When my birthday came around in August, I was determined to rededicate myself to the gym. Looking back on the past 8 months, I think I’ve done well. Typically, I go to classes like Zumba, spinning, or boot camp because it helps the time pass faster. On April 17, 2017, I decided to take on another challenge: the Whole30. I initially became interested when I saw the book on one of my coworker’s shelves and flipped through it. At first, it seemed impossible. I worried about giving up dairy, sugar, and grains, but I still wanted to try.

At that time, figuring out how it would fit in with my work schedule made the challenge seem more difficult. Student Affairs is notorious for having cookies, cakes, and celebrations galore, which is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. I looked ahead at my calendar and tried to decide when would be the “best” (is anytime really best when I love dessert?!) time to dedicate myself to this. As I write this, I’m on day 10! When I first looked through the book, I thought it was going to be harder. Thus far, the challenge hasn’t been as bad as I thought. Whole30 takes a lot of planning and patience.

Before I started, I created a Pinterest board. Pinterest has everything you need for basically anything. Even if I do not completely replicate a recipe from Pinterest, it gives me ideas of what I could eat, and it usually leads me to other resources. After looking at Pinterest, I make my grocery list and decide when I’m going to shop. Carving out time is vital because my first couple of trips weren’t simply me running in and out of the store. I had to search, read labels, and ensure items were compliant. I’ve also had to go to multiple stores looking for items. After shopping, I plan out what to cook and when to cook it. During the first week, after shopping I cooked a few meals at once, which worked out well. Since I live where I work, I’m also able to make something quickly during my lunch break.

Navigating through the Whole30 process has made me more conscious of what ingredients are in food. Reading the labels definitely surprised me. Some items may be pricier, but my health and wellness are priceless. Being ten days into the Whole30 challenge, I’m unsure if I’d do it again. I’m very interested to see the results and because I feel smaller, I have been tempted to get on the scale. I can guarantee that life after Whole30 will include looking more closely at what I eat. I encourage anyone to start this journey when you’re ready!