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2023 is here and you know what that means!! Time for ALLL the new years resolutions to be made with fresh fervor and excitement, filled with hope and zeal that THIS TIME it’s going to work out. I enjoy new years resolutions for many reasons, but mostly because I get to make lists! Call me a list nerd! haha
My biggest goal for 2023 and life in general is to be the healthiest version of myself I can be, and I’m sure many of you ladies know what I’m talking about! Like many, I already knew I wanted to do another health challenge at the beginning of this year, but I wanted a way to keep myself even more accountable.
I originally wanted to try the Whole30, as I’ve heard soo many success stories from it, and reading all the articles and watching all the videos about other’s stories are super motivating and get me sucked into all the hype. I did attempt the Whole30 challenge once, in 2021, but because of some of the reasons I’ll list below, I only made it to about 15 days. Now before we go adding judgements or shame-induced opinions or “lack of willpower” comments, I hope you can view this from God’s loving, open-minded perspective. I learned so much through that I wanted to share it with you ladies.
Reason#1 Why I Won’t Do the Whole 30 Challenge: It leaves out essential nutrients my body needs
It is a restrictive diet. A diet is just that – a DIET, not a lifestyle change. I am no medical professional. The motto I’ve learned over time through listening to my body is to eat a little bit of the whole rainbow everyday. I didn’t see any progress for those fifteen days I was doing the Whole 30. In fact, I was even more stressed out, and I noticed my thoughts continuously circled around food and working out. It is good to be aware, and have a plan for your health, but constantly thinking about it is obsessive.
Reason #2: It is NOT the Voice of God
We all know that famous line that is the *key* to motivating us to start the diet, the one that says something along the lines of “giving birth is hard this 30 day challenge is not hard.” How in the HECK is that TRULY motivating OR healthy? That is NOT the voice of God! Do you think Jesus would come up to you and say, hey you giving birth is hard but going on a diet is not hard.” ABSOLUTELY NOT!! That is not motivating to me at all. That is not the voice of God, that is the voice of shame and self-hatred. That is a voice that tries to fear you into submission in order to pummel yourself into going through with a restrictive diet that could do more harm than good in the end. (Some studies have shown it fuels eating disorders).
Reason#3: It is Not Healthy Long-term
Okay Cherie, sure, but it’s about healthy eating and “resetting your health journey.” Something that is short-lived, especially a diet that has you restricting whole nutritious foods that your body (quote – temple) needs is actually dishonoring God. The supposed health benefits come from doing what we already know (limiting sugar and processed foods, eating more vegetables, being mindful). I mentioned above I didn’t see any progress those 15 days I did the whole30. During those days I was bloated, stressed, a little irritated, and even had some breakouts – clearly the opposite of what was “promised.” I even gained four pounds!! My goodness! haha. Safe to say, I started feeling better once I incorporated my daily oatmeal with mixed nuts back into my morning routine. (P.S. Oats are actually SUPER healthy in so many ways;)
It Wasn’t the Best Way to Love Myself
I found out that I was doing the whole30 in an attempt to find my value in what I looked like, under the guise of “getting healthy,” as weight loss was a promised part of the plan. I wanted to get healthier, but the deeper reason underneath was because I thought I would be able to love myself more if I became skinnier. My emotional health was deteriorating. And this poor attitude towards food and health became apparent as my frustration grew towards the 15th day. I decided the way I talked to myself, and giving myself grace was way more important.
What Attempting the Whole30 Taught Me
Eat a Little Bit of the Whole Rainbow Everyday
I. love. rice. It’s just so yummy!!! I don’t eat it everyday, but uh, it’s just so good. Hot plain white rice is one of my ultimate comfort foods. Cutting rice out!? Okay I get bread because most the commercialized American bread is processed, but cutting RICE out!? Isn’t that a logical fallacy somewhere? Not all carbs are the same! However processed something is before it hits your lips is however much UN-processing it has to do inside of your body. Anyway it was hard for me to not eat rice because I love having fried eggs on rice with sauteed spinach in the mornings. This and oatmeal are my go-to breakfasts, and now I had to cut it out. This was frustrating for me and one of the main reasons I quit the Whole30 because of how unhealthy it was.
Healthy eating is a lifestyle
It takes more than 30 days to truly create a habit that will stay with you for a lifetime. 21 days might be the time to get that habit off and going, but if you’re “re-introducing foods” at such a fast (10 day) pace, you’re really not giving your body time to adjust or have clear boundary lines between whatever the culprit might be. You can’t change a lifetime of bad attitudes and heart postures in 30 days of cutting out carbs. A lifestyle is just that – a lifestyle.
A Healthy Lifestyle is a Process NOT a “Quick Fix”
Okay yeah we all KNOW this. We live in the information age. I remember all those days I spent scrolling on pinterest or other health articles searching for weight loss “fixes” and others telling me “there is no quick fix” but how often did I actually APPLY that knowledge, and put it into action? Girl, like rarely.
How much longer are we going to be a society that consumes and over consumes but never actually really digest that information and turn it into fuel that creates true Godly change in not just our lives but in other’s lives as well? Knowing something doesn’t get you anywhere. Too much information lead to analysis paralysis, (obvi I’ve learned this the hard way haha). SO, when are we going to realize and take action with what we know, and actually take the time to honor and be patient with ourselves through the process of releasing not just physical weight but unhealthy mindsets and attitudes that increase our cortisol levels and in-turn physical weight? I don’t know about you girl, but I’m getting off this crazy hamster ferris wheel that leads nowhere. I’m going to choose to trust the process and God in the process. I hope you join me!
With love,
Cherie
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission from purchases made through links. I will only recommend products I have personally used! Learn more on my private policy page.