Looking back, I must admit I didn’t reach the summit on this Whole30 climb.
Dairy: I kept my distance! No milk, yogurt, cheese. I never once desired a shake or sundae. The only bummer came when it was time for chili and I couldn’t have sour cream. Honestly, that’s the only dairy I truly miss. Even the clarified butter’s grown on me so that I don’t miss the typical wad of butter thrown into veg or mashed potatoes.
Gluten: Another success. It helps I had started cutting down on grain intake since Christmas. Sure, I like cookies and brownies. I loooooove tasty banana or zucchini or rhubarb bread. And PIE! Ah, sweet, sweet pie.
But these aren’t “typical” grains, like bread or pasta. Those I never missed, not one day. I used to eat oatmeal in the morning, but some reheated sweet potatoes have become an excellent substitute.
Sugar: So about those pies and other sweet treats…
Yes, I’ve successfully avoided desserts. This month has shown me just how often I’d dip into those cookies, brownies and jars of oh-so-honeylicious creamy peanut butter. But my one “cheat,” my one thing I just couldn’t give up, was coffee creamer. Almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk–the consistency messes with my brain, and the taste feels like it’s embittering the coffee more than anything.
I know I’ve talked about my resolutions already, so I won’t repeat that. What I would like to say is how deeply proud I am of Bo.
For a guy who used to shrug at health issues with the mantra of “We’re all doomed to die anyway,” he made this amazing mental 180 and has not only stuck to the Whole30 FOR the whole 30, but he has every intention of sticking to many of its guidelines. Yeah, we’ll probably award ourselves with pizza tomorrow to celebrate his completion, but we’re talking a slice, not a whole pizza. Sure, Bo’s going to enjoy creamer in his morning commute tea, but he’s sticking with salads, protein, and fruit for work instead of returning to sandwiches. He can feel the weight loss in how he sits and moves; I know it by how little he snores. It’s a change that was hard, will continue to be hard, but he’s not giving up.
No, I didn’t complete the sheer climb up the Whole30.
But Bo did.
I am more than happy to wave to him from my own road to the summit, whistling as I go, knowing that Bo’s more than ready to encourage me every step of the way.
So, this concludes my 30-day blog-a-thon! Now I’m going to spend the next few days climbing a new mountain–a far sweeter mountain–of likes and comments from you, kind readers. To each and every one of you who has followed my Whole30 journey in words: thank you so very, very much for walking this road with me. Cheers to you, Kind and Noble Company. May the Road ahead be one of adventure, laughter, and hope.
Read on, share on, and write on, my friends!
Jean Lee's World 
‘No, I didn’t complete the sheer climb up the Whole 30’, If I didn’t know what this meant I would say it’s the best line for a lyric I’ve ever read ~ George.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome to use it if it’s helpful! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m pleased. Even little steps will help with long term health. It’s great when something clicks inside and suddenly you start to move just a bit closer to a healthy diet. This doesn’t stop you enjoying the food cheats, just makes them taste so much nicer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, exactly so, just like the wine of yesterday 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations on completing the blog-a-thon – and I’m so impressed that Bo managed to stick to his wholefood diet! Himself really needs to lose some weight – he has piled on an extra stone since he stopped walking to work. We need to sit down and get serious about our food intake – with him it’s more about quantity, I think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Bo’s job is very sedentary, too, so I get how hard it is to fit exercise in there.
Bo still sneaks food at night, which never helps, but now instead of downing a couple bowls of cereal he’s eating some meat and veg or some cashews with raisins. Those little changes can make a big difference!
LikeLike
I said it before and I’ll say it again (and not simply because I lack the profundity of a fresh new thought), you and Bo deserve to be very proud of yourself. I wish I had a little of that dedication on the dietary side. I tend to go overboard on the other, the physical exercise, side … working out 7 days a week, about which I took a sardonic view in my post, “Fitbit: Satan on my wrist.” Bo might get a kick out of reading it.
Speaking of reading … you have a devilishly GOOD cast of characters in Charlotte, Anna and all the chipmunks, wolves and ravens. (I refuse to add, “Oh, My!”) Seriously, as part of my book-a- week resolution, I can only allow myself 62 pages a day of yours. I confess I couldn’t stop until I got to chapter 7 today, though, which was about 68 pages. You have a compelling style!
Jay
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL I HAVE a Fitbit, only it’s one of the cheap ones you wear on your waist and doesn’t want to do very much. Another friendly soul here recommended ebay or amazon to see if someone’s selling an older wrist model–my doctor said it’d be a good visual combatant against a panic attack, seeing the numbers that prove my heart ISN’T trying to pop out of my chest.
Oh, Sir, you have made my day on sooooooooo many levels of time and space. Thank you, Thank you!!!
LikeLike
Congrats to you! I have started to watch what I put in my mouth and doing yoga everyday. I think it will take me a year to see the results.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, like I tell my students, any step taken is one step closer to the journey’s completion!
LikeLiked by 1 person
(and thanks for reading and commenting! Hope the yoga works out; I gotta get back into walking again)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Way to go Jean and, especially, Bo. Great effort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, Peggy. I’m relieved the strictness of it all is done, but I’m still proud as blazes of Bo 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
A big woohoo and yay for you and Bo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done to both of you, I think.
And, good luck with the long-term changes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s already a fight with temptation over how much coffee I drink now that creamer’s back, but if I handled Feb, I can handle this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats on completing your 30-day blogging challenge. I’ve been thinking of doing the same thing, but work is crazy right now so I might wait until after tax season. It was inspirational to watch you post each day during the last month. Good job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Whole30 really is a big investment, esp considering what you can no longer buy. The grocery bill is going to spike with all the meat and special sugar-free stuff you buy. BUT, it really does make a big difference. You’re only eating what your body can put to use, and not all the extra junk in grains and dairy. If you’re keen on a dietary change, this is the change to do it. That way, when you’re through that 30, you can prioritize what sweet things you MUST have back (creamer!) and what you realize you don’t really need at all (chocolate chips). 🙂 You can do it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
CONGRATS!!! Way to go you- sure, you didn’t make the summit, but you made some huge changes! And Way WAY to go Bo! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hooray, you made it!! Congrats to both of you!🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The whole sour cream thing is a bummer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is! It’ll have to be a super special treat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not followed the full 30 days, but many of them, and I am inspired by your enthusiasm and positivity. Allbest to the next 30–
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I see these health lessons will be with me for a long, long time. 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations to both of you! Glad that Bo is already enjoying the results. Now you have to erase the memory of that sour cream 😉 It will take some effort, but you will do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will…maybe. Likely we will let it be something special, as did the pizza we had next week. A slice of cheesy gooeyness, and then we were done 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! A special meal now and then. But you definitely did the right thing and you will see the real results in a month or two.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLike
For the Shire!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike