Whole30

Started by Solars Toy, August 07, 2015, 09:45:09 AM

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Solars Toy

I have been on a healthy quest for over a year now.  My goal was to become the best physically possible.  My journey had led me to many discoveries. 

Elimination "diets" are the best way to find out what foods may be causing your various symptoms.   This last year has been an interesting year of discovery.  My first foray was going Primal/Paleo.  Doing this I found I am definitely wheat/gluten sensitive.   I was feeling great but still had some lingering symptoms that weren't going away.  So two months ago I gave up all dairy - that one sucked for a few days as I was giving up yogurt and cheese - I had already given up regular milk for almond and coconut milk and replacement foods.  (coffee creamer, ice cream)  And more symptoms disappeared.

Recently I found a new doctor who actually takes a whole body holistic approach.  She recommended the Whole30.  I had already researched this once before but after the first two chapters (It Starts with Food) I thought - no way.  But she insisted I try this to finally get the full picture.  So what is a Whole30.  For 30 days you adhere to the following rules.

Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial
Do not consume alcohol in any form
Do not eat grains
Do not eat legumes
Do not eat dairy
Do not consume carrageenan, msg or added nitrites
Do not try to recreate baked goods, treats, or junk food with approved ingredients
Do not step on the scale or take measurements

So all that being what it is I gave up coffee.  Not because it was on the list but because I can't drink it unsweetened.  I am on day 12 and tried a black cup of coffee. (it was a test.)  I couldn't drink it as it tasted bitter.  Any suggestions from anybody on a good brand that isn't bitter?
I pray, not wish because I have a God not a Genie.

walkstall

Quote from: Solars Toy on August 07, 2015, 09:45:09 AM
I have been on a healthy quest for over a year now.  My goal was to become the best physically possible.  My journey had led me to many discoveries. 

Elimination "diets" are the best way to find out what foods may be causing your various symptoms.   This last year has been an interesting year of discovery.  My first foray was going Primal/Paleo.  Doing this I found I am definitely wheat/gluten sensitive.   I was feeling great but still had some lingering symptoms that weren't going away.  So two months ago I gave up all dairy - that one sucked for a few days as I was giving up yogurt and cheese - I had already given up regular milk for almond and coconut milk and replacement foods.  (coffee creamer, ice cream)  And more symptoms disappeared.

Recently I found a new doctor who actually takes a whole body holistic approach.  She recommended the Whole30.  I had already researched this once before but after the first two chapters (It Starts with Food) I thought - no way.  But she insisted I try this to finally get the full picture.  So what is a Whole30.  For 30 days you adhere to the following rules.

Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial
Do not consume alcohol in any form
Do not eat grains
Do not eat legumes
Do not eat dairy
Do not consume carrageenan, msg or added nitrites
Do not try to recreate baked goods, treats, or junk food with approved ingredients
Do not step on the scale or take measurements

So all that being what it is I gave up coffee.  Not because it was on the list but because I can't drink it unsweetened.  I am on day 12 and tried a black cup of coffee. (it was a test.)  I couldn't drink it as it tasted bitter.  Any suggestions from anybody on a good brand that isn't bitter?

My dad always said don't drink coffee with cream (milk) and sugar.  Use one or the other, both can mess  up your system big time for some people.  Use one or the other not both. 

IF I were you I would look into going to tea.   I drink black coffee from 4pm to 12 Noon.  Then I go to green tea, I have been doing that for 40+ years.  IF I had to stop drinking coffee I would have no problems just drinking tea. 
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

darroll

I would stay away from corn syrup.
Eat only sugars from sugar cane.

kroz

Toy, you might try Dunkin Donut coffee and don't make it too strong.  I find it to be one of the best coffees out there.  I don't like coffee with a bite.  .... but I have always drank my coffee black.  I would describe DD as a gentle coffee.

