Day Twenty-Nine

Are we really only one day away from having rocked this program?! Yes, yes we are. I feel like now is as good a time as ever to define my feelings on the word "rocked". Did we both experience improved energy, better sleep, and more motivation like we had hoped, yes. Did we both seem to be fitting differently (in a good way) into our clothing, yes. Did we gain an appreciation and better understanding of how much we are capable of and how our bodies process food, yes. Would we both commit to doing this program again, are we happy we did it, and do we fully believe in it? Yes, yes and yes! Is there any such thing as a perfect Whole30 or a perfect diet over the course of an entire lifetime? No. I do not believe so, and that is ok.

Let me explain. Could we have cut back on the amount of fruit we consumed, sourced only local raised meats that were butchered within 40 miles of our home and grown all of our organic produce ourselves? Theoretically, yes. Realistically, no. This article was a comforting read for me on about Day Eight when the "new" factor of the program had started to wear off, my body was having to work harder, and I was not yet experiencing bounds of energy. There are rules to the Whole30, so follow them. They are designed with your best results at heart, but don't kill yourself trying to count out nuts or fruit servings as if eating three too many almonds will completely demolish all that you are working towards. Because the truth is that it won't. It's not about whether you ate bacon too many days each week or whether you chose a banana as a portable snack instead of raw broccoli. Or even about whether you needed fuel in snack form between each meal, like I did. The truth is that each of our lives are different. Our jobs, schedules, transportation and household demands all defer from person to person. And more than anything else, it's the commitment and the mentality that this is worth it that matters far more than anything else. If you are strong enough to make the commitment and follow the rules, you will see results. I can't guarantee that you will loose 20 pounds, but I can guarantee that your body will thank you, and you will find a new found sense of strength that you never knew you had. You are worth it, but you have to believe that yourself in order for great things to happen.

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Green Pepper and Spinach, Sausage and Bacon
Lunch: Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Almonds, Apple with Almond Butter, Skillet Potatoes
Dinner: Balsamic Chicken over Sautéed Mushrooms, Green Beans with Almonds, Sliced Strawberries and Bananas
Snack: Salted Cashews

I have quite a few recipes and posts about grocery budgeting and meal planning in the works for you guys. After tomorrow I will probably still post about what it is we are eating, but on a once a week or so basis rather than daily. This means more posts on things like recipes, meal planning, budgeting and organic living, which I think you guys seem to be even more excited about ;)