How To Lose Weight After Whole 30

I started Whole30 because I was looking for results. I wanted my clothes to fit me just a little better after the holiday binge, and I wanted to get over my sugar addiction.  While those things both happened I can honestly say, I got so much more than that.

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The products and information listed in this post are to the best of our knowledge.  We share with our readers what has been successful for us in our own lives.  Visit Whole30.com for full nutritional guide to ensure the products and food you consume are compliant.

September Whole30 Starting Soon!

1.  My relationship with food changed, just like it said it would in the It Starts With Food book.  It’s amazing how flavorful strawberries became after I quit eating pancakes covered in syrup every morning.  I wasn’t reaching for the quick protein bar because I was too tired to make a healthy meal.  Whole30 forced me to make healthy food a priority in our home.

2.   I started cooking more meals for my family!  I mentioned this in an earlier post in the series, but we were eating out way more than I would like to admit.  It was hard on our budgets and hard on our bodies.  Whole30 got me more comfortable in the kitchen!

3.  After the first 2 weeks of adjustment, I really did have more energy.  My body learned to fuel off of healthy fat instead of sugar, which resulted in 10 pounds of weight loss for me.

My Whole30 Results

4.  My kids and my husband ate healthier!  From the start, my hubby had zero interest in Whole30, and I didn’t plan to put my two and four year old through Whole30, but because our refrigerator was loaded with fruit, veggies, and protein, their diets ultimately adjusted.  I was shocked to see my 4 year old take down raw carrots and raw bell peppers like they were candy.  He was a big helper for me in the kitchen when we prepared dinners together.   I also  learned that my 2-year-old’s new favorite snack is raw nuts.    Not only did I reap the benefits, but my family did too!

5.  It inspired me to start and health and fitness blog.  I was SO positive that Whole30 would be too much for this mama of two.  Once I got through it, I wanted so badly to encourage and empower other moms on their journey for optimal health.  I’m not saying that I think Whole30 is the only way to get healthy, but I can definitely vouch that it’s a VERY effective program that doesn’t cost you anything in membership fees.  All the information anybody would need to start Whole30 is completely FREE via the internet.  I learned that I too could be providing FREE information for women that were looking to improve their health and fitness.

All these life changing results weren’t exclusive to just me.  I got to experience Whole30 with a few friends that made the journey SO much more enjoyable.  We’d text each other meal ideas.  We’d check in with each other every few days and it helped that none of us were going it alone.  Here are just a few of the results some of these dear friends of mine let me share with you.

Why I've Done Whole30 Seven Times

Stay Fit Mom Krista (10 lbs weight loss): For me, the Whole 30 was a fresh start.  It wasn’t just about losing weight, but about getting back on track with healthy eating habits. The Whole 30 opened up my eyes to what I was actually eating and taught me a lot about food. Yes the diet can seem restricting, but it made me appreciate and develop a better relationship with my food. Sticking with the Whole 30 for 30 days was a huge accomplishment for me and taught me that I can do hard things! I can’t wait to do my next Whole 30!

Jacob (12 lbs weight loss):  I love how doable it is.  Even with the large amount of restrictions there are still plenty of options.  It just wasn’t a diet to me.  It was an opportunity to rejuvenate my taste buds and offer me a different mindset on food.

Lindsay (9 lbs weight loss, lost 3% body fat): Within the first week, my skin changed. My hubs said I looked years younger just by making changes to my diet. It was fun for me to learn find new recipes to try. And once I got an arsenal of great recipes under my belt, eating whole 30 was actually really easy. Of course the 9 pounds lost and 2 inches off my waist were the icing on the cake!

Weight Loss On Whole30

Lee Ann (7 lbs weight loss): My skin cleared up, I had lots of energy which resulted in increased speed and performance at CrossFit.

Jamie (6.8 lbs weight loss):  Despite all of the preparation involved, Whole30 actually simplified eating for me. I didn’t finish my sons’ pancakes just because. I didn’t fret over social situations where treats surrounded me. I just ate my three healthy meals a day and felt great.

Like I said,  Whole30 certainly is not the ONLY path towards a healthier lifestyle.  It most definitely is a legitimate option worth exploring if you’re looking for any of the results mentioned above.  We hope that you enjoyed our Whole30 Journey series!

Whole 30 Diet Program Review For Men

We will be starting a Whole30 Facebook group soon!  We want this group to provide lots of support for you along your Whole30 journey!  We’ll be posting recipes, answering questions, and you’ll get to interact with other people that are going through the same day to day struggles and successes that you will be!  Let us know if you’re interested in joining!  We’re getting a jump start to our summer bodies!

Follow us @blog and @ on Instagram for recipes, workouts, and motivation! You can subscribe to Stay Fit Mom today to get every post in your inbox!Every year, U.S. News and World Report ranks diet plans, and the Whole30 has yet to receive rave reviews. This year, the diet clocked in at an unimpressive #33 — with experts claiming it lacks scientific support and is severely restrictive. Yet, your social media feed was inundated with January Whole30ers posting photos of their #cleaneats, noting what day they're on and fighting the good fight against some mythical creature called a sugar dragon.

Why do people feel compelled to kick off their new year with a diet rated a measly 2.1 out of 5? As one of those Whole30 devotees you're probably pretty annoyed with by now, allow me to explain.

Whole 30 Diet: Could This Healthy Eating Challenge Help You Lose Weight For Good?

Three years ago, I dropped 30 pounds (and kept it off) by doing the Whole30 and continuing to eat well in the months that followed. During the 30 days on the program, I lost 11 pounds. And for me, completing it helped me form healthy habits (like reading labels and not smothering everything in cheese), taught me how to cook an arsenal of healthy recipes I actually enjoyed eating and most importantly (and the reason why I do it every January), showed me how incredible my body feels when I'm not pumping it full of sugar and alcohol. These lessons stuck with me well past the 30 days, allowing me to drop an additional 19 pounds by April of that year and finally reach my goal weight.

Danielle Page on the first day of the Whole30 program on January 1, 2016 (left) and 11 pounds lighter at it's completion on January 31, 2016 (right).

That being said, I wasn't surprised to see Whole30 so low on the list. In case you're not familiar with the program, you cut out all processed foods, grains, legumes, soy and dairy (that includes sugar and alcohol) for 30 days. You're left with meats, seafood, fruits, vegetables, nut butters and nut milks (as long as there's no added sugar — read your labels).

Whole 30 Diet: Results Of Following The Weight Loss Plan

It's a restrictive plan that makes eating out a challenge and forces you to get creative in the kitchen (you should see my spice rack). In its defense, having these parameters in place can be beneficial for those of us who feel overwhelmed with the amount of food options out there.

The Whole30 is great for teaching people how to eat real foods and cutting processed foods. It shows people that it does take some extra time and effort but it is possible and they find out how much better they can feel eating these foods, says Jennifer Smith, RD.

And if you've really fallen off the bandwagon, a 30-day reset might be what you need. Sometimes we need to do a complete overhaul of something in order to change that habit, Daniella Cohn, RD, explains. Following a temporary diet that eliminates all of the junk that we tend to eat daily can be a great way to remind ourselves to pay attention to what we are eating and make healthy and informed food choices.

My Whole30 Experience (including Before And After Photos)

However, placing certain food groups on your do not eat list does have the potential to work against you. When a person sees the foods as 'off limits, '