Okay, so I’ve heard so much through the great land of social media about Whole 30. I think I even believed I could follow the diet at one point -almost laughing at the people complaining about how hard it was. Then I saw what we could actually eat. Pretty much all the yummy, tasty food I devour at every meal was out of the running and what was left seemed kind of bleak. Throwing all cares out the window I began this journey on a whim. I mean how HARD can 30 days be?! You can do ANYTHING for that long. Ha. 
Most people are drawn to the Whole 30 Challenge because they want to look at their food differently, train their mind and body to really eat what nourishes and not just load it down with all this proceed, unrecognizable ingredients. It works to cleanse your system so after your 30 days are up you can make better dietary choices and become overall healthier. Yeah, that’s not why I did it. Yes it’s true I was wanting to cleanse my system, but it was for one very specific reason. Hives.
(These are old pictures because I don’t photograph them anymore.)
I get them, all over my body. Depending on the day, I could have just one or they may look like they are taking over my body. They started one weekend in August almost FOUR years ago and have not gone away. Sure there are times when I really don’t think about it, but when I have a huge out break of itchy, painful, swelling, huge bumps all over my body, it’s hard to not take notice. It’s crazy because each “hive” only stays around for about 24hr. and then it’s gone, but more usually follow somewhere else. Over the last year in fact they’ve started to appear under the muscle (I think?!) and hurt to the touch leaving behind a bruise once they’re gone. It’s seriously one of the most bizarre things and I’m the lucky one who gets to live through it. Now before you yell, “Get thee to an Allergist!” I’ll just let you know I have and that man had NO clue.
So that brings me to a little over a week ago, sitting on my phone researching all things Whole 30 and discovered it could help with my hives. When I read that I was sold! Why not try this out and see if it works, because no one else seems to have a clue. Thus the Girl vs. Food challenge was born the first of April! 
Now I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s all been a bed of roses or even that it gets easier after the first week, because it doesn’t. This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve done. Apparently my self control abilities have atrophied over the years as I just shoveled any and all food in my mouth. Sad but true. Every day I still want a bacon cheeseburger, or pizza, or pasta. That hasn’t changed. The one thing that has, my love for raw vegetables…those things can rot in Hell, ha! I get EXTREMELY hungry and shaky so fast and am most of the time still preparing my food while the rest of the family sits in front of me eating their non-whole 30 meal. That I prepared by the way. BUT, I’m still doing it. There is one thing I love and that’s a challenge, especially when people say I can’t do it. Boy does that fire me up to prove them wrong, ha! (Hello. My name is Brittany and I am extremely competitive.) PLUS I can truthfully tell a difference in my body!!! It’s reshaping, my skin is smoother, and by george I have more energy! So, they might be on to something here!
This is what a few of my meals have looked like.
It wasn’t until about day six when I finally had a meal that made me excited to eat. Before that I just felt like I suffered through meal time dreaming of Mac & Cheese, ha! From this point on I plan to have meals that make my mouth water, ones that you don’t wish you had hot dogs in stead, or peanut buttered toast. No, I don’t want to blow this challenge because I can’t make something tasty out of what’s given to me. Shoot, I’m up for THAT challenge too!
I will tell you though, the last couple of nights I’ve had dreams that I’m eating a meal and then find out that something in it wasn’t Whole 30 approved. Then I start to freak and beat myself up over messing up and ruining all the hard earned days I’ve completed thus far. Is that not so weird?! This challenge has invaded my dreams, ha! Now let’s hope it can help with my hives!!!
So have you ever done Whole 30 or wanted to?
Any good recipes you could share?
** And be sure to follow my journey on Instagram! **
Brittany- food will make such an enormous difference! I’m so happy you’re trying this out.
I don’t know anything about the Whole 30 but we eat 100% clean at home (if we are ever at someone’s house/restaurant we obviously have to make some exceptions) but I’m telling you we eat DELICIOUS food. Eating clean should not at all be boring and sad, it should be blowing your mind with the flavor and how long you are full afterwards.
If you want, I can just email you my list of dinners for every night of the week, to give you some ideas? I may just post them on my blog for easy access. I love to see people cleaning up what they eat- it’s literally LIFE CHANGING.
p.s. you SO can’t do this. you’re gonna fail. might as well just give up now. (wink wink. gettin’ that competitive fired up! go brittany!)
Brittany, I am excited to follow your journey. I have been toying with doing the whole 30 for a couple of months. The other day I decided I would start it in a few weeks (a couple of major food events are in my future). So, this post has given me the courage- and encouragement- to go for it. Oh- and my reason for doing it is headaches…. horrible, horrible headaches! Good luck! You can do it!