Tag: gut health

Week 2, Whole30 + Gut Protocol

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Find the week 1 recap of my current round of food sensitivity elimination here.

I came out of week 1 feeling pretty amazing; regular 💩, bloat-free, ready for more positive feelings surrounding my health and how I’m feeling physically! I was a little unprepared in the day to day because I didn’t prep any food ahead of time – which is really a game changer for completing this entire program with little stress! So let’s talk about week 2…

I strayed from my path 😶

I ate ice cream with my family. Throughout the week I ate sour gummies, chocolate, and too much gluten free bread – which technically isn’t against the rules, but for the amount of bread I ate I have to tattle on myself. It’s definitely not recommended on Gut Protocol, and even if Whole 30th basically says you can eat as much as you want I’m sure they would frown up on consuming a loaf of bread in just a couple of days. But I’m moving on…

I’m not beating myself up for getting off track. Not even a little. This is a big switch to make, from eating lots of low-nutrition foods to eating lots of nutritious foods – the mind and body will crave the sugar and caffeine for a little while, especially if you regularly consume a lot, but the switch will happen and you will begin to feel amazing in a relatively short amount of time! And I’m talking to myself here 😅 I have to remind myself that if I just stick with it for a little longer I will feel great for a long long time! And feeling good feels good. I want to always choose feeling good over falling back into old habits again and again.

So here’s my plan for this week.

Today is Memorial Day, meaning a day off of school for my kid. I know she’ll sleep in so it’s a typical morning for me: pack my husbands lunch (because he doesn’t have the day off), mix some preworkout, walk on the treadmill (currently), stretch + Pilates, then breakfast. Luckily, I have leftover food from preparing husbands lunch this morning so I will just have to warm it up and add some greens and a dressing of some kind. It came together quickly this morning: (frozen) riced cauliflower, tofu, bell peppers, onion, tomato. It smelled great, even at 5:30 am 😆 I don’t usually have an appetite first thing in the morning (I like to start my day with this) and I don’t always make extra so I’m happy to have food ready for after my workout today!

From there, I want to prep some food. Like for real this time. I have ideas for meals (just like week 1), but this time I will make some rice and quinoa, chop the veggies I have in the fridge (zucchini, bell peppers), I already washed the grapes and put them into a bowl for easy access, and I will press a couple blocks of tofu so they are ready to go for meals quickly. I used to LOVE cooking and couldn’t wait to make meals every day – until I hit burnout. Now, I get motivated to cook by serving myself a beverage (usually just La Croix, I’ve been sober since 2018), I put in an earbud that’s connected to my laptop, and I watch (or mostly just listen to) Sex and the City. This is the one show I know by heart and can be entertained by the content without really having to watch the screen. Do you have a show like that? Background noise that also brings a little joy to your heart at the same time? (Currently working through season 6, the last one, but I will inevitably start all over again from the beginning once I reach the final episode. There is something about the first season that gives me great nostalgia for a pre-internet era).

So it all comes down to the planning and preparation again. I had my fun last week with sweet treats (maybe I can blame hormones?), but this week I’m back on track. I saw the beginning of some results already in week 1, and I want those back!! Things are okay at the moment, but I really saw a difference in the way my skin looks and feels (remember: psoriasis) in week 1, and now regressing in week 2 with the extra sugar intake. Am I allowed to say diet can affect autoimmune disease yet? I see a difference, but let’s see what happens in the next few weeks as I WILL DEFINITELY stay on track (I hope 🤞).

PS the Plant-Based Reese’s Cups? Fan-freaking-tastic 😋😋😋😋😋 I ate them all so I won’t have any to tempt me this week 😆😆😅😅 an obvious tip for during your food sensitivity elimination? Don’t keep tempting junk food in the house 🙅‍♀️ or at least keep it out of sight, if you have family who still wants to eat it 😆

Whole 30/Gut Protocol Week 1+

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If you haven’t yet, read my previous post first, then come back to this one!

