My first Whole 30, completed!!!

I completed my first Whole 30 on September 2. Never in a million years did I think I would type those words. When I embarked on my journey, I was scared and doubtful. But, I did it and I am so proud of myself. Many people have asked me to share my thoughts on the program and whether I really enjoyed it. The short answer is yes, I loved it. The experience changed my relationship with food, how I will fuel my body going forward and how I will feed my family. (If you missed my review of the first two weeks on Whole 30, you may want to read that first. There is also a post on why I chose Whole 30 which you can read here.)

After a full 30 days on the program, here are some final thoughts for those who are interested and just for my own record.

Be prepared to cook: Sure, there are plenty of no cook options on Whole 30 like fruit, raw veggies and nuts but meat and eggs do require cooking. That doesn't mean you can't keep it simple. I love this recipe for lemon thyme chicken. It's a regular weeknight favorite in our house. I tried to cook in bulk on the weekends (like grilled chicken and hard boiled eggs) so that I could just "grab and go" during the week. Whole 30 does require some planning and prepping but once you make it a priority, it provides for lots of quick and easy meals.

Get ready to fall in love with fruit again: Wow, this really took me by surprise! Whole 30 will give you a brand new appreciation for fruit. After eliminating artificial sugars from your diet, a perfectly ripe piece of fruit will taste like pure heaven. Summertime is an ideal time to do a Whole 30 because there are so many wonderful fruits and veggies in season.

You'll be surprised at which foods you miss the most: When I began the Whole 30 I thought for sure that alcohol and bread would be the things I missed the most. I was completely wrong. After 30 days, you know what foods I missed? Feta cheese on my salad, greek yogurt for breakfast and real-deal chocolate ice cream. I could have cared less about bread, except maybe those garlic rolls I passed over at the italian restaurant one night. And about alcohol...a lot of people have said to me they couldn't do Whole 30 simply because of the "no alcohol." Trust me, you can do it!  Stepping away from it for a while opened my eyes to when and why I was consuming alcohol. I noticed much of my consumption was done out of social obligation or a reaction to an emotional day.

People will be curious. Have an answer: Speaking of social settings (and you will encounter them on Whole 30), you need to be prepared for questions. People will be curious or interested. Others will be confused and appalled. I encourage you to really think about why you are on this journey so that you can share that with people in a kind and honest manner. For me, I wanted to reset my hormones after having Ben. I also wanted to jumpstart my postpartum weight loss and increase energy.

You will lose weight: If you are truly following Whole 30, I'm 99% sure you will lose weight. I only lost 10 pounds during my 30 days but others have reported greater numbers. I was a little disappointed that I did not lose more but I had some other challenges working against me which I will discuss in just a second.

Get your rest and renewal: I kid you not, the day I began my Whole 30 Ben decided he was going to quit sleeping through the night. I'm still trouble shooting his sleep issues but I haven't slept through the night since beginning my Whole 30 and I really think it affected my weight loss. My lack of sleep also discouraged regular workouts too.  Either way, your body is going through extreme changes and rest is important! Get as much as you can. I also made a point to take salt baths and treated myself to a few spa appointments. Reward your body mentally and physically because it deserves it. Take care of your body and it will take care of you in return.

You will not be hungry: Another comment I got a lot was "Don't you get hungry?" Amazingly, no. Not at all. When you fuel your body with "the good stuff" you will be full and satisfied. I also noticed very quickly that I didn't have the high and lows associated with sugar. Remember, Whole 30 does not limit you to an amount of food so eat as much as you want, as long as it's whole foods. Plain and simple.

Trying new foods and recipes: Admittedly at first glance, Whole 30 feels like you don't have a lot of choices. But you do. I enjoyed trying new fruits, veggies and proteins. After the first few weeks, I began to step out of my comfort zone and shop for things that weren't regulars on the grocery list. I also enjoyed experimenting with new oils and fats like coconut oil and clarified butter.

Find a support group: For me this came via Instagram but I know there are message boards, Facebook pages, blogs, etc. Just knowing that others were on the same journey was motivating. I also loved seeing what others were eating and got some great ideas for new meals.

