TTC WHOLE30 Challenge?

g8rmama_16

I follow a mostly paleo diet (I know, gross right? But I have been doing it WAY before it became trendy and it totally works) and from time to time I do what is called a WHOLE30. This is 30 days of STRICT no grains, dairy, alcohol, legumes and sugar. It is a big challenge and it really helps to have a group to do it with.
I have started one today, along with about a million other people who want to clean up their diet for the new year. I wanted to throw it out there for anyone that may want to join in. We can post update threads every few days and answer questions and what not.
The primary purpose of this diet is to remove allergens from your diet that cause inflammation. Inflammation can be a leading cause endometriosis, which is my main motivation to do it this month. There are also a million testimonials for success controlling PCOS and improving fertility on their site. The amazing energy and easy weight loss are a nice side effect. My first one that I did three years ago I lost 35 pounds after doing it for 2.5 months. I felt superhuman, not kidding.
Read the rules and let me know if you are in! It is ok if you can't start today, you can join in once you get prepared. I know most of you have already eaten breakfast, so my bad for not posting earlier in the week!

https://whole30.com



ETA Pic failure

PeggyOlsonFTW

I've heard a lot about Whole 30, but I haven't looked too much into it myself. How hard is it to do when you're a vegetarian? The no beans thing is throwing me off. Especially because my husband won't eat a lot of soy (he thinks he's gonna grow boobs) and while we do eat fish, we only do it about 2-3x a month.

g8rmama_16

@PeggyOlsonFTW
Soy is out, so it could make things pretty tough. This might help https://whole30.com/2014/09/vegetarian-whole30/
And I am sure a quick Google search would find a ton of blogs about it. Nothing paleo AND vegetarian people like more than blogging about their food!!

britters314

So based on these rules I can just eat a steak for every meal every day? That doesn't sound very healthy.

PeggyOlsonFTW

I think there's a lot more to it than that @bcooke314

LizaKate1213

Sounds like an even more strict Atkins diet, which I'm strictly opposed to. It only works while you're doing it, essentially making it a complete waste of 30 days. Sorry, just my honest opinion!

g8rmama_16

If done correctly, this will completely change the way you view food and will forever alter the way you eat. It will treat a sugar addiction, balance your blood sugar, and reset your bodies hunger and satiety cues.
Your body will not let you over eat steak, so even though you can eat steak every meal, you won't be able too over eat it. It is not Atkins and it stresses eating meats free of antibiotics and additives, which Atkins does not do. Eating clean meat and tons of veggies is extremely healthy.

britters314

PeggyOlsonFTW said:

I think there's a lot more to it than that @bcooke314

Okay, so I looked into it a bit. The rules seem completely arbitrary. You can't eat maple syrup or honey because they have sugar in them, but you can eat fruit? Fruit also has sugar in it...  And why can't you eat beans? Beans are not unhealthy (I mean, unless you are just eating tons of refried beans, I guess).

PeggyOlsonFTW

bcooke314 said:

PeggyOlsonFTW said:

I think there's a lot more to it than that @bcooke314

Okay, so I looked into it a bit. The rules seem completely arbitrary. You can't eat maple syrup or honey because they have sugar in them, but you can eat fruit? Fruit also has sugar in it...  And why can't you eat beans? Beans are not unhealthy (I mean, unless you are just eating tons of refried beans, I guess).

I don't know, I've never done it!

g8rmama_16

Fruit is a whole food that has sugar along with fiber. Honey and syrup are only sugar.
Beans are an inflammatory food and high in phytates.
ETA https://whole9life.com/2012/09/the-legume-manifesto/

LizaKate1213

It is the 'no sugar' part that I take issue with. Time after time it has been proven that this is not a good way to lose weight and that it does not work for the long term. Carbohydrates are essential to the diet as it is the only fuel source that your body can readily extract energy from. Diets that encourage no sugar/no carbs confuse your body.

Lecool

I've done a few Whole30s, and also keep a paleo diet. I'm in for a New Year's Whole 30 with you @HeyBooHey.

