The best pieces of advice I received were from my sister- a Whole30 veteran... I've reworded them into helpful tips below. Thanks sister!
Also, instead of thinking about what I'm missing, I don't focus too far out in the future- instead of thinking "I'll never have chocolate/wine/bread again!" I ask if I can live without chocolate/wine/bread for TODAY. And TODAY, I can. I'm just stringing together a long list of "getting through TODAY'S".
#1 Don't plan too far into the future
My number one piece of advice for starting your Whole30 is not to overthink your meals- yes, there are a lot of gorgeous options on pinterest and other Paleo blogs, but keeping your daily food simple will help you stick with your plan every day. I have a tendency to plan too far into the future and start worrying about how I'll deal with certain group situations and get togethers, but I take a pause (thank you mindfulness) and ask myself "Do I have enough Whole30 food for today? and tomorrow?" and I remind myself to stay in the present, that I'll cross that bridge when I get there.Also, instead of thinking about what I'm missing, I don't focus too far out in the future- instead of thinking "I'll never have chocolate/wine/bread again!" I ask if I can live without chocolate/wine/bread for TODAY. And TODAY, I can. I'm just stringing together a long list of "getting through TODAY'S".
#2 Know thyself
Luck had it that I recently finished Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies Quiz before starting my Whole30, taking a closer look behind the reasons and motivations around habit formation. I learned what kind of support I need to stick with a habit and suggesting reading her book Better than Before to shed some light on quirks we all have to make or break habits (good or bad).
#3 No Snacking
The first week of Whole30 I snacked on whatever I wanted within the Whole30 guidelines, I kept waiting to feel deprived so I thought I'd keep nuts, fruit etc with me to keep the hunger at bay...but it never came. I learned that having complete nutrient-dense meals 3x a day, without any snacking between helps my digestion, I feel light and very warrior-like!
Also, in It Starts With Food- they talk about how moderation is a slippery slope and absorbs a lot of self-control and brain power. I 100% support this idea, once I took the option of snacks OFF the TABLE, I found that I had more mental space to focus on other tasks. Instead of "do I have my snack now? after class? should I get a snack?" I flipped a switch, knowing that there is no snacking, no potentiality for snacking and it is now a non-concern.
#4 Have fun with cooking
As a graphic designer, I can appreciate how parameters help creativity, not hinder it. As someone who enjoys cooking, it's' been exciting to come up with delicious meals that are healthy, nutrient dense, and well within the Whole30 guidelines. I finally had the need to learn how to make my own mayonnaise, make bone broth, and learn new ways to utilize sweet potatoes (so easy and cheap in Korea!). I might have made the best dish of my whole cooking lifetime just last week with a noodle-free lasagna. The funniest thing about this whole adventure is I've learned how hard food photography is! I have such respect for those who can make something delicious and make the PHOTO also look delicious. Thank goodness this isn't a food blog!
All in all, connecting the brain to the digestive system takes work, is a practice and overall, well worth the investment. Thanks for following along my Whole30 journey, if you have any specific questions what I'm filling my menu with, send me an email!
All in all, connecting the brain to the digestive system takes work, is a practice and overall, well worth the investment. Thanks for following along my Whole30 journey, if you have any specific questions what I'm filling my menu with, send me an email!
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