Do it for yourself: In my opinion, this is huge for any wellness program. Many times, we look for motivation outside of ourselves such as a spouse, a group of friends or an upcoming event. Let me tell you, nothing will ultimately motivate you better than your own desire. Do this challenge for you. Do it because you want to feel better, because you long for better health, because you want to change your relationship with food. Refer back to my point of why you are doing this program. Be honest with yourself and remind yourself of it every morning and throughout the day if needed.

Read the book: Even though the Whole 30 is a very simple program, there is a ton of science behind it that is quite intriguing. The book will encourage you and provide you good reminders of why we eat certain foods and how they fuel our bodies. It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways and can be on your doorstep within days thanks to Amazon.

Shop before you begin: Okay, if your feeling motivated to start your own program right away (which is kinda what I did) clean out your fridge and pantry of temptation and go shopping for whole foods. Staples for me were eggs, avocado, sweet potato, tomatoes, various fruits, chicken, almond butter, olive oil, sea salt, nuts, raisins and Lara bars. Don't make the mistake by setting your mind to start today only to discover by lunch time you don't have enough whole foods on hand to get your through the first 24 hours.

Last but not least, Whole 30 is not "Forever:" Sure, lots of people adopt this program as a lifestyle due to health reasons, food allergies or simply because they love it. But throughout your challenge (and it will be challenging) remind yourself this is only 30 days. You will enjoy ice cream again, you will sip a margarita, you will go out for pizza. Just not right now. These 30 days belong to you and your health. Commit these 30 days to you because you are worth it. 

Thank you again for all your support and encouragement! It really helped me stay focused and motivated me to stick to the program. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email or get in touch with me via social media. Thanks for reading and sharing this experience with me.

The first two weeks on Whole 30

If you missed my post yesterday on why I chose Whole 30, you may want to read it first. If not, keep reading. It may sound crazy but after only 14 days on Whole 30, I feel like this journey will forever change how I eat and how I think about food. For the sake of documentation and my own memory or lack thereof, I wanted to share a few things about my first two weeks. Perhaps if you are considering the program, you will find this helpful, informative or inspiring.

1. First it's not as difficult as I imagined. I thought it would be the worst month of my life but that is not the case. Unless you live in a hole, I promise you have done harder things in life than the Whole 30. It's just food. Yes we need it, but it's still just food. The Whole 30 simply asks us to eat really wholesome food and there is nothing hard about that. Yes, it takes a little extra time and effort to plan and cook your meals but the results are so worth it.

2. The thing I love most about Whole 30 is the simplicity. It is very black and white. No tracking or weighing food. There are no cheat days or "extra points" or "activity points." At first it felt very restrictive but now I appreciate how cut and dry the program is. It makes grocery shopping super easy too! Grab your produce, your meats, your healthy fats and your La Croix and you're done. Boom.

3. I realized after just two days on Whole 30 that I have been fueling my body all wrong.  I've always had trouble regulating my blood sugar and would try to eat several smaller meals throughout the day or incorporate snacks but I still felt hungry. I have not been hungry once since following Whole 30. It's so awesome to leave the house and not have to grab a handful of "protein" bars in case my blood sugar crashes.

4. I realized a lot of my indulgences are not consumed out of desire but rather habit. For instance, Friday night Mexican and margaritas, ice cream with the kiddos on the weekend or pizza night for the sake of convenience. After Whole 30, I will indulge in these things but it will be done more consciously and it will be enjoyed to the fullest and without guilt. If you're wondering what foods I've craved the most, see above. (Pizza, margaritas, and chocolate ice cream.) All the other "junk" I can most likely live without.

5. I've always been pretty good at reading my nutritional labels but often failed at reading through the ingredients. WOW, there is sugar and soy in everything...along with a bunch of other "ingredients" I cannot pronounce. Going forward I will consciously purchase brands that use more wholesome ingredients, not only for myself but for the entire family. I've already switched things like our spaghetti sauce and our butter.

