Hi! My name is Ally and I’m the social media gal here at Circle + Bloom. Some of you may know me through Circle + Bloom’s secret Facebook group, or through our customer service department.
I wanted to write this blog post after I made some healthy changes to my diet and realized how applicable some of the new habits and lessons I learned would be to members of our Circle + Bloom community.
I tried out a program called the Whole30 and it truly changed my life. Here are just a few of the FANTASTIC side effects that I experienced:
- Through the roof energy levels that gave me the giddy-up I needed to start a new strength training routine
- Sleeping like a baby and not needing 4 cups of coffee to “wake up” in the morning
- Reduced inflammation (less aches and pains!)
- Gaining back long-lost self confidence as I PROVED TO MYSELF that I could break my unhealthy habits and develop lasting, healthy ones
Dallas and Melissa Hartwig created the program and it focuses on eating only REAL, WHOLESOME FOODS for 30 days.
You can learn all about the ins and outs of the Whole30 here, but I’ve boiled it down to 3 important takeaways that would benefit ANYONE looking to make some healthy changes to their diet, especially women who are trying to conceive –
- Eat whole, unprocessed foods.
In past blog posts, we’ve stressed the importance of quality protein, like meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs; nutrition-packed vegetables and fruits, like leafy greens, pumpkin, beets, and berries; and healthy fats, like olive oil as part of a balanced diet for women who are trying to conceive.These types of foods contain vital nutrients like iron and zinc – along with other goodies like calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 – which help maintain healthy hormone levels in the body, strengthen your immune system, and can even improve ovulatory function.
When you build your plate around nutritious foods like quality protein and fiber-rich veggies, there’s less room for the bad stuff. You feel more satiated by eating these wholesome foods, as opposed to filling up on processed carbohydrates that don’t provide lasting fuel for your body (and can make your hormone and energy levels yo-yo all over the place).
- As Melissa and Dallas say, “Slay your sugar dragon!”
One of the Whole30 rules that makes many folks want to run for the hills is “Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial.” I know that it seems drastic, but I can honestly say that cutting sugar out, 100% and cold turkey, was easier than any attempts at sugar “moderation” I’ve ever made.Sugars contain no real nutritional value and cutting them out has an automatic bonus – you won’t consume the additional calories that many sugary foods contain. This can be hugely helpful for maintaining a healthy body weight – which has been proven to promote fertility.
- You are capable of anything for 30 days!
I think that part of the reason that many of us don’t make big changes is that we are afraid to fail. That’s certainly how I felt when I faced my diet overhaul, and it wasn’t until I completed this program – 30 days and no cheating! – that I realized, the key is BELIEVING THAT YOU CAN SUCCEED!Simply make the decision that you are going to improve your habits and then DO IT! You can do anything for 30 days! I know it seems daunting, and I will admit it’s not always easy, but the juice is totally worth the squeeze.
Be kind to yourself and commit to taking charge of your health. It may inspire you to tackle other wellness goals and will give you a greater sense of control over your health and fertility.
Do I have your attention? Want to learn more about the Whole30? Melissa and Dallas’s book It Starts With Food is the best place to start! They are also releasing a new book later this month, so stay tuned!
Try it out and let us know how you do!
Happy eating –
Ally
Lauren says
Hi Ally – Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Whole30! I’ve checked out Whole30 before, but never took the plunge – I think your post might just be the little push that I needed 🙂
Ally says
Hi Lauren!
I’m so glad that the post inspired you to go for it! The Whole30 isn’t always easy, but I promise you it is ABSOLUTELY worth it. Best of luck and please let us know how it goes! I’ll be cheering you on!
Ally