Realistic Whole30 Advice From Someone Who Has Done It Three Times

I’ve never been what anyone would consider overweight, but I have always been curvy, starting from the ripe ‘ol age of 10, when I started my period. Having DD breasts before I was even "officially" a teenager started a tumbleweed effect on my body image. Suddenly, I wasn’t the same kind of thin as the other girls in class.

As I grew up, I became more confident with my hourglass shape, though I was never totally satisfied with it. I had a healthyish body image until a few years ago, when a running injury after a half marathon caused me to be inactive, and the end of a disappointing two-month relationship encouraged me to eat a lot of pizza. I packed on weight—20 pounds of it. And while the extra pounds were definitely morale defeating, it was how I was feeling physically that really sent me over the edge: I had indigestion after every meal and I was always so bloated and uncomfortable in my own skin.

That’s when I made the choice—in January 2015—to make a real change and get back into shape. Since I’m a type-A Google queen, I knew that changing my eating habits was step one, and that to do that, I needed something drastic that would make me face my habits. That’s when my then-roommate introduced me to Whole30. Three years later, I credit Whole30 with jump-starting my health, happiness, and strong sense of self.

You can read more about what Whole30 is here, but it’s basically a temporary elimination diet where you omit dairy, gluten, grains, legumes, sugar (no wine!), and basically anything on the back of a box or jar you can’t pronounce. After those 30 days, you slowly introduce those items back and see how your body responds to each, alerting you to any possible allergies or sensitivities.

My first round of Whole30, I dropped 11 pounds and 13 inches; my second round, I dropped 6 pounds and 5 inches; and my third round, I maintained a healthy weight and dropped 3 inches. Currently, I’m 25 pounds lighter than I was the first time I started Whole30, and I've gone from a size 10 to a maintainable size 4 for two years and counting. I now have the best version of my body that I know I can have.

For me, weight loss was a goal going into Whole30, but that may not be the case for you. Maybe you're just looking to quit your junk food habit, or eat in a way that gives you more energy, eases digestive issues, or makes a positive impact on other things like blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Even if you are trying to lose weight, know that your results will not necessarily look like mine, as many other factors go into weight loss, like sleep, stress, and genetics. If you have a history of disordered eating, always speak with your doctor before starting a new eating plan.

I now diligently inspect food labels and try to only eat whole, good-for-me foods. I follow the mind-set of Whole30 about 80 percent of the time, but I allow myself to live and eat whatever I want on the weekends. And because I’m fueling my body properly, I have enough energy to work out about five days a week.

If you’re thinking of taking the challenge, take these tips from me before diving in. It’s a hard month but I promise, hands-down, it’s worth it.

The night before I started my very first round of Whole30, I asked my roommate what I should eat. Having completed Whole30 a month before, she said I better order takeout for whatever I wanted because I’d miss those gluttonous items in a hot second. I devoured chicken fingers, chocolate cake, and a big glass of red wine. While some may argue that having an indulgent meal before the 30-day sprint is a bad idea, I say it’s worth it and it’ll give you something to reminisce about in the dark times of Whole30 when you’d give anything for a motherf***ing cookie.

I won’t lie, when I didn’t lose any weight at all during my third round of Whole30, I was a bit bummed out. It wasn’t until I talked to my primary care doctor who commented on how healthy my vital stats were, and how strong and fit I was that I realized how little my overall sense of self had to do with what read on a scale. Whole30 recommends that you weigh yourself and take measurements the evening before you start your round, and it’s a great idea if you want to track your progress. But while you might be tempted to weigh yourself throughout, it’s better to wait until you’re finished so you don't end up discouraged by natural daily weight fluctuations.

I’m going to play devil’s advocate against the Whole30 program here and say that depending on your lifestyle, you might need snacks. I happen to be someone who exercises nearly every day, doing everything from yoga to boot camps, HIIT sessions, and boxing workouts. I need sufficient fuel to recover from these calorie-burning fitness feats, and thus, while on Whole30, I always had some sort of snack that followed the Whole30 rules handy, like almond butter and a banana. The reason I think snacks are important (even if they’re frowned upon on Whole30), is that you save yourself from possibly cheating when you’re delayed at the airport, commuting home post-workout, or stuck in back-to-back meetings at work.

If you’re serious about Whole30, you’ll have to get serious about meal prep. Each time I’ve done a round, I’ve set aside a Sunday afternoon or a Monday evening to plan and prepare all of my breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the week. Though it was arguably a ton of work, it was always worth it. I never had to worry about what I was eating because it was always ready. Plus, you might just turn yourself into a chef after a few weeks (or at least, finally learn how to chop an onion!).

Whole30’s limitations make it really tough to find something on the menu you can eat when you’re dining out, but if you choose a Mexican or American restaurant, you can most likely find something. Go for the fajitas (without cheese or sour cream or tortillas) and see if they’ll make you a crudite for the guacamole. At an American eatery, simply go for the steak or the chicken, with a side of veggies and a baked potato (that’s not cooked in butter, please and thank you). When in doubt about if the kitchen will follow your dietary request, say you have an allergy.

One of my favorite parts of Whole30 comes during week two when I’m suddenly filled with relentless energy. It’s like magic. Though I’m not traditionally a morning person, on Whole30, I sleep so soundly and never have a hangover, so my days start earlier. I end up seeing New York City wake up on a Saturday, finish all of my errands, and work out, all before my friends text to see what our plans are for the day. When you’re on Whole30, make sure to indulge in this tiny gift.

The first two times I did Whole30, my roommate and I went on the journey together. By the third round, I was on my own and I knew that I couldn’t do the whole month without commiserating with someone else. That’s why I started a private Facebook support group that has now grown to include 500+ people around the world. When you’re going through withdrawals, having cravings, or questioning your decision to try it in the first place, you need someone there on your side to remind you.

Well, only if you want. But I have to say, it’s always been the best choice for me. When you come off Whole30, you can add one new thing every three days. The idea is that you give your body a chance to react to the items you cut out. For me, wine was just fine, legumes caused me no trouble, grains were all good, gluten made me a little upset, and dairy made me throw up. These days, I don’t eat dairy at all, and I stick to very little gluten. In return, I’m never bloated and I no longer have to pop a Tums after everything I eat. Though you might want to have a feast when you’re done with the 30 days, it really is best to add back everything gradually, otherwise you won’t reap the real, long-lasting rewards of Whole30.

Do I follow Whole30 all the time? Nope. Do I follow Whole30 most of the time? Yep, and that’s why I was able to feel healthier, lose weight, and keep it off. The thing that surprised me the most about Whole30 wasn’t even what happened during the 30 days, but how much it changed my perception of food, what my body craved, and how I reacted to eating. I no longer reached for sweets, but for filling, protein-rich foods. I didn’t want my typical cereal, I wanted eggs. When I could officially eat all of the unhealthy things again, I didn’t want to—I saved those for special occasions. And those Saturday mornings that made me feel like a million bucks? I wanted to keep having them, so I cut back on alcohol.

Whole30 is a great way to jump-start your life—if you let it. And if you add wine back first.