6. Physically I can tell I've lost weight which is great! I'm noticing other big changes too. My sleep cycle feels completely different. I get naturally sleepy (vs a cocktail induced sleepy) at 10:30pm and wake well rested, except for the nights I'm up with Ben! (He has regressed with his sleep but that's another story.) While I did experience the infamous fatigue and Whole 30 hangover during the first few weeks, it was hard for me to tell whether it was diet induced or due to middle of the night awakenings with Ben.  Either way, each day I'm feeling more energized and stronger both mentally and physically. My nails look amazing so I'm hoping my hair is benefiting too. My night sweats are gone and the swelling in my knees and ankles are gone too. I don't have anymore lightheadedness associated with the highs and lows of blood sugar which is something I've struggled with since I was a teen. Overall feeling a lot more healthy and happy!

*photos by Amy Mikkelsen

Why I chose Whole 30

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I embarked on a Whole 30 journey a few weeks ago, 14 days to be exact. If you aren't familiar with Whole 30, it's an elimination eating progarm (not a diet) where you consume ONLY meat, veggies, fruit, nuts and healthy fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, olives, avocado and nut butters. That means for 30 days (or longer if you choose), you consume absolutely no dairy, no legumes, no grains, no sugar (real or artificial) and NO alcohol. After the 30 days, you slowly reintroduce certain foods back into your diet and assess how your body responds to them both mentally and physically. Yes, it is radical and yes it sounds crazy. I know. For a girl that loves her food and cocktails, I never imagined myself doing something so "restrictive." Let me explain.

After Ben was born, I gave myself some time to adjust to life with three kids. I didn't rush myself into dieting or push myself back into the gym. I was no stranger to postpartum weight loss and had lost 25+ pounds after both of my previous pregnancies. I knew how to lose weight and when the time was right, I would march back to Weight Watchers and start counting points and working out again. But this time around, I felt different. There was something more than just losing the baby weight. Ben was four months old and I was still having terrible night sweats, my hair started falling out, my ankle and knee joints were swollen and I was stress eating at every turn. Simply put, I just did not feel healthy. I felt terrible. 

I had heard about Whole 30 before but knew NOTHING about it. I just thought it was some radical "diet" that people did when they were trying to uncover food allergies or help with stomach issues. One  desperate night, I read some reviews on Amazon for "It Starts With Food", a book about discovering the Whole 30. There were so many people raving about how this "diet" changed their life or made them feel so much better. I had no idea if it would help balance my hormones or heal my achy joints or get my sugar cravings under control, but I bought the book anyway and it was delivered via Amazon Prime a few days later. I began reading the book and 10 minutes into it, I knew I had to begin my own journey. On page 24, the Whole 30 "Good Food Standards" states the food we eat should:

1. Promote a healthy psychological response (there's my stress eating!)

2. Promote a healthy hormonal response (check that box too.)

3. Support a healthy gut (sure, why not?)

4. Support immune function and minimize inflammation (heal my achy joints and feel healthy..yes!)

So, here I am 14 days in and you want to know what I think about the Whole 30? I absolutely love it! Already I feel so much healthier and happier AND I'm conditioning my mind and body to eat really good food. Do I miss certain foods or the occassional margarita? Absolutely, and they'll eventually make their way back into my life. But not for these 30 days. These 30 days are about taking care of me and giving my body what it needs to get back on track to feel good. So, there it is. Why I chose Whole 30 in a nutshell. Tomorrow I'll be recapping my first two weeks on Whole 30 and sharing details like what foods I've been eating, why I like the program, what I've been craving, tips/tricks for staying on track and what changes I've seen since begining the program. 

A Visit to the Greenbrier Hotel

I've wanted to visit The Greenbrier for so long! When I found out Mr. YSP's job was taking him to the Greenbrier, I was crushed because I didn't think it would be possible for me to tag along due to Benjamin's young age. BUT, Mr. YSP aligned the moon and the stars (i.e. coordinated five caretakers) to stay with the boys while we went away to the Greenbrier for a few days. I joked with people that the boys were in better hands with their five caretakers (which included two grandmothers) than they were with me on a daily basis! 

