This year I completed 4 rounds of Whole30. I know it’s supposed to be a 30 day program, yet the results were so great I decided to keep going. I lost roughly 7 pounds a round. I am down several sizes. I feel better. All the digestion issues I had went away.

I noticed a different relationship to food. I learned that I was not as hungry eating whole foods. I noticed that I did not really miss those sugary drinks and bread. I did crave pizza and tacos, let’s be honest.

Since I finished a round yesterday, I tried tacos. I did not enjoy them as much as my dairy free and flour free tacos. I tried another dish off the plan and my stomach was not a fan.

So the plan forward is modified Whole30. I will add hummus, maybe some quinoa. My meal plan will be mostly Whole30. I have not found a plan that works better.

I barely exercised during this program and lost fat. I was concerned about muscle loss, yet that did not happen!

How do we make eating whole foods a lifestyle?

Easy, we choose to. It is a myth we need all the dairy, processed foods, bread or grains. If you are vegetarian or vegan, the Whole30 rules of no beans or grains would be a challenge, yet they have a program guideline for those who do not eat meat. Whole9 for Vegetarians/Vegans.

Are you trying to be a whole food foodie for life? Here are some options for substitutions (note: Whole30 restricts peanuts):

I had many swaps during the program.

• Mixed nut butter instead of peanut butter
• Lettuce wraps instead of bread
• Apples instead other carbs
• RX bars and Larabars for meal substitutes
• Sparkling water instead of soft drinks
• Unsweetened tea instead of sweet tea
• Olive oil instead of butter
• Plantain chips instead of potato chips
• Frozen fruit instead of dessert
• Guacamole instead of cheese on burgers
• Avocados instead of cheese on salads
• Almonds instead of peanuts

Mostly I love the way eating whole foods impacts my body. I feel better. Life is too short to be bloated and not feeling great. Good fuel means the body runs better. We want to feed our bodies good things!

Wishing you the best on your wellness journey. Take care of yourself!

Xoxo

Erin Lamb

Photo sources: Pinterest, myfitnesspal