Day 1: It's not that hard

If you have ever done a round of Whole 30, then you know what I am talking about. The most often quoted line in the Whole 30 program is “It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard.” I am getting ready to start Whole 30 on Sunday, who is with me!?!?! Don’t worry, for those of you who have been living under a rock, i’ll get into the nitty gritty in a second.

I did Whole 30 for the first time in January of 2017. My friend Carolina was doing it, and she encouraged me to join her. It was AMAZING. Let me explain before you roll your eyes. in the Whole 30 program, they say that by eliminating certain foods, it can often help to improve your sleep, energy levels, mood, attention span, body composition, motivation, self-confidence, self-efficacy, and overall quality of life…..I mean, whats not to like???? They also say that the Whole 30 experience imparts a sense of control, freedom, stability, and confidence, and will ultimately inspire you to take on other personal development goals, both big and small. I don’t know about you, but right now I feel like I need ALL of the above.

So back to me and my first time……..At first it is hard. I’m not going to lie. No more Starbucks Chai Tea Lattes. No more afternoon chocolate. No more pizza (pikza) parties. But honestly, the feeling I had on Whole 30 washes all of those instant good feelings away. So what exactly are the Whole 30 rules? No added sugar, no alcohol (oh hey dryuary), no grains, no legumes, and no dairy. So what exactly do you eat while on Whole 30? Lots of protein, veggies, nuts, and fruit. Honestly, it allowed me to taste the sweetness of real fruit and enjoy the flavor of veggies I generally only eat when I cover them in some sort of not-good-for-you substance.

Since being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, it is even more important for me to think about the foods I am putting in my body. I also just want to feel good about myself again. The first few days of 2019 have been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I have been spending a lot of time with my ex-boyfriend, and even though we are trying to work on being friends, it has been hard. I also just haven’t really been feeling like myself lately. I think a lot of it has to do with with my health and weight. In the last few months, I have gained much of the weight back that I had lost in 2017. I blame it on the fact that I have thyroid issues, but the truth is, I just have kind of given up on putting myself first.

Don’t fear, I have already worked out more days than not in 2019…I know I know, its only January 4th, but if there is one quality I have, it is finding a way to put myself back on the right track. I’m really trying to put myself and my health first this year. I’m hoping to use this blog as an outlet to express myself, but also to connect with mi gente (my people for those non Miamians :). One final thing before I say adios tonight. Really trying to hold myself accountable in this health and wellness journey so I took some pics today that I am hoping will inspire me to get it together most days of the week and hit the gym…….and also to one day be featured on one of those People Magazine New Year’s weight loss magazines. Kidding…..Not Kidding?

Sara