Featured Whole30'er: Denise

Denise (right) with her friend Esther

You've already done a Whole30, so why do another?

I think as a young adult, I tend to get carried away with the social aspects of my life. Until you do a Whole30 challenge, you have no idea how much your life revolves around eating and drinking and how one bad choice leads to another. After my first Whole30, my headaches from a long day at the office were nonexistent, my face cleared up and I slept soundly throughout the night. I saved money; I established new hobbies and my Saturdays and Sundays weren't spent sleeping until 2pm. It’s easy to fall back into bad habits; Whole30 teaches you how to create new, healthier habits.

I’m doing another Whole30 to challenge myself to take what I've learned into the future months thereafter.  The first time I did a Whole30, I couldn't wait to eat a bowl of queso on Day 31. This time, I’m teaching myself moderation.  I’m learning how to continue doing the social things I love in a healthier way.

What's been the hardest part so far?

That’s a tough one; there are a lot of hard parts. No one said the Whole30 challenge is easy - trust me -I’ve experienced every negative side effect on the Whole30 timeline. I think one of the hardest parts for me is being patient. From my previous challenge, I know I’ll experience: boundless energy, weight loss, and an incredible sense of well-being. What I tend to forget is that these things don’t happen overnight.

Like you have read in Brian’s previous posts, it takes time for your body to adjust to receiving the proper nutrition it deserves. Brian made a point in our text message thread with the Dallas Whole30-crew that “you can’t undo 20+ years of eating a certain way in 11.5 days”. He’s right. This time, the hardest part has been the waiting game.

What's been the best part?

The best part is taking what I have learned from my previous Whole30 experience and feeling at ease my second time around.  I love when my friends call me for advice while they are cooking or shopping at the grocery store. I love that I can come home after a long day at the office and there is a cooked crock pot meal and a fully stocked fridge. I love that I can go to a restaurant and figure out how to order something healthy yet tasty. Thanks to Whole30, I have been able to train my mind to think in a healthy way and I have gained knowledge that will stick with me forever.  Now that’s truly “living better forever”. ;-)

To view other Featured Whole30'ers click the "Featured Whole30'er" tag below this post.