There is one thing that is extremely important to remember when starting a food sensitivity elimination program, like Whole30 or Gut Protocol, that can make or break the success you have: preparation.

I’ll admit I came into this round confidently, cocky even, because it’s not my first experience with these types of programs. I felt prepared. I even went over all the information, for both programs, just in case there was anything I didn’t remember; there wasn’t. I know every last bit, down to how much food Gut Protocol recommends I eat for my weight, how much sugar I’m allowed daily, and the optional foods to give up. I remembered everything! Except…

The actual food prep part of planning ahead. I had some ideas for meals I was going to eat, but I did no real planning ahead for tricky times. I figured since I spend most of my time at home I wouldn’t run into very many obstacles as far as meals go; I usually cook all my meals anyways. But, as you may have guessed from my tone, during this first week I had several days where I had things come up that I wasn’t prepared for, nourishment-wise, so I ended up feeling hungry during the day!

Originally, I was planning to stick with the Gut Protocol version so I know I’m getting just the right amount of nutrients for my body and I can get back to feeling my very best – but I forgot how difficult that can feel when you’re switching from a standard diet – not paying attention to nutrients or anything – to a buttoned up version that your body thrives on. So I found the middle ground, that is – Whole30. Whole30 specifically says in its instructions to not worry about calories in the beginning, just focus on getting in the “right” types of foods for now. This makes it a lot more manageable in my opinion! Instead of counting containers for every meal, I just make sure I’m eating the foods that are “allowed” during this 30 day program, and I’m feeling great already!

Gut Protocol says, “change starts on day one” – and it’s dang true! Yes there is a difference in energy right away, but the thing I always notice first: 💩💩
I know, TMI…but THIS IS IMPORTANT. Imagine – every morning, like clockwork, you know you’re going to go. And you know it’s going to be easy and complete. Think about what that’s like. I know know. You get it. Let’s move on.

I have my food journal entries for each day of the first week, but you’ll see my motivation for journaling fell off towards the end of the week. The first day of something new is always the most motivated, right? It’s the rest of the time you have to focus harder to really stay committed! I’ve always said, motivation is like a bad friend: they are there when it’s convenient for them, but not always when you need them most. That’s when we have to remember we are strong and it will be WORTH IT and we will feel so proud to have accomplished something so tricky. We can do hard things! For the greater good.

Days 1-6 of elimination

Have I mentioned recently that I eat plant based? I’ve been meat-free since 2018 and it was one of the biggest switches for my health to date. It’s not enough to just give up meat though, it’s very important to make sure you replace those nutrients with other foods. That’s why “junk food vegans” or some vegans, in general, feel like garbage – because they are neglecting essential nutrients! When I figured out how to balance nutrients, even on a plant-based diet, that’s when the real changes started to happen. The catapult that pushed me towards eating better and becoming plant-based? My first round of Whole30 in January 2018. When I tell you this kind of program is life changing in all aspects – from energy, to your skin, to digestion – everything can change in a few short weeks.

So how do I feel right now?

I’m about 10 days in and I’m feeling very motivated now to keep going! I’ll admit around day 5 (and the start of my cycle) I was having a lot of big emotions, so I slipped up on my sugar intake. The normal allowance is 10 grams of sugar per day; I ate some microwave popped kettle corn, which didn’t say it had added sugar but there has to be some kind of sweetener added? The ingredient list was unclear, it didn’t mention sugar but it did say in the allergen list there was milk in it – but I didn’t see that on the ingredient list either?? Sometimes things are unclear – do your best.

Both programs say to try to follow the guidelines as closely as you can, but with any major lifestyle changes things are bound to come up. This is why preparing ahead of time is important, so when you run into situations – like social events or when your fam wants to order pizza – you already have a plan! STICK to the plan. You’ll be happy you did. Yes you’re going to want to give in to the pizza or cake or whatever, but during your 30 day elimination – STAY THE COURSE! You’ll have your best results – meaning you’ll FEEL your best if you make it through all four weeks, without getting off track.

