Results of my Whole30

So I completed my Whole30 this week (on Tuesday, February 10th to be exact), but I really haven’t added anything back in yet. I’m actually kind of afraid to add anything back in, because I don’t want all my old problems to come back…plus, I *may* or *may not* be addicted to sugar too, so I’m leery of adding that back in. I’m sleeping better, my acne is clearing up, I’m not as anxious, my PMS was pretty much non-existent last month, my joints aren’t as sore/inflamed, and I’ve set a few PRs this past month at CrossFit. Overall, I feel MUCH better than I did before I started it. However, here’s the one setback. I only lost 1.4 pounds!! I must admit, I was a little bummed about that. As someone who doesn’t ever weigh myself, this was kind of a blow to my ego. Especially because Scott (my loving boyfriend who did the Whole30 with me) lost 10 pounds!! Seriously…10 in 30 days! Ugh. Men.

After weighing ourselves this morning, we took after pictures (see below for before and after pictures). Don’t mind the fact that I have a disgusted, silly look on my face…we should’ve taken the pictures before we weighed ourselves, LOL (also keep in mind it was 5am). Before I go any further, let me just point out that the number on the scale is just that…a number. It doesn’t define who you are and it certainly is not a reflection of you as a person. I’ll admit that as of this morning, February 12, 2015, I weigh 137 pounds. This is, by far, the most I have ever weighed (well, except for the start of the Whole30 when I weighed 138.4). But I looked at the pictures of myself (both the before and the after), and I see the difference. I feel the difference. And I know that if I lost 10 pounds like Scott did, I would be way too thin and wouldn’t be strong enough to continue my CrossFit workouts and PRs.

I know that my body is exactly where it needs to be. My clothes fit well (I haven’t had to buy new clothes because I gained or lost too much in quite a while), I’m happy with the way that I look, and I’m even happier with the way I feel. Because, you see, isn’t that what it’s all about? So what if I weighed 115 pounds, like I did in high school and into college? How would I feel? Would I be able to keep up with CrossFit? Would I be as toned and muscular? I don’t think so. Because I look back at pictures of myself in high school and college when I thought I was very fit and looked my best and I realize I was flabby and not toned. Yes, I was thin (probably too thin at some points), but that was it. I was just thin. I ran all the time, so I wasn’t out of shape. But there was nothing else there.

I look at pictures now and think, “Damn…I am muscular!” In fact, I just said it yesterday about a picture one of our coaches took. I said to Scott, “Holy cow! My arm looks huge! And I mean because of my muscles!” I LOVE how I look now. I LOVE how I feel. And to me, that is SO MUCH MORE important than the number on the scale! I know that I can pick up heavy items without the help of Scott (even though I let him help me more than I care to admit, LOL)…and I know that my body will support me doing the crazy things I do at CrossFit. Most importantly, I know that my legs and especially my knees are now strong enough to support me should I jump off another 6 foot wall and NOT tear something (circa 2013, I tore my ACL and meniscus attempting to run a Tough Mudder and came off a 6 foot wall wrong…it wasn’t pleasant). But now, my knee and quad muscles are so much stronger! It’s amazing what a year at CrossFit will do for you!!

So I encourage you to NOT get discouraged if you’re doing a Whole30 or some other detox and you’re not losing weight. Because the number isn’t important! Are you feeling better? Do your clothes fit better? Are you sleeping better? Is your skin clearing up? Are you thinking more clearly? Think of all the non-scale victories instead! And also remember that it takes 4 weeks for you to feel a difference in your body after working out and changing your diet, it takes 8 weeks for you to see it, and it takes 12 weeks for your friends and family to notice and see it. Keep it up! Because YOU are totally WORTH it!!!

With love and wellness,
Whitney