Solars Toy

I started about a week ago having one cup of coffee, black, in the morning.  I have somehow gotten past the taste.      I have been dairy free for a few months now so any "creamer" I use is either almond or coconut. 

My 30 days are done on Tuesday (8/25/15). 

I am not sure what I will reintroduce first but know that my Califia Pecan Toffee creamer is in the top 5 of my list.   :wub:

Walks - black tea was my substitute and I have always had my tea unsweetened so that works just fine for me.

Toy
I pray, not wish because I have a God not a Genie.

Solars Toy

I made the full 30 days.  On day 31 I decided to try kale, which I had avoided because it is a goiter vegetable.  It turns out I won't be returning kale to my diet as my body did not like it as much as my mind did.  I will be harvesting my last 2 Russian Blue kale plants and taking it to work for others to enjoy.   :sad:

Toy
I pray, not wish because I have a God not a Genie.

Late-For-Lunch

#6
 This is wonderful. Even though this thread was started awhile back, it's great to see that so many have viewed it! This is a topic near and dear to my heart for many reasons.

I'd like to post a reference to a great book on the general topic that I have found helpful called "Back to Eden". Don't be deceived by the title - it's not about religion so much but it was written by a Christian man who took his spirituality very seriously and was inspired by God to write the book. His name was Jethro Kloss and his book is still in print even though it was written back in the 1930s!

Back to Eden is a homeopathic primer on just about everything and everything else having to do with health and diet. One of the best parts is the one on food combining. Many people don't realize that due to digestive enzyme activity they trigger, some foods are more compatible when eaten together than others. Some are downright toxic when combined.

The text also gets into many of the harmful effects of commonly -eaten processed foods and describes the maladies which result with uncanny accuracy.

I am also a practitioner of yoga and note that a common thread between Back to Eden and the yogic philosophy is that food is best used as source of fuel, not as primarily a source of emotional gratification or coping with stress. 

This also dovetails with many weight loss programs which help people to get over habitual eating such as binging and chronic extreme overeating, by applying the identical philosophy of disciplined eating and choosing healthy foods over "trigger" foods which appeal only to appetite but do little to nourish the mind/body or satisfy true hunger.

Fasting is a great idea for many reasons. For one, if done correctly is can break the cycle of habitual eating and make it a more conscious, controlled process. Fasting also allows the palate to clean itself out so that people can actually taste the food they're eating after they end the fast.

I can also recommend another great book about fasting titled Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation by Jesse Stern  who was a journalist who approached yoga as a skeptic and became a fan. Again, please don't be misled or put off by the title. Even though it is a little New Agey in the sense that it touches on the Hindu notion of reincarnation, it is not preachy or intrusive at all in that sense. YYAR is almost 1090% about physical (Hatha) yoga which may be practiced by anyone of any faith. It also discusses how to fast properly as opposed to doing it in a way that leaves the person feeling unhappy or hungry all the time.

Another great book considered a classic is Yoga For Health by Richard Hittleman. Fasting is discussed in that book as well.

Each person probably has their ideal diet that is best for them and my view is that any rigid diet should always be considered a guideline for this. It's important to have discipline and to develop the will power to  stick to a program, but ultimately the goal is to simply eat a satisfying diet that is enjoyable in  which the heart, mind and body can all agree. I have found that too much denial can in some cases be just as  unhelpful as too much indulgence.

Thanks again for starting this post! Conservatives should be happy and healthy forever!
Get Out of the Way and Leave Me Alone (Nods to General Teebone)

Solars Toy

#7
I was given this book by my Mom back in my thirties when I first started getting into a more holistic view of my health.  I am constantly reading and learning on the subject as well as the idea of doing everything as natural as possible.  I mainly use the Back to Eden as a reference guide.  Talking about fascinating books I have the book Housekeeping in Virginia - a complete guide to cooking, butchering, sick room remedies, and overall housekeeping.  Utterly amazing...

Will check out a couple of your recommendations...

Toy
I pray, not wish because I have a God not a Genie.