Today will be a “true” Thinking Out Loud Thursday with just a few things that have been floating through my mind this week. Thanks for hosting, Amanda!
I’d just like to chat for a second about the weather (it’s thinking out loud after all.) I imagine it’s probably cold wherever you are since that seems to be the consensus. As many winters as I’ve run through, it still amazes and baffles me that it can be in the single digits and I still feel hot and sweat on my run.
I’m not even layered up much – a long sleeve, a lined jacket (not even insulated) a hat, and gloves + mittens. Meanwhile I go to bring the kids to school and standing outside for 30 seconds has me chilled to the bone. The body is an amazing and wonderful thing! I will never fully understand how my body morphs climates after a mile of running, but it allows me to run all winter while enjoying both running, and the winter itself more than I would otherwise, so I’m not questioning it 🙂
Since a lot of people are talking about Whole30 and sugar detoxes I’ve been reflecting a bit on my experience with this in Nov 2013. My thoughts on Whole30 haven’t changed much since I did it myself – I think it can be a great tool to figure out what foods to include/avoid in your diet. Now that I eat pretty close to Whole30 on a regular basis it seems funny to remember back when it was 100% new to me.
I have 2 pieces of advice for people doing Whole30 or something similar: 1. “Take it seriously, but not too seriously.” That will mean something different for everyone, but, overall it means you need to make this sort of experience work for you rather than against you. It’s not supposed to feel like punishment, it’s supposed to feel empowering and sustainable. While there are certainly tips to make it work better for you (I have many on this blog) it’s really something you have to play with to meet your own needs.
And 2. “Do the freaking reintroduction the way it’s spelled out in the book!” That second piece is really important, because I actually wound up doing another “Whole21” just to do the re-intro again. It was around the holidays when my Whole30 ended and I wound up eating different food groups without a plan, and, had reactions that weren’t clearly assigned to a specific food. Definitely do it as they describe, because the whole point of it is to teach you about how your body responds to food.
Okay, I want to add a third piece of advice. Whole30/sugar detox plans are NOT meant to be used as weight loss tools. If you are doing it to lose weight, you should probably stop and do something else. So not the point of these plans, although they might try to “hook” you with those types of claims.
Also, if you mess up and eat something off-plan, you didn’t “cheat.”
The only cheating that applies to Whole30 is if you are a man tossing the homemade Tupperware of grass-fed beef and veggies your wife lovingly made for you in the trash in favor of scarfing down 3 slices of pizza on the way home from work. That never happened to me, but it would be unforgivable, and yes, THAT is cheating on Whole30.
Kids and their cute New Years Resolutions.
This morning over breakfast my older daughter randomly brought up the topic of New Years Resolutions, which she learned about at school. I was honestly very impressed with what she came up with. She said she was going to make an effort to raise her hand more in school and answer more questions, and that she already has been doing it the past two days. She is a quieter/less confident kid so this was really awesome to hear! I didn’t even plant the idea in her head which was even more impressive. So cool to see kids reflecting and making decisions on their own without your help.
My other 2? They’re probably a little young for this. My middle one said she was going to be a better sister at first. She’s the most mischievous and sneaky of the 3, and we all knew this was most definitely not her resolution. She followed that up with “get better at dance” which was more believable. I suggested to my 3 year old that his resolution might be to scream less, to which he screamed back at me “but I like screaming!!!” Of course you do.
What are your thoughts on sugar detoxes and Whole30? If you’re doing one, how is it going?
Did your kids make New Years Resolutions? Did you make them as a kid?
I don’t really remember making any resolutions as a kid…but if I did I should have also tried to raise my hand more!! Your son is too funny.
Great points about the whole30, but I will definitely need to look more closely at the reintroductions. While I wasn’t having any real issues before there were definitely times when my stomach felt off and it could be really good to know if there are certain foods that cause me to feel not as good. I agree that you really shouldn’t have the goal of losing weight in mind…I don’t even tell most people in real life that I am doing it because chances are they don’t know what it is and will assume its a weight loss diet. My goal this week has actually been to figure out ways to eat more (ideally protein, fat, and veggies) which each day I am getting a little better at! (Its helped to have leftovers from previous meals that I can use as snacks!)
Agreed, I think I was so impressed because I should have been making that resolution every year!
I think the reintros are important not only to assess digestion, but also mood/energy levels and other sneaky reactions. I made that mistake and felt like I didn’t have the info I needed the first time around.
I am laughing because I keep meaning to say (and totally almost said today) how I can run in the cold and not feel the cold but the rest of the day, I am freezing!
Oh yes, I am the most freezing person on the planet when not running, and I will let everyone know it! I don’t understand how I run in the cold, but I’m cool with it. Although, I’m always thinking before a really cold run that THIS will be the time I don’t warm up!
Such great comments Michele with regards the Whole 30 – the reasons must be for health and you must see it as a positive step towards the path of health. It can be such a vital tool for working out what you body really can thrive from.
It makes me sad when people don’t take it seriously or use it as a 30 day weight loss tool, then say paleo doesn’t work because they never lost any weight. But with comments like yours hopefully it can be seen in a more positive light! 🙂
So true! Viewing it as a tool for info on your body is what it’s all about. I really cringe when I see people looking at is as a weight loss diet. Sure, many people lose weight on it for various reasons but that approach misses the point. I hope more people realize what a great tool this type of experience can be 🙂
I am such a whimp woken it comes to the cold but when in out running in it, I never feel cold. I believe that my blood pressure drops after working out making me more susceptible to feeling cold. Great tips on whole 30. Unfortunately whole 30, paleo, vegan and gluten free are commonly mistaken as weight loss tools which they are not.
It’s amazing how quickly you can return to freezing after a run out in the cold, even if you felt warm the whole time! And yes, it’s unfortunate people view these things as weight loss tools, but then again it’s not at all surprising with weight loss being the hook for everything.
I am chuckling about your Whole 30 pizza debacle. Yup, that would be cheating! And your kids crack me up–they are such great little human beings. I think I resolved to stop picked my nails or something like that!
I also think that your kids should do a thinking out loud post. That would be hilarious!
I gave up on the whole “stop biting nails” resolution because it never lasted more than a few hours! I will probably be a lifetime nail biter and so be it! My older daughter would love to do a TOL post!
It’s so sad how most diets have come to be associated with weight loss of even eating disorders. I’ve never tried Whole30 myself, but I do realize that it works for a lot of people, and at the end of the day, the best diet is the one that makes you feel the best — no matter what that is. And I want to believe you that it’s possible to run in the cold, but maaaaybe not in the -25C we get up here pretty often. I hear about people doing it, but gah… Even breathing is painful at that point, so I have no idea how it’s possible.
In your climate I’m not sure if I would run outside all winter! I’d need maybe 2 more layers at least, but I guess that’s what Lululemon is for! Many people feel that breathing hurts when it’s that cold and luckily I haven’t experienced that.
I didn’t make resolutions as a kid. My kids didn’t either. But I do make some for them. One of mine was to get organized and make a chore chart. They need to start learning some responsibility!
A chore chart, that should really be happening in my house, thanks for that idea!
I am currently on Day 4 on my Whole30! I usually use the Whole30 as a way to get back on track after I completely fall off the wagon. Over the holidays I really just gave up trying to eat anything healthy. One of my NYR is to stop letting little cheats take me totally off track! I always suck at doing the reintroduction. I REALLY need to do it this time.
I think that’s a great resolution, there’s no point in getting totally derailed from the program for one or 2 mistakes. If anything, adding a couple of more days at the end before doing the reintro can solve any confusion. I think the reintroduction makes the program really worth it as a too to learn about your body. Not just digestion, but other reactions we might never guess would occur.
Great advice on the Whole30 plan and sugar detoxes in general. I have been making resolutions as long as I can remember. I think I started at 9 or 10. Not that I can remember any of them now. 🙂
I think mine were always forgotten within a week as a kid, which is probably why I don’t set any real tangible ones now 🙂
I LOVE your kid’s resolutions. My son wants to try eating more veggies (he is 15, you can imagine what his diet is like), my older daughter, to exercise more (she is doing well with that!), My younger daughter isn’t really into it.
Both very healthy intentions! I’m totally out of the loop as to what teenage boys eat nowadays, but guessing more veggies will definitely help him out!
I’m doing the whole 30 now because I was eating so much junk it was unbelievable. I don’t believe I have any food intolerances but do know that I need to eat a lower carb/higher protein diet to feel my best so I used whole 30 as a way to get back to that. It’s going really well and I’m feeling great…looking forward to reintroducing foods to see if I do notice a difference. I did notice that I get a good amount of calories from my daily yogurt so I am really missing that along with chocolate, but I have about two weeks to go so I think I can deal!
It’s a great time to experiment with new recipes too, and who knows what might become a staple after it’s over? Glad you’re feeling so great at this point!
Haha everyone is talking about the cold, but it is really awful. I dabbled with the idea of a whole 30 but it becomes more stressful than helpful for me. I definitely agree to go in with the information and focus on helping your body not just trying to lose weight. You can gain weight eating all the almond butter and ground beef you want!
True about almond butter and nuts in general! Ground beef might be tougher, not sure I could eat enough of it but I totally get what you’re saying!
I feel the same way about running outside! I wear pretty much the same “layers” as you and I get pretty warm! But If I have to go out to just the car normally, I am freezing!
Haha, I need to raise my hand more and contribute more in school too 😉 What a smart girl!
Yup, that should have been my resolution every year as a kid too! Amazing how we can be so cold, and then boom, all warmed up!
What is the Whole30? Guess I’ve just never heard if it. I am limiting my sugar intake since I really overdid it during the holidays. I started to feel super sluggish. For me cutting sweets isn’t about loosing weight it is about getting back to my old eating habits where I felt energetic.
It’s an elimination diet where you eat strict paleo for 30 days and then reintroduce food groups one at a time to see how you react to them. Really helpful to determine intolerances as well as what makes you feel the best!
My 4 year old’s preferred method of communication is screaming as well. Funny! Love your blog, thanks for the cold weather running motivation. I live in MN and it is ABOVE 0 today, so I’m going to hit the pavement!
Above zero is doable, I agree! Can’t imagine living where you are though, good for you for getting outside and running! A lot of it really is about dressing properly. Glad to hear you are enjoying the blog 🙂
The kids and I didn’t make resolutions. I made some goals, but I didn’t really include the kids in that, although I kind of wish I did. Maybe we will do some discussions about goals soon- I’m impressed your kids made resolutions, and that your oldest made such a brave one!
I was just as surprised/impressed since I haven’t talked about it at home. Apparently they talk setting goals at school a little which is nice I suppose 🙂
I love that your daughter made that resolution — all on her own too! I bet that makes you proud! And I LOL’d at your suggestion to your son. I think the hardest part of the 21DSD/Whole30 for me is not having a glass of wine on the weekend…but surely I could manage that for 21 or 30 days!
Yes, the wine! I’m not a big drinker but even for me not having it for a month was something I thought about. I went out with my husband and had sparkling water with lime I remember. Now I get that more often than wine after realizing I just don’t feel my best after having any alcohol. The social part of it can be weird too, trying to explain why you’re not drinking 🙂
I am doing the Whole 30 and I understand it isn’t a diet to “lose weight”. However, I am doing it because I just recently completely fell off track of eating right and healthy and that caused me to gain 20 lbs. I am hoping the Whole 30 will get me in the right mindset to eat healthy and change my eating habits and not crave things as much and kickstart my weight loss even though it isn’t to lose weight. Then when I hit the 30 days I am hoping I will have good habits and can continue to eat healthy in a way to help me to continue to lose weight but also to be nutritious.
Yes, changing habits is one great thing about Whole30! It really does help focus on nutritious food while reducing sugar cravings. With that approach I am sure you will be establishing new habits that will put you in a healthier place once the 30 days are up 🙂
I think it’s so cute that your daughter
Is implanting a New Years resolution! It’s really sweet and not something i thought of as kid!
I definitely would not have thought of that one, but I should have!
I like to do a sugar detox after I’ve splurged a lot like around the holidays. But I can’t do it for much longer than a week otherwise I end up bingeing on sugar and defeating the entire purpose. I know a week is my limit, and i can usually get what I want out of it with only a week!
I think a week is great – I’ve done the same sort of thing this past year, about a week of avoiding baked goods and chocolate and honey/maple syrup to get my tastes back to where I don’t expect it. I don’t need a whole30 anymore and 5-7 days does the trick.
Love it!!! I can appreciate all your kids resolutions lol. So awesome- I feel like your three year old right now but replace yelling with hot sauce or the gym. Kids are truly fascinating little cosmos of thoughts 🙂
Way back when I did a whole 30 type thing but it was three months, and I took away some good things. Like more more more greens and that was when I started green smoothies. It can be great but can also perpetuate disordered eating for those susceptible to that. I wish people could utilize it the way you did, just to observe food affects. For me I know, finally, what works for me but I’ve been guilty of falling under spell of diet challenges secretly anticipating unnecessary weight loss. Always backfires but live and learn, thankfully I love whole foods and just feel they taste better over anything processed. So my stance is I appreciate anything that reduces processed foods and encourages yummy plants and natures candy :))
Have a marvelous weekend Michele !! I’m off to get married weeeeee :)))
I’m so happy and excited for you!! What are you doing reading my blog when you’re about to get married!!! I think everyone falls under that weight loss spell a little, my husband did it knowing full well he wanted to lose weight, and it actually worked for him as it seems to with men more than women I think! For me, I was just too thin anyway when I started so I was just hoping to feel better. I’ll be thinking of you this weekend!