I'm a huge believer in the paleo diet, and have also followed it since before it was "trendy". A few years ago, I was 100 pounds overweight and had a serious sugar addiction and a big problem with emotional eating. I started following a paleo diet, not nessecarily for weight loss (although that was an added benefit), but to really fix my relationship with food. For anyone skeptical about it, I really suggest reading It Starts With Food, or doing some reading online. It's a lot more than just eating bacon, which is what a lot of criticism makes it out to be. It's about eating whole foods with few ingredients (or no ingredients) that are nourishing for your body.

g8rmama_16

@LizaKate1213 who says that? The sugar lobby? Your body does not need processed sugar for anything at all. https://whole9life.com/2012/08/the-sugar-manifesto/

izza2

HeyBooHey said:

I follow a mostly paleo diet (I know, gross right? But I have been doing it WAY before it became trendy and it totally works) and from time to time I do what is called a WHOLE30. This is 30 days of STRICT no grains, dairy, alcohol, legumes and sugar. It is a big challenge and it really helps to have a group to do it with. I have started one today, along with about a million other people who want to clean up their diet for the new year. I wanted to throw it out there for anyone that may want to join in. We can post update threads every few days and answer questions and what not. The primary purpose of this diet is to remove allergens from your diet that cause inflammation. Inflammation can be a leading cause endometriosis, which is my main motivation to do it this month. There are also a million testimonials for success controlling PCOS and improving fertility on their site. The amazing energy and easy weight loss are a nice side effect. My first one that I did three years ago I lost 35 pounds after doing it for 2.5 months. I felt superhuman, not kidding. Read the rules and let me know if you are in! It is ok if you can't start today, you can join in once you get prepared. I know most of you have already eaten breakfast, so my bad for not posting earlier in the week! https://whole30.com  ETA Pic failure

Not gonna lie; you lost me at "strict no alcohol". I can live without beer, no problemo, but I don't want to. I like my Smirnoff, and my wine, and my Redd's.

I do have to ask, though; you said you lost 35 pounds; did you happen to gain any of it back?

The problem with "diets" is that they're diets. Not lifestyle changes. It's temporary - you do it for a bit of time, and then you go back to your old lifestyle, or a slightly altered way of your old lifestyle, and you're not keeping up with the "diet". If you want to be healthier and get results on something for life; you need a lifestyle change, not a diet.
Personally, I won't be joining in. I've looked in to the Whole30 diet, and found it was not something I'm interested in. As much as I understand the meaning behind it and see where it could be beneficial, I don't feel it's something that you can follow for life. Cutting dairy out, sure. Cutting alcohol out, sure. But all sugar, not just self-added sugar? All legumes (which are really healthy for you)? All grains? I'll pass.

LizaKate1213

You misunderstand. I didn't say anything about processed sugar. I mean sugar (carbohydrates) in general...whole grain rice, fruit, potatoes. Physiologically speaking, carbohydrates are the best source of energy for your body. Moderation is key in everything, so I'm not saying go carb crazy or eat a bunch of yodels. I'm saying naturally sourced carbs should never be eliminated from your diet.

g8rmama_16

I have gained back a small amount but that was because I have not been eating as well as I could. As a whole, I am much more in control of the way I eat and my personal knowledge of how food effects my body and my mood. I do routine resets to get my hormones back in check and correct periods of poor eating. The weight loss is truly not the main reason I do it.
This is in fact a lifestyle change, because you will never look at food the same way again. If you do it for 30 days and go back to your old diet, yes that was a waste of time.

mrsdee15

I was thinking about doing the no-drinking January so I'm almost on board but the beans thing threw me. When I get stressed meat grosses me out (it's a weird reaction, I can't explain it) so I use beans as a protein alternative. I have pretty bad stress issues so it's really a tough thing to give up.

ETA: Wait, no grains? Not even the healthy ones?

m6agua

I actually was already planing on doing another one. I have done about 3 Whole30s and it's helped me loose about 35lbs and keep it off in the past couple years. I am starting line on Monday though because I have a family Christmas this weekend.

Xstatic3333

I checked out the link, but as a nut-allergic vegetarian I don't think I could do this in a healthy way. I at least need beans and whole grains like quinoa or barley. If it works for you though, I say best wishes. I like the idea of a month off from alcohol, though I guess we're all hoping for nine of those soon...

iceandsnowflakes29

I fully believe in the power of clean eating but, I never have the discipline to follow stuff like this well. I would probably have to instigate small changes at a time. No cheese would kill me. I tried the vegan cheese and just can't - lol.

izza2

@iceandsnowflakes29 - All the cheese, FTW. I could eat cheese by the brick, and used to before I met hubby (and thankfully never had any repercussions digestive-wise); and then he brought a brick home our first Christmas together and I started eating it like it was my lifeline, and he was so disgusted he gagged.
Granted, he also told me later on that his psycho-ex used to eat bricks of cheese almost daily. So.. I stopped, haha.
Off-topic, sorry. Had to share.

