The Whole 30® program has been around since 2009 and it is something that I’ve incorporated unofficially into my approach to food. I’ve always been interested in the “Caveman”, “Paleo” movement, which focuses on more natural foods and ingrediates.
I went strict “paleo” back in 2012, where I ended up losing about 50 lbs in 6 months, where I went from 268lbs to 218lbs. I am a big guy, 6’5″ and getting down to 218lbs, was probably a little on the skinny side. I was combining a diet of meat, fruits, and veggies with basketball and CrossFit®.
I’ve been a fitness fanatic my whole life, in fact I owned a CrossFit® gym a number of years ago and taught CrossFit® classes at our CrossFit® Box in Livonia, Michigan a couple days a week while running my law/financial practice.
On top of that, I have a fitness supplement line as well, www.WarFitFuel.com. I am a fan of utilizing any advantage I can to maximize my results in my diet, in the gym, when I am on the Jiu-Jitsu mats or powerlifting.
That said, while I know what a good diet is, there is a difference between knowing the right thing to do and actually doing the right thing. This is where motivation and willpower come into play.
Sometimes the best motivation is having the choice taken away from you or a large event change your focus.
For me, that is my Hip Replacement surgery schedule for March 9th. I always said “my body is going to wear out or rust out, I’d rather wear it out,” but I didn’t plan on wearing it out at age 40.
So, as part of my surgery protocol, I have to go off of any protein power, creatine, recovery supplements, etc which dovetails nicely into a very clean Whole30® approach for the month of March.
I need to eat clean prior to my surgery and then due to not being able to much after the surgery, I plan on following the Whole30® to eat clean after my surgery as well.
What is the Whole30® Program?
Basically the Whole 30® program is to eat rule food and stay away from processed foods and added sugars. The goal is to eat meats, fruits, vegetables, eggs, natural fats and herbs, spices and seasons. Eat foods with simple ingredients, or even better, no ingrediants.
Things to avoid during the 30 days:
- Do not consume added sugars. I typically follow this pretty well as I typically eat a relatively low-carb/Keto type diet.
- Do not consumer alcohol. Bummer ?
- Do not eat grains. This is something that I have practiced for a while. My parents fight me on this one, but I think the typical food pyramid is screwed up. Breads and grains are not as ‘natural’ or fit into that “Caveman”/”Paleo” diet.
- Do not consume, dairy, legumes, soy.
The hardest part of following any prescribed meal plan is buy-in from family and friends. Well, with the surgery, my wife and kids will for sure being supportive of me as I try to keep the weight off while I am trying to keep the weight off my new bionic hip.