Whole 30 Round 2

This morning I woke up and had toast as part of breakfast. Not because I was excited about eating something that I hadn't been allowed to eat for 30 days, not because it felt naughty or I deserved it, but because it was convenient and there was nothing else in the house. Did I enjoy it? meh. It was fine, but I reckon I would've preferred sweet potato toast or a big omelette with tonnes of veggies.

(Read about my first Whole 30 experience here.)

I have just completed my second round of The Whole 30 and I'm feeling GOOD. I don't feel incredible, I don't have crazy energy and I don't feel like I'll never eat cake again but I feel good. I'll list said good stuff below, but before I do I just want to re-iterate that this is not a diet and this is not just a quick way to lose weight. As a person who has spent 20 years of her life battling body demons, despising her reflection and treating food like a comfort blanket (a seriously shitty blanket with holes in it) the Whole 30 is teaching me how to have a healthy relationship with food.

• I don't feel bloated and haven't felt bloated all month and this is my favourite W30 benefit. Dang it feels good to know my body is working the way it should!
• I have lost around 5-6lbs.
• I can fit into my clothes much better than 30 days ago.
• This round was much easier than the first.
• I wouldn't say I have "tiger blood" but my energy is definitely up on the whole. 
• My skin is super clear and bright.
• My hair (though still recovering from The Great Bleach Disaster of 2014) looks shiny and healthier. 
• I don't crave sugar. But I would like some. 
• And that brings me onto my next and final point. I am happier. I am less mardy, less grumpy, less emotional and I put this 75% down to the lack of refined sugar in my diet and 25% down to some exciting things happening in my life right now. So, let's talk sugar. 

Last time on my Whole 30, I reintroduced dairy with a milkshake. An ice cream milkshake. WHYYY did I do this? I turned into a sugar-animal, eating all the biscuits in the office and then some and for July & August my diet was a disaster. So this time, I'm simply not reintroducing refined sugar unless I want it so bad, the consequences are worth it. This is what Melissa Hartwig, founder of W30 would call Food Freedom. Something I am pretty keen to find. 

And what consequences am I talking about? Sugar isn't great and we probably know most of the reasons why. But for me, personally, sugar affects my mind so much more than I ever realised it could and though I secretly wished for a physical intolerance to something to make it easier to cut out, I have come to terms with the fact that sugar sends me loopy and makes me a fucking horrible person to be around at times. 

I don't think I can sit here and scream "I've found my food freedom!" but I'm definitely on my way, which is a really positive thought for me moving forward. 

I'm going to do my 3rd round of W30 in November and spend October eating mindfully. If anyone would like to join me (and Bea Marshall too!) then just drop me a message. It's easier with pals and actually, really isn't that hard. If I can do it, sugar addict that I am, you can definitely do it too and hopefully learn a lot about your own body in the process. 

Gina x