I always say that you don’t need to wait for a certain date or day to start eating right, but some people need some time to gear up and mentally prepare for the change in lifestyle. My wife was one of those people. She needed time to eat some foods she knew would be off-limits later, to use up ingredients that were not Whole30 compliant, and to grieve for the loss of the ability to eat anything, anytime, in any amount. For me, it wasn’t quite as difficult, but I will admit that having that two and a half week period of eating all kinds of bad foods was kind of nice. In retrospect, it was probably not the best thing to put my body through, but it was fun.

Starting at a set date has its advantages.

• It allows you to get rid of ingredients that are not compliant with your diet. It’s wasteful to just throw away food that you paid good money for. An alternate plan could be to give or donate those items to a food shelter, kitchen, or friends.
• It gives you time to mentally prepare for the change. Use the time to learn what is on-plan, and what is no longer allowed. Do research. Read books, blogs, and websites.
• You can plan ahead for a week’s worth of meals. Make an eating plan, compile a shopping list of ingredients, and ensure you have everything you need for the week to eat well.
• You can take the time for grieving. Eating is an emotional thing for people, and let’s face it, you’ll be giving up certain foods for a while that you’ve been used to eating all your life. It takes some time to say goodbye to old favorites.

So, waiting has advantages that are hard to argue against. What are the advantages of starting today? I’m glad you asked.

• You are taking your health back right now. Your body starts its transformation right away and without delay. You begin to wean your body from sugar and carbs and your body starts healing and recovering immediately.
• You don’t have time to talk yourself out of it or to agonize over the things you will no longer be able to do. I know people who have been putting off their start date for months because the more they think about it, the more difficult it begins to start.
• Some people do well with making a decision and “hitting the ground running,” as we say in the Marines. In combat, indecision kills. When it comes to your health, depending on your level of health, indecision can kill you, too.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. Either way, whether you start today or set a day or date to start, make a plan to take back your health and then execute that plan. There are many resources available to you both online and in print to help you reach your goal. Don’t delay for too long, though. The sooner you start, the sooner you will find yourself healthier and living a life you didn’t know possible.