, and my comfort when every day was a challenge. But, we agreed to do it, and January 1st was D-Day. Here were the basic rules we were to follow for the next 30 days:

• Lots of vegetables (this was going to be weird for me)
• Plenty of good quality meats (grass-fed beef, organic chicken, turkey, pork, and high-quality fish)
• Fruits (as high-quality and varied as you can get in the dead of winter)
• Nuts and seeds (no legumes)
• No refined or added sugar (if it is listed in the ingredients, it is "added")
• No dairy (at all)
• No grains (at all - whole, refined, solid, or liquified)

To cut to the chase, I'm here to tell you that we did it, and we survived! I'm here to tell you that if you have wanted to make a major change like this, for the sake of your health, or your family's well-being, or your future, you can do it. If a crazy pregnant woman with a mad sugar addiction can do it, you can do it. 

Now, to the reality of how it all went down...

Day 1: I'm a little bit giddy about our decision and all the pretty colored foods we have in our fridge. 

Day 2: I'm kinda grumpy because I didn't have any ice cream the night before, and I'm starting to feel really hungry. 

Day 3: The kids won't stop complaining about having nothing to eat, and I don't know what to feed them, honestly. I give them some more carrot sticks. Josh comes home from work and declares that he is a new man! Hasn't felt this great in YEARS. Is convinced he has shed 5 lbs of "inflammation" weight. I need a nap.

Day 4: I am officially starving. I have hardly touched the pretty foods in our fridge because I have no idea what to do with them. The girls look skinny to me. I'm really doubting the benefit to any of this. Josh comes home from work and all three of us are crying. We're hungry. I just want to order a pizza. Josh quickly bakes us a tasty fish fillet and steams some veggies. The girls and I eat and go to bed early. (Can you say, "rock-bottom"?)

...

Day 8: I've learned a few tricks with the meat and veggies in our fridge, and I'm becoming quick friends with our fruit bowl. We decided to re-introduce yogurt into the girls' diet and not be as restrictive with them as we are being with ourselves. This helps.

... 

Day 14: I have tried several new dishes that consist of meat, veggies, nuts, oil, and more sides of veggies. Apples and almond butter (no sugar added) have become my new dessert. I am surprised by the success I've had with these new recipes. We all seem to enjoy them... immensely. 

Day 15: I still struggle with thoughts of sweet snacks, but the intense cravings and fatigue I felt without them at first has seemed to vanish. (Am I just imagining this?) Also, I'm eating 4-5 servings of veggies per day and ENJOYING them. Very weird. I'm learning how to season meat with spices, and I've found a chicken sausage that has zero sugar added to it. Really beginning to like our new menu. 

... 

Day 25: I think I'm getting the hang of this. I've cooked nearly a dozen new meals, all Whole30 compliant, and almost all of them absolutely delicious. Josh is looking amazing, and I try to tell him often. The girls have begun to eat things I have never seen them eat. I am still a tired version of myself, but it has been a while now since I've "crashed" during the day. I can wake up with energy (even if I didn't sleep too well), and expect that energy to last me until dinnertime. Also, I'm NOT SNACKING with the girls. This may sound benign, but I have eaten snacks with them every day for years now because of my constant munchies. I eat my meals now, then don't think about food or feel hungry for hours. This is foreign territory, people. 

Day 30: Last day of the Whole30 diet. Someone brought donuts to community group at church last Sunday and I could smell them across the room. The thought of them lingered in my mind for a few more seconds, then I was distracted by good conversation with friends. Donuts, you have no more power over me. (Okay, you have a little bit still... but you are not in my mouth and therefore I am conquering you presently)

I am so relieved and amazed at what we accomplished over the course of 30 days - an effort that has been years in the making. Some of the tangible health benefits will hopefully just get better as we adjust to a more "normal" diet that continues to avoid the more useless and irritating foods that we (I) were so accustomed to. The intangible benefits are still remarkable and motivating to me: no more daily need for a sugar fix. No more daily battles with overwhelming fatigue, moods that run hot then cold and then hot again, depending on how much energy I have. No more constant guilt but lack of action over the empty foods I was feeding my kids and husband. No more doubt that I can make major changes in my eating habits!

So, this is the start of Month Two of our new selves. I have no doubt that it will continue to take massive amounts of self control and exerted will-power to continue with all of the meal-planning, the prep-work that goes into healthy meals, the forethought that makes for healthy snacks, and the reminders of what life was like when we were running on junk.

And just to show off (look at me, I can cook!), here are some pictures I've shared with family and friends who are also making it a goal to eat real food (we swapped several good recipes)...

Lunch: Spinach salad with leftover almond-crusted turkey fillet. Dressed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Main course: Eggplant bolognese with red onions and bell peppers.

Side: Bok choy cooked in olive oil with cashews.

Breakfast: Eggs, chopped tomatoes, green onions. One of my new favorite combos.

Dinner for the girls one night. They are now red bell-pepper addicts. Bryn is a die-hard carnivore, we've learned, and Noa will eat most of her veggies (mushrooms are still too much to ask).

Dinner: Ask Josh about the now-famous Meatza. Holy canoli, I can't wait to have this again. And yes, those are brussels sprouts on my plate. I can't say I'm in love, but we are getting along, at least.  ;)

And so there it is. My closing report for one of the most challenging things I've done in a long time. It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't perfect, but it has done the job. If ever I go back to eating the way I was before January, I will know for certain that my body and mind are worse for it. And then I will wait impatiently for someone to come along and slap me.