I feel like there is a celebratory bell of sorts that I need to be ringing from the top of a building or mountain. Follow through with something like this has been hard for me over the last fifteen years I'd say. It's certainly not something I'm proud of but I'm open about it so others can know they're not alone in that battle.
There have been a lot of opportunities to cheat along the way and I can't say the temptations weren't there because they were EVERYWHERE! On Friday, we had a surprise baby shower for a friend of mine at work and there were no Whole30 friendly snacks there. Saturday, a dear friend had a couples shower in celebration for her upcoming nuptials and that was a hard one. Wine, my favorite beer and lots of delicious snacks that aren't approved on Whole30. I was even given a free pass by some sweet friends since I was on Day 28 but I couldn't do it. A big part of that is because there have been so many people who have spoken to me to encourage along the way. They've said how proud they are of the discipline this has taken and I also had to say no for myself. I had to prove to myself that I could do this. For all the times I've cheated on diets and healthy eating before, I was able to resist the temptation that normally defeats me. I think I finally got to a point where I was tired of failing but I also knew that with food as an idol, it was continuing to keep a barrier between Christ and myself. I didn't want that. Food can't complete me. People can't complete me. My job can't complete me. Only Christ can, will and does.
Throughout the last 30 days, I have felt better than I have in a long time. I think clearer, am less stressed and am sleeping better. I proved to myself that I can do it, even after all the times I didn't have the confidence to believe in myself for it. So....what now?
I'm so glad you asked! A lot of people have asked what I'm going to do after the 30 days are up. I'm going to keep going. Why come this far just to stop? It's only the beginning to sticking with this for me. Yes, it's a pretty extreme way of eating but I firmly believe it's teaching me a great deal about myself and about God. We weren't made to eat and indulge constantly. We were created to give God glory and I can't do that if I'm constantly idolizing food (realizing it or not) or a person...or my job. Those are just some of the examples of things that get in the way of our purpose and calling. While I will indulge on occasion, I do plan to stick to the Whole30 in general because it works for me and I'm seeing positive results still. This Wednesday, I'm going to dinner with two dear girlfriends of mine and enjoying some Taco Mamacita! It's been 30 days filled with events and such, even dinners with these two, and it's time to celebrate (reasonably) with a margarita and taco soup. I have a retreat this weekend where I will follow as closely as I can to Whole30 but then on Monday, I'm back to the grind.
This isn't something I'm seeing as though I HAVE to do but it's becoming something I WANT to do. So whatever it is that you battle, know that you aren't alone and that you can do it. If I can do "it" so can you. No matter what, we're all weak but we have community for accountability and encouragement. I believe in you and more importantly, so does Christ.