Considering a food sensitivity elimination program? Be sure to PLAN AHEAD! I’m not suggesting you plan every single meal, but there is a ton of info out there now for meals and food ideas, making your journey (potentially) much smoother. Keep some breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack ideas handy, and if you can, prep some things ahead of time to make your life easier during your 30 days. A few quick prep ideas:

  • Cook grains ahead of time; rice, quinoa, millet, etc. can be cooked then stored in the fridge for a few days. Add to meals, salads, etc to make meals quickly.
  • Chop fresh veggies ahead of time. Store in the fridge and grab as needed for snacks or meals; ready to eat raw with hummus or a compliant dip, or they’ll be ready to cook when you’re prepping dinner.
  • Keep your water bottle full and nearby at all times! Arguably the most important essential nutrient. Keeping up on your hydration can help keep you feeling full in between meals.
  • Wash and cut fruit so it’s ready to grab at any time! Fresh fruit is the savior of food sensitivity elimination. When your body and brain are craving sugar (and it will, especially in the first week) fruit is there to satisfy! I love having grapes on hand, in particular, because once they are washed and put into a big bowl in the fridge all I have to do is open the fridge door and there is a sweet snack waiting for me!
  • This one is a bonus but super helpful: Make a plan each evening for the next day of meals/snacks. Prep what you can ahead of time so it’s easy to prepare when you need it. Having a plan is half the battle…but it doesn’t have to feel like battle – just make tiny plans along the way!

This way of shifting how I eat has continually shown me how amazing food can make me feel, inside and out. Are there other environmental factors that affect the way we feel from day to day? Of course. But food, nourishment, is the one thing we are in complete control of every day. Within one week I see positive changes in the way my skin looks and feels, and as someone with an autoimmune issues that I deal with regularly – this is life changing.

Want to learn more? Click the tab at the top of the page that says 4 Weeks to Heal w/ Food for a complete outline of the contents of the program I follow.

I’d love to hear about your journey in autoimmune issues and/or food sensitivity elimination!

Improving My Skin Part 2

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When you’re going through food sensitivity struggles, it can feel like every little thing will be an issue. It can be intimidating to even try new foods because you don’t know how it will affect you after. But once you know your trigger food(s) you can start healing your gut and know that you will be able to eat the things you want to in the future. I was throwing things against the wall to see what would help me, but I felt like I was stuck going in circles without any real solutions. Between 2018 and 2022 I felt like things were never going to change, and because psoriasis is an autoimmune issue, I thought there was nothing I could do.

Fast forward to 2022, a new program came out, The 4 Week Gut Protocol. Just like Whole30, the Gut Protocol program calls to eliminate the most common food allergens from your diet for four weeks, then reintroduce them one by one to see how things make you feel. The only real difference is in the GP you have guidelines to help you calculate how much food you should be eating, where the Whole30 just gives you the foods to avoid. This taught me how good I can feel when I’m getting all the essential nutrients my body needs instead of trying to piece together meals and *hope* I’m getting what I need. Which honestly, I didn’t think about nutrients at all during my first round of W30. Live and learn.

After four weeks of elimination, I felt AMAZING! I used to feel bloated almost all the time, pretty much as soon as I would eat something in the morning – I’d feel bloated all day. But eating whole foods in the right proportions helps the body truly work the way it’s supposed to. The best part – I started noticing a difference in my skin. It was nowhere near clear, but it was different. I didn’t reintroduce any foods right away, except I added ONE of the food categories back in – legumes. I *thought* this one would be fine and as someone who eats vegan + gluten free I wanted a little more variety in what I was eating day to day. Fast forward a week or two and my skin was changing again…but it was going BACK to the way it was before GP! Again, this is the part of the process that’s annoying – testing different foods to see what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes it feels easier to stick with the allergen free, whole foods way of eating instead of trying a food, waiting a few days to see how things go, adding it back in, waiting a few days again. It’s a process, but is so worth it I promise!!

