Whole30-Reintroduction-HE EQUIPS

For those who did not catch my update this week on FB.  Scott and I completed 30 DAYS of being 100% complaint on Whole30.  

• Scott lost SIXTEEN POUNDS!!!
• I lost FIFTEEN!!!

God revealed himself as my mighty warrior through every single step.  Especially, when I had to travel out of town for three days and stay in a hotel.  I did not have control of my food or how it was prepared.  

The Lord actually moved on our caterers heart to prepare meals for me that allowed me to stay compliant and to live in LIFE and PEACE!  I didn’t ask even have to ask.  This precious Jesus-loving woman heard I was doing Whole30 and then was moved by the Lord to prepare my meats and veggies separately.  

She will never know how much God used her during that trip to make Himself known.  He is gracious and good and FULL OF MERCY!

RE-INTRODUCTION WEEK

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along th3e path of EVERLASTING life!” — Psalm 139:23-24

God is busy and at work in my life, in my heart, AND especially in my weaknesses.  I truly believe that doing Whole30 felt easier than allowing foods back in.  I found for me, that in a fast it’s easier because I don’t have to think about what I’m doing as much.  I can’t have (fill in the blank) and so it’s not even on my radar.  

This week I’ve begun the reintroduction phase.  I have been allowing certain foods back in to test them and to see how my body reacts.  This is truly one of the biggest reasons we do Whole30.  It’s a way to discover if we have food sensitivities.  Some people can have dairy and others cannot.  Some can have grains and gluten and this would be foolish for others.  

How Whole30 reintroduces foods is that you try one group (Without mixing it up with anything else) on one day and then go back to Whole30 strictly for two days and then introduce the next food (by itself) and then go back to Whole30.  

You are supposed to take note of how you feel right away and then also the next day.  Here is what I’ve discovered:

I did fine immediately with shredded cheese 

“All things are permissable, but not all things are profitable”

—I Corinthians 10:23

I did NOT do well with butter.  For lunch I had chicken and green beans and added a couple of pats of real butter to cook it.  I had an immediate (within 15 mins) reaction to butter.  I will save you the details, but trust me on this😳😉🤭  It was SO obvious.  

For dinner I made a Trim Healthy Mama “S” meal. Which means it was grain, gluten, and sugar free.  But packed with dairy!  It looked so good and I thought there was no better way to test my reaction😊😉😘. 

It used 1 C of heavy cream and 1 C of Parmesan cheese.  I was so nervous, but WOO HOO it was awesome and I had NO immediate reaction.

LONG TERM OBSERVATIONS?

I noticed the next day I had just a smidge of congestion.  Prior to beginning Whole30 I had struggled with sinus issues horribly for a couple of years.  I had been on prednisone packs ELEVEN TIMES because of the inflammation and swelling.  It was one of my biggest improvements on Whole30.  

So...when I tell you it was just a smidge, it was enough to cause me to caution dairy back into my life on a regular basis.  As a matter of fact, that MORE than the tummy issues caused me to be cautious with dairy.  

On a positive note, dairy did not appear to cause any inflammation in my joints.  

SO, WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?  WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?   

WHAT’S NEXT? 

Truthfully, I’m still figuring it out myself.  But here is what I do know for sure:

• I will continue to eat most Whole30
• My caveats will be allowing Splenda, Erthrytol, and Xyitol back into my diet. (My body does fine with these natural sweeteners)
• I will continue the reintroduction phase this week with trying out grains and take note
• Long term I think I will stay pretty close to Whole30 except on weekends.  
• On weekends I will continue to eat sugar free, but make recipes from Trim Healthy Mama that might allow dairy or possibly good grains.
• I will continually pray and evaluate
• This is a journey and I love that I don’t have to have all the answers.  I just have to know the ONE who does!

“Seek me with all your heart and you will find me”

—Jeremiah 29:13