Whole30® is super popular right now! It’s great to kick start a diet, see if you are intolerant to certain foods, or if you just want to give your digestive system a major break. It’s only 30 days, BUT it is super strict, so again… this is not meant to be on long term.

This post isn’t going to be about what Whole30® is since there are soooo many resources out there already on it. Check out the official books to get more about why Whole30® may work for you and the reasoning behind it, and you can even find many of them at your local public library! Or if you’re like us, you’ll just read lots of articles online (this one on The Kitchn is a really great starting point!), sort through lots of pins, and ask others on Facebook how they did it.

What this post IS about is how two different Women with VERY different lives made Whole30® work for them since it may seem very daunting at first. Good luck, and hopefully their tips will give you some courage and insight to try it if you’ve been wanting to!

Editor’s Disclaimer: SML does not endorse Whole30®. Please consult your primary care physician before making changes to your diet. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider.

Brittany Jones, TV Reporter and Anchor

If you say you don’t have time to do Whole30® due to a busy schedule, Brittany Jones will make you eat your words. As a Reporter/Fill in Anchor for News 13 in the Orlando, FL market in Flagler County, seconds are precious in hitting her deadlines. “My typical days as a reporter are obviously wild and unstructured! Busy and on the move, so it’s not a lot of time do a lot of anything besides work.”

If Brittany can make it work with her work schedule, so can you! Here’s how she did it.

What was your reason for doing Whole30®?

I challenged myself with Whole30® to find out how certain foods impacted my body and to hopefully lose a few pounds and inches. People told me they just felt lighter and more energetic once they finished it, and they realized they could eliminate certain foods all together. Also, it was great to figure out how to cut excess calories and enjoy the same foods minus the Sugar and some extra fats.

How did you make it work for you? Tricks you found out along the way? Challenges or things you didn’t like that someone should be aware of?

The first few days I felt like it wasn’t going to work. I went out and bought different snack replacements, spent quite a bit on groceries. Trader Joe’s and Fresh Fields Farms were my favorite places to go for all/most things compliant.

I was starving at first. Then, once I figured out what I didn’t like even though other people may have loved (like Larabars), I just cut them and ate things like Sunflower seeds, almonds, and fruits. I drank lots of water; I was always pushing to drink more and more water so I wouldn’t be hungry. I had some fails, and I had some positives like learning how to cook foods without sugar and finding things like sugar free spaghetti sauce and using clarified butter AKA ghee so those things cut my lactose intolerant stomach aches (no dairy on Whole30®) and shaved down the sugar intake.

I ate a lot of sweet potatoes; breakfast became untraditional. Sometimes that’s what I ate all times of a day. But it was tough not being able to get food from fast food restaurants and ordering at sit down restaurants. I was always asking “is there sugar in that, what oil did you cook that in, can you minus the butter please?”  But I cooked at home a lot and made it work and found a salad dressing that was compliant and used it on everything since it was vinegar and olive oil. My food became spicier when I cooked because I used less salt and nothing had sugar,  so I just used more spice. I made a lot of vegetables and a lot of salad. The first few days I was mean, grumpy, and hungry but then I got used to eating only what was allowed.

What is your takeaway of doing this? Do you recommend it to other women? Any results whether it’s weight lost or symptoms relieved?

I recommend it to anyone looking to figure out some things with their bodies and how it digests/doesn’t digest certain foods. I learned how to cut things that include sugar like taco seasoning; (tacos) don’t need it, so make your own instead of buying it! I also saw my stomach and waistline decrease; plus, I lost a roll in back! lol

I also got more energy and better sleep. I kept going for nearly 2 months actually with trying to stick to it during the week once I had completed it, but on weekends I took a break and finally enjoyed wine and alcohol again. It also helped me control my sweet-tooth. Overall it’s a good challenge, but it’s not a super weight loss thing. It does help jump start you to feeling better, wanting to eat better,  and work out.

Sabrina Bateh Kuruvilla, Attorney at Law

Our second Whole30® rock star may not be a reporter traveling the state for an investigative story, but seconds are also precious to her as a mom of two, family estate attorney in her own practice called Three Oaks Law, and contributing family member of a super popular local pizza chain, Joseph’s Pizza, in Jacksonville, FL.

In a quick few sentences, what does a typical day look like for you?

I always start with coffee. It’s my elixir! My first meal is always a high fat meal. This is typically an avocado with homemade chicken or tuna salad. I typically end my day with an arugula salad topped with grilled chicken, papaya or melon and toasted almonds. For dressing I use white wine vinegar and salt. It’s a perfect combination with the juice from the fruit.

What was your reason for doing Whole30®?

Inflammation and weight loss. I am young too young to feel so sick all the time.

How did you make it work for you? Tricks you found out along the way?

I had to make Whole30® mine, otherwise I would not have lasted a day! For example, I love coffee with frothed milk and that is typically my go to multiple times a day; however, I also really love Arabic coffee that is boiled on the stove and I can drink this without milk; so, I made the time to make coffee in a more traditional, Whole30® compliant manner. Also, my family owns Joseph’s Pizza and we eat there often. I hate to feel deprived and I love our meat sauce. I take my spiralizer to the restaurant and make zoodles. Voila! I enjoyed my “spaghetti” with meat sauce without bloat and feeling deprived! My main tips are to think outside the box and plan. Also, don’t hesitate to ask a restaurant if the chef can make you a compliant meal and don’t cook non-compliant dishes for other family members. Kids and spouses can learn to love Whole30® meals. They are delish!

Challenges or things you didn’t like that someone should be aware of?

Emotional eating can be a big challenge. I run a law firm and have 2 young children. When stress increases, my sugar cravings also increase. I try to plan for this with healthy snacks and breathing techniques. Also, my children eat what I eat and that helps quite a bit.  As in anything way of life or way of eating, it’s best be be aware of the changes that are occurring. Don’t rely on the scale too much. You will lose inches and begin to feel better. Oh, and one more thing – if you want to lose weight, don’t eat too many nuts! Calories in – calories out still applied to some degree.

What is your takeaway of doing this? Do you recommend it to other women? Any results whether it’s weight lost or symptoms relieved?

My neuropathy which is related to gluten went away within a few days and my joint pain and inflammation also subsided within days. Whole30® is a great plan and I absolutely recommend it to other women. It is doable!

The post Two Very Different Women. Both Love Whole30. How They Made it Work. appeared first on Shannon Miller.