Eat Right, Be Bright

As many of you know (who know me best), healthy eating and exercise have not always had the best relationships with me. I now love eating healthy foods, and I do feel great after having finished a killer workout, but I've decided to take another step in a better physical direction by trying something out that I never thought I could handle before.

The Whole 30: It is technically not a diet, but a changing of eating habits to essentially clean out your system and body of relying on things such as sugars, carbs, and processed foods. (You know, all of the things that taste so amazing...) A lot of people who know this see it as resembling the Paleo diet, except that the Whole 30 requires a shorter amount of time. I have done a lot of research and after weighing my options I have decided to take a leap of faith and try it! The Whole 30 lasts for 30 days and includes a pretty extensive list of things which you cannot eat. (I'm trying to look at it in the more positive way of what I can eat, which will actually be better and more proactive than thinking of what I am restricting myself from.)
The list of "do not eat" items is extensive, but in summary includes:
 -Dairy products
-Sugar, artificial sweeteners (includes Splenda, Truvia, Stevia, Agave, Maple and Honey)
-Wheat products and grains (oats, wheat flour, rice, etc.)
-White potatoes
-Alcohol (not a problem for me, since I'm not yet 21)
-Legumes (beans of all kinds, except for green beans, snow peas, and snap peas)
-Carageenan, MSG or sulfites (the stuff that helps preserve processed foods)
Basically, I wanted to cry when I first read all of the things that I won't be allowed to eat. But as I thought about all of these foods and how I feel after eating them, I understand completely how they can be bad (or at least not very helpful) for my digestive system. I am hoping that through this change in my eating habits I will feel more energized, maybe drop a few pounds, and simply feel more healthy overall. The Whole 30 will also be paired with my regular schedule of daily workouts and or physical activity. (I can be assured there will not be a great change in my physical well-being if I don't include this important aspect.)

In an effort to maintain this change in my eating habits, I will be posting here each week on the results that I find in my overall physical well-being. I will also post some of the recipes for the yummy food that I will make every day! (Those of you who do Twitter or Instagram, be on the lookout for daily pictures of my food and progress as well.)

I am so thankful for the body and the wonderful physical health that I have been given by a gracious God, and I am so excited to treat my temple in such a way that would be honoring to the Lord. This next month is sure to be difficult and I know I will have daily struggles and/or cravings that will stump me. But I also know that with a lot of will power, prayer, and encouragement I can absolutely do this, (and do it to the best of my ability!)
Until next week when I officially begin my journey with the Whole 30,
Emily


"Take off your old self, which follows your former ways of living and ruins you as it follows the desires that deceive you. Become new in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, which is created to be like God, righteous and holy in truth." -Ephesians 4:22-24