PeggyOlsonFTW

izza2 said:

@iceandsnowflakes29 - All the cheese, FTW. I could eat cheese by the brick, and used to before I met hubby (and thankfully never had any repercussions digestive-wise); and then he brought a brick home our first Christmas together and I started eating it like it was my lifeline, and he was so disgusted he gagged.
Granted, he also told me later on that his psycho-ex used to eat bricks of cheese almost daily. So.. I stopped, haha.
Off-topic, sorry. Had to share.

Good lord. How did she ever poop? Maybe she was psycho because she was constantly constipated from all the cheese!

izza2

PeggyOlsonFTW said:

@iceandsnowflakes29 - All the cheese, FTW. I could eat cheese by the brick, and used to before I met hubby (and thankfully never had any repercussions digestive-wise); and then he brought a brick home our first Christmas together and I started eating it like it was my lifeline, and he was so disgusted he gagged.
Granted, he also told me later on that his psycho-ex used to eat bricks of cheese almost daily. So.. I stopped, haha.
Off-topic, sorry. Had to share.

Good lord. How did she ever poop? Maybe she was psycho because she was constantly constipated from all the cheese!

Good question! I don't know, and he didn't know (I did ask, of course; I mean that was my first thought when he told me!), but I do know it freaked him out!

khbear117

Bahahaha the brick cheese constipation thing is cracking me up.

I've thought about a whole 30 and I did paleo for all of a week once, but no beans/legumes killed it for me. I eat very little meat, and when I cut those out, too, I was getting very little protein and felt totally blah and drained. I think an effective calmed down version of this for someone unwilling to let go of beans or legumes is to cut out processed sugar for 30 days. A whole month with no candy, cake, soda, sugary drinks, etc. can be a life changing thing. Or a whole month without fast food. I did that once and I've never gone back to how I used to be! Fast food makes me ill if I eat it now. I can stomach some nuggets from chick fil a and that's about it.

g8rmama_16

I totally respect and understand everyone's hesitation to such a restrictive diet. Cutting out so many major food groups that we have been taught are completely necessary to survive can be daunting or seen as crazy. Until I did one myself, I would have had the same thoughts. I also totally get that those with already restrictive diets due to allergies or vegetenarianism would have major problems with this.
Here are two thoughts:
1. If you cannot live without something like a block of cheese a day, milk on your coffee, ice cream after dinner, wine, etc, it is pretty eye opening to find out WHY you feel you need it. If is almost 100% an emotional attatchment to food that can sometimes develop into an unhealthy relationship to it and/or result in a health issue that you may not see as related until you remove it for a while.
2. If I can spend 30 days with a few changes to my diet and improve my chances of conceiving by even 1%, I am going to do it. If it doesn't help me conceive, I know I will have the pleasant side effects of high energy, good sleep, clear skin and smooth digestion.

If anyone would like to PM me I would love to provide moral support over the next month if you start a Whole30!

ETA @LizaKate1213 it is not carb free, it is grain free. They focus on more nutrient dense carbs like sweet potatoes.

_darth

I'm not going in on this, because I have weird autoimmune stuff and can't break down most protein and follow a ridiculously restrictive diet for that reason, but if anyone needs dairy free recipes or replacement tips, hit me up. I got really good at it over the years.

I kinda wish I could try it though. It would make for a nice break. FML. Also, as far as clean eating side dishes that actually taste like food go, https://blog.fatfreevegan.com/ is a godsend. You have to dig a bit for ones free of legumes, but there are plenty. 

iceandsnowflakes29

Diary substitutes for milk or creamer don't bother me. I used to only use rice milk but, DH hates it. It's the actual cheese that gets me.

iceandsnowflakes29

I did recently buy a bunch of LUSH stuff. They are all natural and vegan but, I don't think that counts lol. And for the longest time I was into making my own laundry soap and only cleaning with vinegar but, then DS kept getting viruses like pneumonia and I would go on a germ phobic frenzy with the lysol.

izza2

HeyBooHey said:

I totally respect and understand everyone's hesitation to such a restrictive diet. Cutting out so many major food groups that we have been taught are completely necessary to survive can be daunting or seen as crazy. Until I did one myself, I would have had the same thoughts. I also totally get that those with already restrictive diets due to allergies or vegetenarianism would have major problems with this. Here are two thoughts: 1. If you cannot live without something like a block of cheese a day, milk on your coffee, ice cream after dinner, wine, etc, it is pretty eye opening to find out WHY you feel you need it. If is almost 100% an emotional attatchment to food that can sometimes develop into an unhealthy relationship to it and/or result in a health issue that you may not see as related until you remove it for a while. 2. If I can spend 30 days with a few changes to my diet and improve my chances of conceiving by even 1%, I am going to do it. If it doesn't help me conceive, I know I will have the pleasant side effects of high energy, good sleep, clear skin and smooth digestion. If anyone would like to PM me I would love to provide moral support over the next month if you start a Whole30! ETA @LizaKate1213 it is not carb free, it is grain free. They focus on more nutrient dense carbs like sweet potatoes.

