Day 30!!!

I did it!  Today is the last day of my Whole30 challenge.  Yay me!

I asked my husband last night if he truly thought I could do it.  His response:  I knew you could, I just didn’t think you would.

And he was right.  The other two times I’ve attempted a 30-day challenged I’ve hit a wall at two weeks and caved.

But not this time.  I made it the whole 30 days without grains, dairy, legumes…..and best of all, without my daily dose of caffeine, high fructose corn syrup and caramel coloring:  Coca-Cola.

Now I’m not saying giving up soda is anywhere near as hard as giving up smoking, drinking, drugs, etc.  My deepest respect is held for those that have overcome an addiction.

But I am soooo proud of myself for sticking it out, for not caving when we passed by about 15 Dairy Queens on a two-day road trip.  For not running out to a drive through for a Coke when my hormonally caused headache hit.  For making the healthy choices when the unhealthy choices were more convenient.

Will I run out for a Coke today?  Nope, not going to do it.  I’m not saying I’ll never have another one, but I’m going to wait until it’s an intentional decision rather than drinking it out of habit.  I want to choose to drink it because it sounds good, not because I think I need it to get through an energy slump brought on by poor food choices.

Now, I know what people always want to hear when someone has completed a diet challenge (though this is not just a diet, it’s a lifestyle…..more on that another day):

Weight lost:  5 pounds

Inches lost:  4.75 (measured my hips, waist and chest)

I’ve said it before, my goal wasn’t really to lose weight, though it’s definitely a bonus.  Muscle weighs more than fat, so as a CrossFitter I wouldn’t mind putting on weight as long as it is fat turning into muscle.  I’m actually most excited about the inches lost.  Obviously I lost some fat this month….yay!

The most important results for me are the following:

I’m sleeping much better, falling asleep more quickly and staying asleep all night.

My energy levels are more consistent throughout the day.

The general bloated feeling in my stomach is gone.

I’ve been, ummm, more regular, if you know what I mean.  (Too much information,I know, but I believe a lot of people struggle with “stomach issues” and never talk about it.  It’s more common than you think!)

My emotions have been more even-not as many ups and downs throughout the day.

So what’s next?  Another 30 days?  I’m definitely going to loosen the reins a bit now, but do not plan to revert to my usual habits from a month ago.  I feel too good to go back…..none of those food choices were worth how I was feeling.

My gym is starting a paleo challenge on September 3rd.  I’ll be posting more info, recipes and tips of how to successfully plan for and complete a month of really clean eating.  I hope you’ll join us!

 



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