I Made It!

So, a Whole30 days are over. I'm still alive!  In some ways, it went by so fast, and in other ways, wow, it was unbelievably hard.  Halfway thru the challenge I found myself starving, frustrated, annoyed and irritable.  I was so hungry and really angry that I can't eat what I want to eat, and mad that I have to focus so much on what goes into my mouth.  Majority of the people I know don't think twice about what they put into their mouth's. 

 

As the challenge went on and my focus became so much more about why I have to be careful and the benefits of changing my eating, the easier the challenge became.  I started noticing changes that I never expected.  Acne started clearing up, my digestive routine changed and my, lets say, movements became less and more healthy (gross, I know).  My body felt cleaner, lighter.  I had more energy.  I started noticing a desire to change the way my kids eat.  My husband said I seemed happier.  I only lost about 10lbs during the whole challenge, but I realize now that the challenge wasn't about weight loss, it was about changing the way I think about and buy food.

 

Speaking of buying food, it can be super expensive to change the way we eat.  I noticed that healthier eating out was much more expensive than a burger and fries.  Grocery shopping became a fun challenge for me.  Trying different stores for the cheapest uncured meat or bag of almonds was actually an exciting trial for me! Thank goodness for Trader Joe's.  Gluten free pasta and bags of frozen chicken are my go too there!  I also became a bit more creative in my meal planning and cooking, which was lots of a fun.  Some meals are keepers, some meals....not so much!

 

Overall, I have decided to remain as gluten and sugar free as possible.  Enjoying little treats and limiting my intake on pasta and carbs!  I feel great and learned so much.  It was much more of an informative/creative/learning experience than it was a weight loss challenge!!! It taught me so much about why our bodies need and crave healthy food.  It made me think twice about the processed food that our society consumes and gave me insight on how those types of foods affect my entire body.  From the digestive system to my attitude!  I am so glad I did it!

 

Thanks for the support and love you all showed me!  I'm hoping by this time next year I will have lost a few more pounds and incorporated a lifestyle that I am proud to live!

 

A special thank you to Stephanie for believing in me and supporting me!