Just pointing out; I don't know if anyone else said they couldn't live without something; but I know myself and others said we wouldn't want to live without something. Which is perfectly fine.
I could live without clothes on. It would be cold in the winter, and I would get a lot of stares, but I could. However, I would never want to. If that's an unhealthy attachment, I'll take it. Same with Chapstick. And hot cocoa. And my husband. I could live without those things; but I don't want to. 
Sorry, just saying. I'm also on to beer number two and I'm slightly buzzed. Don't mind me.

LadyMillil

HeyBooHey said:

I totally respect and understand everyone's hesitation to such a restrictive diet. Cutting out so many major food groups that we have been taught are completely necessary to survive can be daunting or seen as crazy. Until I did one myself, I would have had the same thoughts. I also totally get that those with already restrictive diets due to allergies or vegetenarianism would have major problems with this. Here are two thoughts: 1. If you cannot live without something like a block of cheese a day, milk on your coffee, ice cream after dinner, wine, etc, it is pretty eye opening to find out WHY you feel you need it. If is almost 100% an emotional attatchment to food that can sometimes develop into an unhealthy relationship to it and/or result in a health issue that you may not see as related until you remove it for a while. 2. If I can spend 30 days with a few changes to my diet and improve my chances of conceiving by even 1%, I am going to do it. If it doesn't help me conceive, I know I will have the pleasant side effects of high energy, good sleep, clear skin and smooth digestion. If anyone would like to PM me I would love to provide moral support over the next month if you start a Whole30! ETA @LizaKate1213 it is not carb free, it is grain free. They focus on more nutrient dense carbs like sweet potatoes.

Tell me more about how this diet can increase your chances of conceiving. 

ChelleCPA

This is off topic, so I'm sorry but I wanted to say @iceandsnowflakes29 I use Lush products and I love them! I've noticed a definite improvement in my skin since i started using them.
Eta: my username is not showing up and I'm not sure how to fix it.

LizaKate1213

@HeyBooHey: gotcha! I thought the "no sugar, no grains" part meant all carbs.

mkc3888

@Knottie1448144797 did you change it on the knot's website.  You might want to check there.  

I had a coworker who did the whole 30 a few times before her wedding and lost a ton of weight.  She ate avocado, tomato and cucumber almost everyday for lunch.  She ate meat at home, but didn't really like it reheated.  She changed her eating habits even when she wasn't doing a whole 30 as well.  I'm not interested in doing something that restrictive.  I am interested in just eating healthier in general.  Maybe cut out fast food chains.  Start small, eat more produce.  

Side note:  I also love Lush products

ChelleCPA

@mkc3888 I think I've fixed it. It was just strange because it's been working fine and then all of a sudden I was a knottie and didn't have my regular user name anymore.

iceandsnowflakes29

I think any effort to better one's health can improve chances of conception. Whether that be through clean eating or other means. Quite frankly, I feel like sometimes one should do whatever it is they feel like will help their chances. If someone feels like it ups their chances of getting pregnant by standing on a mountain chanting in the rain under a full moon sprinkling their wondfos with rainbow glitter - then I think that is fine. This whole process is filled with elements that cannot be controlled and sometimes you gotta do something to feel proactive.

I've struggled with both loss and infertility and I promise I've tried weirder things than a clean diet for the sake of getting pregnant.

g8rmama_16

@LadyMillil https://rockyourhormones.com/category/fertility/
This is a good link that goes in to how diet can impact several common causes of fertility issues. The author of that site is also in partnership with Whole30 in a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby program.

LadyMillil

HeyBooHey said:

@LadyMillil https://rockyourhormones.com/category/fertility/ This is a good link that goes in to how diet can impact several common causes of fertility issues. The author of that site is also in partnership with Whole30 in a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby program.

