I did two rounds of Whole30 and I must say it’s so worth it! I used to have such bloating, fatigue, and stomach upset. I was also quite hungry. 

During Whole30 I learned a new way to eat and have had more energy than ever. I ate less and felt energized. 

People say Whole30 is hard. What is more challenging is being exhausted every day, dealing with bloating, and those extra belly pounds that do not seem to want to move. 

I learned I can live without bread, beans, corn, dairy, and the no no foods list. I learned dessert is not required. Pass over that fruit, or almond butter with an apple instead of cake. 

I love tacos so I learned to make lettuce tacos. 

I learned to love vegetables. 

I learned which foods cause issues and how to enjoy my favorite foods modified. 
I learned whole foods made my skin glow. They made me feel like a superstar (once the detox phase was over). 

If you choose to do the Whole 30 plan, I highly recommend…

1. Spicy Greek Seasoning (they have seasonings for meat, chicken/turkey, seafood, and vegetables). Spicy Greek Seasoning. 

2. TesseMaes dressings (dairy free, sugar free, gluten free, vegan dressings). They make it simple for you, they have a Whole30 category. TesseMaes Dressings. 

3. Going on Pinterest and looking up Whole30 recipes. 

4. Looking over menus at restaurants in advance. I grew to love Piada-I could load up on veggies and they had dressings I could eat. 

5. Eat at home and take your lunch. 

6. Pack Larabars and apples for emergencies. I also had hard boiled eggs available too! See approved bars in the photo above. Trader Joes and most grocery stores carry Larabars. Don’t overdo it, they have calories. 🙂 

7. Citrus is your friend. Lemons and limes added some flavor to my dishes. I made some light dressings with seasoning, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil. Whole30 Compliant Dressings. 

8. Stick with it. The timeline is freakishly accurate. Do not give up. You can do this! You will see your health improve. Whole30 Timeline. 

I did not hop on the scale. It is against the rules. I did see a difference in my belly circumference and clothing. I can wear my skinny jeans without feeling stuffed. Mostly I feel better. I do not have the after lunch coma or sluggish feeling. 

I give Whole30 two thumbs up, five stars. I highly recommend this program. There are no pills or powders to buy. There is no counting calories. There is no weighing your food. You eat the approved foods and that’s it. You pick your meals. 

Common foods in my pantry: 

• Avocados 
• Eggs 
• Broccoli
• Shrimp/Fish 
• Turkey 
• Lettuce
• Kale 
• Green beans 
• Nitrate free bacon or ham 
• Carrots 
• Purple potatoes 
• Mushrooms 
• Olive Oil 
• Tomatoes 
• Cilantro 
• Beef 
• Lemons/Limes 
• Green Tea 
• Kombucha 
• Strawberries/blackberries
• Apples
• Almond Butter 
• Grass Fed Buffalo Burgers 
• Pickles 
• Grapes 
• Spicy Greek Seasoning 
• Pineapple 
• TesseMae Ranch and Lemon Dressing 
• Frozen organic vegetables 
• Larabars
• Organic chicken 

Sweet wellness friends, I hope you give this a shot. Whole30 has changed the way I eat. It’s been a tremendous blessing. 

To your health, 

Erin Lamb 

Photo credits: Pinterest