Why I’m starting another Whole 30

I have had GREAT success with my first Whole 30. I don’t know if the timing was just right, if I just felt that bad, or if it was the group mentality, but I suspect it was a combination of all 3. Whatever the motivation, I cut out sugar (COKE!!) in one day. That was all it took. I have tried off and on for a few years to quit my daily coke habit and for some reason, this attempt at a paleo lifestyle did it for me. I lost weight (still losing .5-1.5 lbs a week..total 30.4 lbs since mid-Jan), my glucose levels went down, and I learned the specific foods that cause wild inflammation.

And before I give up my bravery, here are the pics to prove it.

But why do another one?

It’s simple.

1. I have YEARS of carb loving habits to break. It’s been 7 weeks since I started re-introducing non-gluten carbs and I have enjoyed a few meals, knowing exactly how they would react. In most cases, the occasions were worth the risk. My birthday, for example, was an excellent occasion to enjoy sugar treats, meals with my family, and my first glass of wine in a very long time. I bought a bottle of my favorite white and it sat on the counter for weeks until I felt the right occasion presented itself. And I thoroughly enjoyed all of those things. I looked forward to the treats, and enjoyed the day-to-day Paleo meals that I prepare at home.

But after the celebrations were over, for the past 2-3 weeks I’ve had things that were NOT worth the crappy feelings, pain in my joints, or fat face. So before this gets out of hand again, I’m going back to what worked. It’s amazing how quickly I went from no sugar to sugar, coke, potato chips, or corn products after March 24th.

2. Stress is about to hit full warp speed. The last few weeks of school are here! And while this is a great time of year, it is also a time when I traditionally stress eat. This is the crucial time to build that mental strength that I had no idea I possessed during the first round.

Also, April is around the corner. It’s been 2 years since April 27, 2011. Last year around this time, I wasn’t in a very good place. This year, I’ve made some progress. But the stress is right there, waiting to take over when I least expect it.

3. Vacation is coming up! Last year, our 4th summer trip to Colorado was great. But both of us know that it could have been much better if I had not been dealing with a long-term problem that turned out to be a gluten-intolerance. I’ve thought back many times, not to the mountains we did climb, but the days I was tied to a hotel bathroom and couldn’t get past the first hill on my favorite peak. This year, I’m already 30lbs lighter, so it’s not a weight goal, but an endurance goal. I need to crank it up in the CrossFit box, and on the trails. I workout better and I’m hoping to finally get some definition in my weenie arms now that the layer of flab is gone. I have big goals in Colorado this year.

So there are my reasons and I expect it will be a little easier this go around.

Anybody else have any experience with Whole 30? Tips or suggestions greatly appreciated!