Everything You Need To Know About The Whole30 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Everything You Need To Know About The Whole30

It's not a diet, it's a reset.

54
Everything You Need To Know About The Whole30
Annabelle Breakey

Seven years ago, Dallas and Melissa Hartwig established this program to change participants’ relationship with food. It’s “a nutritional reset designed to help you put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, and balance your immune system.” Quite literally, subscribing to the Whole30 means focusing on wholeness for 30 days: whole, clean foods and wholeness within your body. By taking out all the potentially bad foods for you, you’re only putting in the good.

So, what’s bad? (Spoiler: everything you love)

Added Sugars

It’s not new that our country is in a bit of a pickle with sugar and consequential over consumption (thankfully though, pickles only have about 1 gram of sugar). Everything from natural sugars like honey and agave to artificial sweeteners is an absolute no-go. No candy or chocolate, no Splenda in the morning coffee, no soda or juices, the list is seemingly endless. The Hartwigs call this “Slaying the Sugar Dragon” because your healthy body is the princess who needs saving and those addictive foods that provide us so much pleasure and comfort yet whose empty calories continue an unhealthy cycle for us both physically and psychologically is the dragon you need to kill to get there. On the bright side, you can still listen to all the Adam Levine you want.

Grains and Legumes

Similar to sugar, these promote over consumption or even inflammation (thanks to gluten or improper cooking). They also contain phytic acid, which actually make the good aspects of grains like calcium, magnesium and zinc incapable of absorption. Even worse, this includes more foods than you might think: wheat, oats, barley, corn, rice, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, etc. Or, in more common terms: bread, pasta, cereal, beans, peas, lentils, soy and peanuts. Questioning what you’re going to eat now? Yeah, me too.

Dairy

Adult mammals don’t need dairy, plan and simple. Milk helps newborns grow quickly, but the high proportions of carbohydrates (lactose) and proteins are another source for skyrocketed insulin responses, inflammation and unregulated cell growth – all potential causes of obesity, diabetes and cancer. Worries of serious diseases aside, put down the cheese, ice cream, milk and yogurt because it’s of no use to you anyway. (Except on bad days when you really need that pint gallon of cookie dough ice cream, but that’s what alcohol is for, right?)

Alcohol

Just kidding, sorry. Tragic, I know, but there is absolutely no nutritional value in alcohol. It’s literally toxic for you body, as anyone with a drink too many can attest to the morning after. Plus, it’s nearly twice as calorie-dense as sugar, according to the Whole30. For many, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this is the most difficult sacrifice. Even for those who don’t consider themselves drinkers, quitting so many other favorite foods cold turkey is destined to leave you grumpy and in desire of something to take your worries away for the night. No shots at the bar or winding down at home with a glass of wine.

There are a couple more “don’ts,” but these are great, I promise. You’re not allowed to weigh or measure yourself or count your calories. Doing so means your focus is on an arbitrary number rather than what you’re body is saying to you and how you feel without certain foods. The number on a scale means zero in terms of measuring your health, so don’t let that be the focus. This is also more proof that the Whole30 is not a diet.

TLDR – Substitute sugar, grains, legumes, dairy and alcohol for unrestricted veggies, fruits and meat for one month, and see what happens. I have a good feeling you'll like the results. (Read: I really hope so because otherwise I'm about to waste a month of my life, too.)

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Honorary Roommate
Rachel Zadeits

For some of us, coming to college was the first time we ever had to share a room. It was a big change, but a fun one. As you meet more and more people over the course of your college career, it seems to be a pattern that you will at some point have that one friend that doesn't live with you, but acts like they do. We call those people, "Honorary Roommates" and here are 11 signs you have one in your life.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why It's Awesome When Your Best Friend Gets New Friends

She may not be with you 24/7 but it's all good because you're soul sisters.

1220
super friends
Gabi Morales

We all have a person, and when that person makes some new friends, we tend to forget all the great things that can come out of it. Never forget how special they are to you and why you are best friends.

Keep Reading...Show less
mountains

If you're like me, then the last semester kicked your butt, big time. Lots of papers, projects, and overall chaos. While some things are beyond our control, there are some things you can do to make this semester one of your best ones yet!

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

8 Cringey College Tinder Stories

. Cringey Tinder stories from some Tinder girls

3044
a man and a woman sitting at a table
Photo by Good Faces on Unsplash

Toilet Troubles

"So, usually I would never go on a Tinder date but when you are out with girlfriends and a hot Bosnian guy says he wants to hang with you and his friends, you oblige. We head to their apartment and when I realized I may pee my pants if I don't find a bathroom soon. I ask for the bathroom and a friend of my tinder date shows me to it and said in all seriousness that I was not allowed to flush the toilet under ANY circumstances. Having a few drinks--or five--I relieved myself to, nevertheless, flush the toilet. Within seconds, his bathroom was flooded and towels were laid out everywhere to catch the toilet water. To say the least, we were not invited back"

Keep Reading...Show less
Girl with a Guy Bestfriend
vignette3

I can confidently say that about 90 percent of all the friends I have are male. It's just always been that way since I was a kid. Over the years, I've heard a lot of things and I've learned a lot of things, and here it all is. Enjoy!

If you're a girl with a guy best friend you know that...

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments