There seems to be a new fad diet or cleanse popping up every couple of days. In a desperate attempt to get their bodies beach ready, people will invest their time and money on certain detox’s which hardly even work. When I heard about the “Whole 30” challenge, I was a bit skeptical. I thought of it as another fad diet that has gone viral over night; that is until I started reading up on it. Our ancestors didn’t have all the fancy foods we have now, pumped with preservatives, dyes and sugars. They lived on a diet that came from the land: meats, fruits, veggies, fish, nuts, seeds etc. These foods are what our bodies are used to, the simplest diet (also known as the Paleo diet). What this challenge asks us to do is to completely rid ourselves from the harsh foods filled with preservatives and chemicals, and replace them with pure, real foods. I was a bit nervous at first so I went out and bought the book “It Starts With Food” for more information. As I read on I realized this challenge doesn’t give people unrealistic expectations, in fact it hardly mentions anything to do with weight loss. This challenge is one that is aimed toward living a healthy lifestyle, with the goal of transforming you into the best version of yourself. I began the challenge on April 12th, 2014. At first I hated it, having a large sweet tooth and a love for all carbs I found it extremely difficult. What made it worse was that a few days in, I began to experience withdraw symptoms from the lack of sugar. That was probably the toughest hurdle to get through, but once that’s over it’s pretty much smooth sailing. Since this challenge has gotten so popular the internet has literally been littered with delicious recipes to make your 30 days fly by. So how do you know if this challenge is for you or not? According to the website, the Whole 30 challenge is known to improve “body composition, energy levels, sleep quality, attention span, mental attitude and athletic performance”. Need to work on any of those? Most of us do as the quick foods we eat on a daily basis do nothing but drag us down and alter our lifestyle negatively. Just know that when it comes to the Whole 30 challenge, I highly recommend it for anyone looking to make a positive change in their life. Since starting, I’ve noticed an improvement in my complexion, my energy levels and sleep patterns, all changes that can be attributed to the healthy lifestyle promoted through the Whole 30 challenge. So am I going to continue on the Paleo diet once my 30 days are up? Considering my love for pizza, sushi and hamburgers, probably not, but I now know the positive and negative effects certain foods have on the human body, and can carry that knowledge with me through life. For more information on the Whole 30 challenge, visit their website at www.whole30.com
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