While Mr. YSP was working, I visited the spa, relaxed in the ladies quiet room, lounged at the outdoor pool, rode bikes and took a ton of pictures! The Greenbrier is so visually stimulating and a photographers dream, thanks to the design genius of Dorothy Draper and her apprentice and current curator, Carleton Varney.

The hotel is so rich with history that you can imagine the days of time passed at every corner. From the grand ballroom to the 100 year old indoor pool, it's no wonder why the Greenbrier is known as America's Resort.

Are you ready to see some pictures?

Here's your view as you turn the corner to approach the entrance. Isn't she lovely?

Here's where the magic happens. Mr. Varney's office complete with fabric samples and portrait of the late Dorothy Draper.

The Ballroom below is crowned with a beautiful chandelier and impeccable ceiling detail. I couldn't  help but imagine a room full of dancing hoop skirts back in the day. This space is enormous and an absolutely stunning mix of peach, coral and red!

Pretty obsessed with this rope lamp...

Next up, is my favorite room at the Greenbrier, the writing room. I'm still in awe of Dorothy's ability to mix massive amounts of red and green and not have it look like Christmas exploded. While the decor is nothing short of grand, this room has a really cozy feel to it.

This rotunda and baby grand are just off the main lobby. I had to stop and stare on multiple occasions. It is massive and breathtaking.

This yellow and green room is kinda "off the beaten path" at the Greenbrier. I stumbled upon it when taking photos and fell head over heels. The bow detail at the top of the drapes is perfection and the way the light cascades through the windows is magnificent. It made me sad that no one was using it but I'm sure it gets some action during special events. I envisioned a massive ladies bridge tournament and cucumber tea sandwiches instead. 

I love how the Greenbrier mixes bold intricate patterns with cleans lines and moldings. Below are a collection of "doors" I spotted while cruising around.

Also, hard to miss and probably most photographed, are the staircases in the Greenbrier. Feast your eyes on the fabulous steps below.

Happy feet are abound at the Greenbrier as you walk through beds of roses and banana leaf palms. The carpets were a high point for me! If you love flowers and gardening like I do, you will adore the abundant floral carpets at the Greenbrier.

Lush greenery and scenery are also outside! I rented a bike one morning and met a local homeowner that took me on a tour of the grounds. 

I failed to eat at Draper's cafe but snapped a few shots outside, including the cute corner seat.

While walking through the Greenbrier, you cannot forget to look up. There are chandeliers everywhere! Chandeliers in every shape and size and color. This one below was featured in Gone with the Wind.  It's just off the main dining room and we had the pleasure of dining underneath our first night.

The main dining room boasts several of these glorious green crystal chandeliers!

This colorful hallway is just off the main dining room. I love the grand yellow drapes!

A pagoda style hutch filled with blue and white ceramics...yes please!

This peach and blue room is the on the backside of the ballroom. My favorite part of this room, besides the color combo, is the life size portrait of Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco and herringbone floors. Isn't Grace gorgeous?

I loved the Trellis Lobby! Massive amounts of roses, trellises and light. Be still my garden-loving heart.

Here's a photo of our room before we unpacked. There are over 700 rooms at the Greenbrier and each one is decorated differently. Can you imagine? I could have spent a whole day just popping my head into guest rooms.

A few more shots of the various wallpapers used at the Greenbrier...

And another personal favorite, the indoor pool. This pool is over 100 years old which I think is really cool. I regret not doing at least one swan dive during my stay. The Greenbrier also has a more modern outdoor pool which I visited but failed to photograph while I was lounging.

Just a few more nooks near the pool that I noticed while making my way to the spa.

I took a photo of the "Ladies Quiet Room" aka "my heaven on Earth" while I was waiting on my services. No cell phones aloud but I snagged a shot just for you! Isn't it dreamy?

Hope you enjoyed my photos! A special thanks to Mr. YSP for pulling this off and encouraging me to take some time for myself and indulge a little bit. Also, a big thank you to our moms for taking such great care of the boys!

Your Southern Peach,

Amy