Let’s Talk Nutrition: Whole30

Hey y’all! Today we’re going to switch gears and talk about something that effects all of us: our health. More specifically, what we eat on a daily basis. I saw an interview with one of the founders of Whole30, Melissa Hartwig, and I found it extremely fascinating. So I figured it would be a good thing for us to dive into, because of the health and emotional implications. If you’re ready, pull up a chair, and let’s talk Whole30.

First, some background about Whole30

Whole30 has a bunch of rules for what you can and can’t eat, but the idea is simple: for 30 days, remove foods that generally have negative effects on people’s health. No counting calories or weighing on the scale is allowed, which is interesting to say the least. After that period, incrementally add those foods back into your nutrition plan, and track how they make you feel. And in doing that, tailor your nutrition based on what works for you, not on what works for others.

Now, let’s talk about the implications of the “diet”

I put diet in quotes because it’s not a diet in the traditional sense of the word. We’ll get into that in a second. But there are some interesting ways that the underlying principles of Whole30 affect us. Let’s talk about those.

Whole30 isn’t about restricting what we eat, but rather fixing our relationship with food

That’s one of the most fascinating things about the program to me. Because I’d never really considered that before. In that 40 minute interview I watched, the actual Whole30 diet was discussed for about 5 minutes. And the rest of the topics involved emotions, self-worth, mindset, and other topics of the mind and heart.

Unfortunately, many people have an unhealthy relationship with their health or with food. Melissa said in that interview that “Whole30 is about the food, but it’s not really about the food. It’s about what the food represents“. Which basically shattered my brain into a million pieces.

Now, let me qualify that with this statement: the food you eat has an impact on your well-being. Consuming excessive amount of sugars (this includes carbs) is linked with numerous negative health problems. Especially since many processed foods contain sugars, and are engineered for over consumption. So the food you eat matters.

But it’s not just about the food

It’s about our whole being. Many times, we tie emotions to food. Whether that be with how we feel about the food in general, how we feel after eating it, or if we eat to fulfill something in ourselves. Whole30 serves as a way to get us to detach from foods, and truly observe the relationship that we have with those foods. Really, it’s about why are we eating what we’re eating. The idea is to make us think about our nutrition, and to ask ourselves if it’s worth it to eat something.

For example, I LOVE Southern cooking (Georgia born and bred). It’s not exactly the healthiest thing to eat, by a long shot. But I know that I enjoy that, so even though it’s not healthy, I’m going to eat it regardless. So to me, it’s totally worth it. I factor it into my nutrition plan, and I allow myself to eat things I enjoy, without having the food control me. The emotions behind the food are equally as important as the food itself, since emotions tend to drive behavior. And we talked alot about emotions when we discussed Inside Out.

It’s like treating an addiction

A lot of rehab programs only address the immediate concern: the addiction itself. But that’s also the reason why some addicts tend to relapse. Only the symptom of the problem was addressed, rather than the source. Instead of pulling the weed out by the roots, it was cut halfway up the stem. And eventually, it might regrow, or in our case, manifest itself in different ways.

Which makes addressing the underlying why of any type of addiction is important. Because there’s a reason why people over eat, do drugs, or indulge in an activity to their detriment. Usually, the behavior provides some degree of comfort, so people partake. So until that underlying emotional problem is addressed, the behavior will continue to manifest, albeit sometimes in different forms. Which is what Whole30 addresses with regards to food.

It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle

I put diet in quotes earlier for a reason. When most people think of diets or dieting, it’s about some short term eating change for the express purpose of weight loss. And there’s a whole culture around dieting, that does more harm than good. Because if you can go on keto, paleo, Atkins, [insert fad diet here], then that means you can go off it. And what tends to happen is that many people go on a cycle of dieting and then stopping, then starting again. And this yo-yo dieting has many negative implications for our health.

Which is why you’ve probably noticed me using the word nutrition rather than diet. The important thing is communicating that what we eat isn’t a short term fix for a weight problem, but a long term lifestyle change for our overall health. I feel like it’s crucial for us to get away from the diet culture that is so rampant in our society, especially since our health is the most important thing we have. We can’t do anything if we’re unhealthy.

Whole30 really starts at the end of the 30 day period

Like, don’t get me wrong, any nutritional change is difficult, especially one that involves initially removing foods. But the real gem of this process is adding the foods back. That’s when people get to see the real effects of what they’ve been eating. Tracking the impact that your food has on you, physically and mentally, is important to longevity. Especially since there are some effects that you might be willing to tolerate in order to eat your favorites. And as long as your nutrition plan includes that, then you’re good to go.

For me, I love this bakery called Sweet Hut (here’s the menu, it’s phenomenal). And for me, I understand that if I eat a bunch of baked goods, sweets, and boba tea, that I’m going to have a massive sugar rush, and then crash. I factor that in to what I eat so I can enjoy those treats when I decide to have them. Someone once told me that “a diet that makes someone give up their favorite food is doomed to fail“. So I enjoy those foods, while also not abusing them.

Whole30 basically uses feedback from your body with how you should proceed with your nutrition. Which leads me to one of my favorite topics: science experiments.

Whole30 is just an experiment where we are the guinea pigs

It’s an experiment with an n of 1. In most experiments and trials, n is the variable denotes the number of test subjects that are taking part. In the case of Whole30, n = 1, meaning that only one person is taking part in the experiment (that person being you, should you choose). The importance of this is that results are tailored to you. Which means that you don’t have to try to fit yourself into a box that isn’t meant for you. You can find a nutrition plan that works for you, without any concern about what works for other people.

Not saying you should disregard what others have tried. In fact, I’d recommend the opposite. Listen to what people have to say. Give it a shot! But remember that at the end of the day, their success is just that, their success. And you might have to tweak the formula to suit you as a person.

But the n = 1 experiment idea can apply to anything, not just food. You can discover new habits (I’m thinking more of meditation, not cocaine), hobbies (also not cocaine), friends, passions, etc. All from taking a chance and conducting an experiment on yourself and seeing how something affects you. But also, do your research before hand, because there are some results that aren’t worth it in the long run. But either way, especially if it could affect your life for the better, it’s worth giving it a shot. And if it doesn’t work out, then you can try something else.

So what can we learn from Whole30?

Really, there are a few main points. First, take an honest look at what you’re eating, why you’re eating it, and the emotions associated with it. Second, remember your nutrition is about long-term health rather than some short term weight goal. Third, take the time to experiment and find what works for you, in all aspects of your life, not just food. And finally, remember it’s ok to enjoy food, but make sure it fits into the life you want to lead. I say alot that life’s too short to be unhappy, so it’s important to make sure you’re doing what you can to live the best life you can.

I want to thank y’all for talking humans with me today. If you enjoyed the content, please subscribe! And if you know someone that might enjoy it as well, please share! As always, feel free to leave a comment, send a message via the Contact Me page, or hit me up on Instagram @ryokeniii. And don’t forget to talk humans with someone this week. Seeya later!