Thanks. That seems to be a conflict of interest, though. I was looking for something with more biological evidence about what exactly these "no" foods are doing that would impact fertility, something beyond "balancing hormones" and "promotes inflammation". if you're already eating a healthy, balanced diet, I have a hard time believing that cutting out having a little honey in your tea or having a glass of wine on the occasional Friday night will impact your fertility. 

g8rmama_16

@LadyMillil it depends on the cause of sub-fertility. There is plenty of science out there if you follow the references. While the blogs seem very simply written, they are all backed by science and provide references you can dig in to.
Take PCOS for example. This study https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/759835 provides a link between PCOS and type 2 diabetes. Both are caused by blood sugar and insulin. It is fully accepted that a person with type 2 diabetes has to control dietary sugar, but why is it not accepted that someone with PCOS would want to do the same? If 30 days of no sugar can reduce your symptoms, what does it hurt to try?
A brief google search of "endometriosis and inflammation studies" provides a wealth of references connecting the two. Poor diet and exposure to mild allergens (dairy and grains are two, depending on the person) causes chronic inflammation that can cause thousands of different illnesses and weaken the immune system. Pair this with a diet causing estrogen dominance (the standard American diet is a well known diet to cause this) and endometriosis can wreak havoc on your body.
The broad terms like "balance hormones" and "reduce inflammation" are used because it all differs from person to person. All hormones are closely related and an imbalance of one will lead to imbalances of others.
I really like being empowered to learn how food and my environment impacts my health, personally, and work to fix it.
My intent with this post was not to convince skeptics, I simply wanted to invite anyone who was seeking to gain moral support during a 30 day clean eating challenge. While I feel strongly about my choices regarding my diet, I do not have any desire or goal to make anyone eat the way I do or force my opinions on anyone. I love to answer questions about it and encourage anyone who is interested in exploring alternatives to medical intervention or holistic nutrition options, but I am not here to preach the gospel of paleo or question your choices. It is all very personal and we all have our methods of taking charge of our health.
Hopefully one person clicked on a link I provided and read something that resonated with them and they decide to do some research. For me, whole30 was a mind altering experience and literally changed my life. But, I know, it is not for everyone.

izza2

HeyBooHey said:

@LadyMillil it depends on the cause of sub-fertility. There is plenty of science out there if you follow the references. While the blogs seem very simply written, they are all backed by science and provide references you can dig in to. Take PCOS for example. This study https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/759835 provides a link between PCOS and type 2 diabetes. Both are caused by blood sugar and insulin. It is fully accepted that a person with type 2 diabetes has to control dietary sugar, but why is it not accepted that someone with PCOS would want to do the same? If 30 days of no sugar can reduce your symptoms, what does it hurt to try? A brief google search of "endometriosis and inflammation studies" provides a wealth of references connecting the two. Poor diet and exposure to mild allergens (dairy and grains are two, depending on the person) causes chronic inflammation that can cause thousands of different illnesses and weaken the immune system. Pair this with a diet causing estrogen dominance (the standard American diet is a well known diet to cause this) and endometriosis can wreak havoc on your body. The broad terms like "balance hormones" and "reduce inflammation" are used because it all differs from person to person. All hormones are closely related and an imbalance of one will lead to imbalances of others. I really like being empowered to learn how food and my environment impacts my health, personally, and work to fix it. My intent with this post was not to convince skeptics, I simply wanted to invite anyone who was seeking to gain moral support during a 30 day clean eating challenge. While I feel strongly about my choices regarding my diet, I do not have any desire or goal to make anyone eat the way I do or force my opinions on anyone. I love to answer questions about it and encourage anyone who is interested in exploring alternatives to medical intervention or holistic nutrition options, but I am not here to preach the gospel of paleo or question your choices. It is all very personal and we all have our methods of taking charge of our health. Hopefully one person clicked on a link I provided and read something that resonated with them and they decide to do some research. For me, whole30 was a mind altering experience and literally changed my life. But, I know, it is not for everyone.

To the bold; Type 2 diabetes isn't caused by sugar intake. It's caused by your body not handling sugar correctly. Whether you're adding cups of sugar to your diet, or not adding any extra sugar.
As well, controlling diabetes is about a lot more than sugar intake; this is a common misconception. It has to do with your carbohydrate intake. Carbs are in nearly every food you'll take in; including meat and vegetables. Sugar is not what diabetics are looking at when they look at a nutrition label; at least it shouldn't be.

princesslockness

^this is correct. Insulin resistant an type 2 diabetics are looking at protein-carb ratio, how many of those carbs are from fiber, what type o carbs they are.
Starches affect blood sugar differently than processed sugars, yet both are different than liquid sugars; whether they be alcohol, fruit juice, caffeinated.

While people may have better success TTC eating cleaner, the science behind it is just guessing at this point.

g8rmama_16

@izza2 you are absolutely correct. I should have said "foods high on the glycemic index". This would include breads, some fruits, alcohol, etc.
While everything you eat has an impact on your blood sugar, some raise it at a speed and level that your body can or cannot successfully secrete insulin at a rate to counter it. Getting your blood sugar in check, wether you have diabetes or not, can go a long way to improving health, energy, focus, sleep. So many things.