Whole30: My Honest Thoughts
When I was pregnant, I found myself eating a lot of bread, waffles, chocolate—a lot of foods we become addicted to on both a physical and emotional level (due to the feelings we get from the blood sugar rushes affiliated with glucose-laden foods).
Once I was no longer pregnant, I craved a reset: mentally, emotionally, physically. I wanted to step away from any emotional attachment I had towards food and condition myself to crave only earthly nutrients (i.e., nothing processed).
Being honest, I’m not a “diet” person, because I don’t subscribe to temporary fixes or the food drama (more on this below) associated with diets. That said, my husband and I decided to go all-in on the Whole30, because it pretty much captured what I wanted to commit myself to: a reset that emphasized only whole (non-processed) foods.
This was my third time doing the Whole30 (I did it in late 2016, and also in 2017, before my wedding), and I think, after having three experiences with the diet, I have pretty much summarized my thoughts on the whole fad.
Here are my honest thoughts.
Whole30 Pros
Emphasis on whole foods — I like how this diet emphasizes eating only whole foods that come from the earth. It’s essentially a stricter paleo diet, and I can get on board with not eating foods processed through a factory or lab.
Affects on insulin — Processed foods are often sugar and/or carb-loaded. When sugary/carby foods are digested, they are broken down into glucose, and have an intense effect on your blood sugar levels (there is a spike-to-crash effect on the mind and body). Since the Whole30 prohibits processed foods, and instead focuses on whole foods (which in turn have less sugar/carbs), your insulin levels become more balanced and stable. This is big plus of the diet.
Emotional component — Probably because my insulin levels became more balanced, I started to have a less emotional attachment towards food. I craved waffles and bread (i.e., sugar/carbs) less, because I wasn’t feeding them to my body. In a sense, the Whole30 helps (it is not a total cure, but it helps) you feel more connected to your body and nourish it only when you feel you need fuel.
Physical difference — Almost immediately, I noticed a significant decrease of bloat in my lower abdomen. However, I didn’t lose any weight, nor did I have the muscle definition I had the first two times I completed the diet (maybe pregnancy aftermath? who knows). It’s probably worth noting that I have friends who have lost a considerable amount of weight after the Whole30, but I never have.
Whole30 Cons
Meat consumption — Speaking honestly, I don’t like to eat much meat (perhaps because I’m blood type A+, which thrives on a meat-free diet). I relied a lot on fish and poultry, but it got kind of old for me. They say vegetarians can do the Whole30, but truthfully, I find it so hard to believe it could possibly be sustainable for a vegetarian without any beans, lentils, peas, or rice.
Overcompensating for cravings — There were a few times when I just wanted a damn piece of dark chocolate. So what did I do? Ate several dates stuffed with almond butter (the only “sweet treat” I could have) to refrain from eating the chocolate. Ultimately, I think the “healthier” choice would be to just eat a piece of dark chocolate, rather than 5-6 dates with spoonfuls of nut butter (less sugar, less fat, less calories), but I wanted to stick to the guidelines.
Food drama — Like all diets, the Whole30 involves a “no-no” food list, which I don’t particularly love. At times, the “no-no” list creates backlash (when you’re told you can’t have bread, suddenly, all you want is bread, right?). Ultimately, I believe we can eat healthy while including the “no-no” foods that we enjoy (my personal favorite “no-no’s” are Ezekiel bread, dark chocolate, and peanut butter). The reason I went into the Whole30 is because I was eating these foods more than I’d like to, and I think the Whole30 is one way to reset and reintroduce these foods in moderation.
Conclusion
Overall, I think the Whole30 is probably my “favorite” of the diet trends, which isn’t saying a lot since I don’t love diets. I like that it emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods, that it helps balance and stabilize insulin/blood-sugar levels (and in effect mitigates emotional attachments to food), and can have positive physical affects such as less bloat, muscle definition, and weight loss (for some).
With that said, the high meat requirement sort of turned me off—to the point where I’ve decided to eliminate meat altogether again (eating for my blood-type seems most intuitive for me). Also, I don’t love that the Whole30—like all diets—includes a fair amount of food drama, including the “yes” and “no” lists of foods. At times, I found myself overcompensating with “yes” foods so that I could avoid the “no” foods.
Our diets are a highly personal journey, so do what you feel works best for you! I am simply sharing my experiences with the Whole30, how it effected me, and what it all means to me now. I may do it for a fourth time (never say never), but for now, I am good without any meat for… a long time.
xx - Megan