Again I went back to the original plan, back to no foods that are on the common allergen list – including legumes – and I decided to continue on with it indefinitely. I wanted to see a difference in my skin again; I was determined! I was loving all the foods I was eating anyway, and my gut was feeling awesome! So it didn’t feel difficult to stick to. Reminder: it took five years of trial and error and winding down different paths trying to get here. It certainly did not happen over night!! Feeling confident about food, especially when you have to relearn every wrong thing you’ve ever been told by any media source, takes time and effort and will feel like a full struggle sometimes.

Fast forward to today, I’m still working on figure it all out, but have seen about 60% improvement in my skin. At one point I saw about 90% improvement – that was when I was eating completely clean with no hiccups in my diet. I have a new mentality about food and life, because, yes I want to feel my very best every day and I know that happens through what I consume. BUT, I’d also like to ENJOY life by eating fun foods that are not necessarily “clean.” For example, France is in my future travel plans and I KNOW I will eat macarons while I’m there – of course, not a vegan or gluten free or allergen friendly food. But would I really fly all that way and not enjoy the best of what they have to offer?? (the answer is no).

I am still following The Gut Protocol so my skin can maybe one day be back to 90% clear (or more), but I am OPEN to what life has to offer, and sometimes if I want to stray from my plan for the real important life moments (like croissants in France, not just pizza because I don’t feel like cooking).

Life is short, I believe we should treat every day as a celebration! You never know when the party is over. Eat the foods you like, but don’t forget we run on essential nutrients. Start with the very basics to help your body work the way it needs to, and add in the fun from there.

Want to see an improvement in your life through gut health, skin, energy, sleep, and more? Click here for the 4 Week Gut Protocol.

This post contains affiliate links.

Improving My Skin Part 1

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I have an entire section on this blog dedicated to my personal experience with the Whole 30 program; thirty days of food elimination to figure out which, if any, foods are causing different reactions in the body. Anything from bloating and gas to skin irritations and mood swings can be the result of food sensitivities! (In the United States alone, 60+ million people suffer from food related issues 😮) Talking to your wellness professional can help you get to the bottom of these issues, but in this country, that’s not always an option (read: our healthcare system is wack). Here are my personal opinions and experiences having completed one round of the Whole30 program, and made an entire lifestyle shift after the Gut Protocol program.

It’s not the easiest process to go through, but if you have a plan in place then it can be pretty simple. If I didn’t make a plan for every single week there definitely would have been a point where I would have slipped up. Without a plan, I would have given up the first time life felt too busy, or overwhelmed with all the tasks that present themselves throughout a normal day with kids and pets. There is a reason that the quote -fail to plan, plan to fail- is so popular. It is so true for most things in life! I’ll be the first to admit sticking to a plan has not always been the easiest for me, even when I am interested in whatever it is I’m trying to stick to.

When I first considered the Whole30 program I asked my husband, Matt, to do it with me for accountability because when he decides to stick to something, anything, that’s it – he does it. So I knew having him with me would help me stay the course. Thirty days later we felt pretty amazing…but we jumped right back into our old habits. This is when I started to feel pretty terrible. Although I had gone through the reintroduction phase and knew how things made me feel, I decided to ignore that, and wouldn’t realize until later on that I was feeling bad because I was still dealing with food sensitivities. I didn’t take what I learned from the Whole30 program and use it to better my life. It was more of a “can I finish this program,” and once I did I felt accomplished – but didn’t realize the true impact until later.

A few months after reintroduction I started to develop psoriasis patches on my skin, something I had never experienced before, but runs in my family. At first I had NO CLUE what it was and went into panic mode. But after a few days of wearing a band-aid over the new patch on my hand, I realized what it had to be, and used Google to confirm. Some might not make the connection between the two, but I think the Universe helped me find that relation. Before Whole30 I was eating the Standard American Diet, then after eating a squeaky clean diet for thirty days, I went right back to that S.A.D diet. In my head it made complete sense that they were related, but I was positive at the time it was only dairy that was contributing to my new skin problems. So I cut out dairy and meat. And still the psoriasis continued to spread. But I thought I just needed more time.

Click for part 2