Why I Do A Whole30 Every January

Photo by Jenny Lind at Silvergraph Studio

There’s nothing magical about January 1st that has more importance or sway over the rest of the Universe than any other date. And yet, every year, we talk about “new year, new me,” and “new years’ resolutions,” like there’s some mystical audience we’re trying to convince of our efforts.

I am no different. I relish the crisp newness of a yearly planner, the eager excitement of a list of goals. Ten Things I Will Change In The New Year.

Inevitably, the list is lost and long forgotten, the planner is out of use by August, and by November I’m making another list, a better, a “different this time” list to finally get it right. I won’t. Not in 2020, not in 2025, not ever.

Despite knowing this, despite understanding in my heart that best laid plans rarely pan out, I—like every other optimist and fool—will continue to make these announcements until the day I can no longer fire the synapses that are required to make such announcements. Lists and plans aside, there is one January tradition that I wholeheartedly enjoy and look forward to every year: The Whole30.

If you’ve never heard of Whole30, the short of it is that it’s a dietary reset that can be done, truly, at any point in your life. It doesn’t have to be in January, and really should be done any time you’re starting to slip back into an eating pattern that doesn’t jive with what you’ll learn about yourself during the Whole30. January just happens to be the easiest time to do it, in my opinion, because in general, the World has agreed that January is a time for sober reflection, not merrymaking, and there tend to be fewer social obligations during this month.

Forget obsessive calorie-counting, and weight-checking, and the experience of this reset is altogether unique.

The Whole30 removes the usual suspects of inflammation from your diet, and allows your body to operate under ideal conditions for 30 full days. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but during week three there is often this surge of energy that reminds you of how your body is meant to feel. It’s truly incredible, and if they could bottle it, they’d make a million dollars.

No gluten, dairy, alcohol, or added sugar, the typical belly-wrecking bad boys are outta here. Take away also legumes, soy, MSG, sulfites, and carrageenan. Remove, too, the “treats” that look like the real thing (SWYPO, or “Sex WithYour Pants On,”) and keep you in the deprivation-reward cycle. Forget obsessive calorie-counting, and weight-checking, and the experience of this reset is altogether unique.

Is it hard? It is. It’s a degree of cooking that isn’t really sustainable in my “real life,” or it could be, if only I planned a little better. It also makes things like restaurants and meals at friends’ homes a little awkward. “I’ll be bringing something that fits my very particular dietary restrictions,” while not rude per se, is a boundary I’m still not quiet comfortable setting with any and everyone who extends an invitation.

I’ve found the tricks and recipes that I know work for me, are easy to maintain, and don’t make me feel deprived.

Anything is hard the first few times you do it. Whole30 is a little scary, and just big enough to let the “I could never do that” excuses run wild, and yet I do it, every January, without fail. Here on round—what is it? Four? I’ve found the tricks and recipes that I know work for me, are easy to maintain, and don’t make me feel deprived.

I’ve found the perfect way to make a whole casserole last a week for lunches, my egg bites pass the test of time as an easy morning breakfast, and I’ve located a brand of hot dogs that work in a pinch when I just need to eat something over a sink, damnit.

Can I recommend Whole30? Well, that depends. Are you tired of how you feel? Do you suspect there may be some foods or beverages that are to blame? Do you think “If only I could give up ___,” (insert dairy, or sugar, or pasta here,) “I’d finally start to feel in control of my life.”

Whole30 is a great excuse to finally let go of the excuses. I sort of just give myself over to the rules, no exceptions, and let them rule my life for 30 days.

No cream in my coffee? Okay boss, I’ll just stick to tea.

No sweet treat at the end of the meal? Whatever you say.

There’s a sort of relief in not having to make the choice, or fight the temptation for me. This is just how things are now, this is how I do things. So much freedom in that thought! I’m looking for ways to extend this to the rest of my life, too.

Curious if Whole30 is for you? Check out the literature, of which there is plenty, or send me a DM. I’m not a Whole30 coach, but I do have some thoughts about how you can do one of your own, even a month’s worth of meal planning that I created for my 2019 Whole30.

There’s something so powerful in knowing that I can accomplish 30 full days of very restricted consumption in order to better my connection with my body. If I can do this, what can’t I do? Even in the midst of depression, and grief, and general malaise, I’m sailing through it, one sweet potato at a time.

10 Ways to Kick Stress In The Ass

I don't know about you, but my Summer has been stressful. Between crazy work deadlines, planning a wedding, and all of the (fun!) Summer activities and events, I've barely had time to relax! It's not surprising that stress is the number one thing clients bring up during our sessions—stress affects soooo many parts of our lives, including trouble sleeping, weight gain, pain, and illness.

When we are stressed, it’s quite easy to develop negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward and break through the stress cycle.

Practicing positive thinking helps to focus on our strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows us to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself

It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest. If you need help putting a plan in place to create some healthy habits, we should talk!

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For

Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions

A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes

Have you ever told a partner "You're ALWAYS late!" or complained to a friend "You NEVER call me!"?Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.

5. Detach From Negative Thoughts

Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it.

6. Squash the "ANTs" 🐜

In his book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family)

You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick me-up.

8. Increase Your Social Activity

By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person

Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination

If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry and stress. Try changing your physical environment—go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

It’s important to understand the signs of stress and react with a positive way of handling it such as these 10 tips. The key to busting stress is making sure that you look after YOU. As your happiness levels increase, your stress levels decrease. Have a look at your work life, your personal life and social life to see if there are any areas you can create more happiness. You might be surprised on what you find. ✨