It’s that time again. Every now and then, after a serious examination of my eating habits and health, I find it necessary to do a reboot of the ol’ diet. After the amazing vacation Sherry and I just completed, we found it was time for another Whole30. While we didn’t go as far off the reservation as we did when we were in Scotland a few years ago, we did drink wine every night and allowed ourselves to go off-plan a few times. That’s to be expected on a vacation, but I have something coming up soon that I MUST be at my healthiest for: I’m going to be attending Warrant Officer Candidate School in a little over a month.
My weight is higher than it should be, and with nearly a month without exercise due to injury followed immedately by vacation, I find myself in the precarious situation of being overweight and not in top shape. I’m taking the next five weeks to rectify that situation.
It’s not easy. Exercise on Whole30 is possible, but it can feel harder since I won’t be having nearly as many carbs as I do on Paleo. Add to that the fact that the first week of Whole30 is hellish on it’s own, and that makes for a really unpleasant experience. Fortunately, I’ve done Whole30 a time or nine, so it’s nothing new. I know not only what to expect, but I know that once I get through this week, I’ll feel so much better, and my body will be so much healthier.
How do we get into the situations where we NEED a Whole30 for a reset? I think it’s due to human nature, old habits, and our culture.
Human nature is to eat, eat, eat. It’s a survival mechanism. We love food, and that’s an instinct that drives us to consume when we can to guard against the lean times. Our ancestors needed these instincts. Today in our world of abundance? It leads to obesity and overeating.
Old habits die hard. I used to eat for the pleasure of eating. I still love to eat, and I still enjoy food, but I need to actively remember that eating is for fueling our body and not for entertainment.
Our culture, as every culture around the world, is focused on food. Think of every social gathering you have ever been to. It either had food or alcohol at it’s core. Snacks, full-on meals, drinks, etc: they all count as food-centered activities. Even going to a little league game has snacks like nachos, chips, and sugar-filled drinks like sodas readily available.
I’m in the thick of it today, and will be for another three or four days, but I see light at the end of the tunnel. I know what to expect, and I know it’s going to be great. I just keep reminding myself that this is temporary, and soon I will be on the other side of hell week. I just need to not kill anyone before I get there.
Paleo Marine 