The Whole30 Challenge.

What is this challenge I speak of? Here’s an excerpt from a Paleo/Fitness website, The Whole 9 Life, written by Melissa Urban, also of Urban Gets Diesel. (and yes, I realize she mentions in the following quote that this is not a 30-day challenge. I use the word ‘challenge’ for lack of a more suitable alternative.)

Start Here: The Whole30

In Part II of our Guide to Eating Dirty, I recommend cheating smart – indulging in those foods that aren’t going to knock you out of energy, wellness and performance commission for days on end. The concept sounds pretty easy, and it is… as long as you know how various food groups like gluten, dairy and legumes affect you. So how do you figure out what foods are okay to cheat with, and what foods will never be worth it?

I can tell you where it STARTS… strip out all the crap from your diet and let your body heal and recover from whatever effects those foods may be provoking. What, exactly, does that mean? Super strict, no cheat, by-the-book Paleo for the next 30 days. Cut all the foods that could be kicking you in the crotch without you even knowing it for the next 30 days, and see how that feels. (To be clear – this is NOT a “30 Day Challenge”. This is so much bigger than that. And it’s not really even about cheating. I kind of tricked you there. I’m not sorry. Read on, please.)

As you can see, Melissa is one tough chic and I admire that in her. I especially like her “Tough Love” portion of the full-length post (read on) as well as the “This.Is.Not.Hard” attitude, because really, it isn’t, people. It’s food. It’s not meth. It’s rethinking food as “fuel” instead of “comfort”. Find comfort in meditation or exercise. Food keeps you going so that you can enjoy the comforts of life. Now this is not to say you shouldn’t genuinely enjoy what you’re eating because you should, and I do. But I’d love to get down to business and really find out what is best for my body. You only get one of these bodies, make it last, really LAST for as long as you’re here. You can’t do this over again. Love yourself, because if you don’t no one will do it for you.

So I’ll be quite honest, I had set out to take this challenge a few weeks ago but fell way short of the 30 day goal. Ok, to be real with you, I failed. I gave up. I broke down. I think failing to achieve a goal has more mental repercussions than the loss of the potential outcome itself. I know I beat myself up mentally for being weak more than anything. So, as you all as my witness, I am taking on this challenge FOR REAL. Today. Right now. And my goal is to blog about my progress and be accountable for myself in writing, for proof. And I’m hoping to post photos along the way. Let’s start with a few “before” pics.

This first one is from September of 2007, when I weighed my heaviest @ 151 pounds. I am 5’4″ and I can safely say that 151 pounds is NOT a healthy weight for me. Excuse the underwear (they’re long gone – I’ve traded them in for something a little more flattering!), my bathing suits didn’t exactly fit at the time.

This one is from this past summer, sometime in July, probably about 146 pounds.

And here’s a relatively recent one, after 6 months of moderate dedication to Crossfit (2-3 days per week) and 2 good, solid months of 90% clean eating. 138 pounds. See any difference?

I will do my part, I will seek out delicious recipes, cook for myself, exercise to the best of my ability and do this. I’d love to be a source of encouragement and information if you need it. I’ll count on you for feedback, too. Let’s do this…together.

If you’re still lost on the who/WHAT/when/where/WHY’s of Paleo/Primal, please do not hesitate to ask. I have great friends who are full of information as well as loads of websites that provide great resources.

I’ll leave you with this quote from her post:

Start now. Today. This minute. Count out thirty days, go immediately to your grocery store and stock up on things you can eat, and begin. Cold turkey, just start. It’s the only way to do it. Give yourself excuses, reasons to put it off, and you may never begin. Do it now.

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