When I began my Whole30 journey six months ago, I had no idea it would become my life. First and foremost, I knew I needed to be healthier. I had gained weight, was unhappy, and was no stranger to eating my feelings. I’ve already shared my Whole30 journey here. Now I’m going to share how I stayed motivated and some tips to succeed at Whole30.

First, you need to commit to the program. Whole30 is not for the faint of heart. Notably, (as with all lifestyle changes) the more committed you are, the better your results will be. It is only 30 days. You can do it.

Another key thing you need to know in order to succeed at Whole30 is that meal prepping takes a lot of time. I found it was easiest to prep all of my food for the week on Sunday. Also, I ended up doing my Whole30 while traveling, (and that is a whole different post in itself!) so know that it is still possible if you don’t always have a full day of prep time. Don’t let that break you.

Here are some of the foods that helped me succeed at Whole30 and kept me sane:

Hard boiled eggs – During Whole30, I probably ate a dozen eggs a week. Hard boiled eggs came in super handy because they are portable, full of protein, and I could prep a lot at once. It was not uncommon for me to pull a hard boiled egg out of my handbag as a snack. Weird? Maybe. Effective? Definitely.

Cashews – Raw cashews were probably my best friend during my Whole30 experience. I always had a little baggie of them with me for snacking emergencies. Which, let’s be honest, is all the time.

Larabars – Cashew Cookie is my favorite. Be careful with these, as they are not meant to be dessert or candy.

Almond Butter – My unsung Whole30 hero. There were lots of hangry times at our photo shoot where I could be found huddled in a corner with my container of almond butter whispering “my precious” like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. In fact, I’m pretty sure there was a time one of my girls threw a jar of almond butter at me and ran away in fear. Just kidding. My mood swings weren’t that bad. I don’t think…

Apples – An apple a day helps you succeed at Whole30! Oh wait. That’s not the saying is it? Well, it’s true nonetheless.

Grilled Chicken – I ate so much grilled chicken. Honestly, I may have briefly become a piece of grilled chicken. Together with my almonds and cashews, grilled chicken helped me get lots of great protein to keep my energy levels up.

Positive Attitude – Of course, this isn’t a food. But it’s probably the most important thing you need to succeed at Whole30.

In spite of all the challenges Whole30 presents, it’s a really rewarding experience. Not only do you strengthen your mind, body, and willpower, but you also learn more about yourself. Of course, you discover if you have food sensitivities or not, but you also find out so much more about your motivation, habits, and your body.

All in all, Whole30 is not a diet. Similarly, It is not a lifelong program that you can stick to forever. Whole30 is a 30 day journey of self discovery, done for you and only you. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. If you are skinny and just want to test food allergies, or if you are overweight and want to reset your life, or if you just want to try something new, don’t let anyone judge you. We all have our own demons and we all have uphill battles. Like my dad says, “‘No’ is a complete sentence.” Good luck!

Have you tried Whole30, or are you planning to start your own journey? I would love to hear your stories in the comments below!

XOXO,
Tiffany