So I’ve decided to try Whole30 to boot the weight I put on this winter after a successful fall of weight loss. Last Labor Day, I was pretty bummed about a guy I had been seeing and as I sat home alone on a Friday night eating my 4th slice of pan crust, extra cheese pizza from Pizza Hut, I came across a picture someone had posted of their progress after following the Keto diet. I spent hours scouring over more progress pictures and meal plans and recipes and ultimately decided to give it a go. I’ll be honest, I still finished the pizza (it’s all I ate for 2 days, every meal) and a substantial amount of carrot cake (couldn’t let it go to waste, afterall). Monday, it was time to start fresh.

From that Monday until Thanksgiving I stuck to Keto throughout the week and come Friday night, I would let myself cheat. Let’s be honest, I’m 24 and single – I’m not staying in on the weekends and sacrificing a social life for a diet. I did try to choose the “better” options for drinks such as Michelob Ultra or vodka and water. Food was a different story. I love carbs and I let myself load on those God-sent weekends. I rarely weigh myself for several reasons (I’m still building muscle and it’s discouraging when the scale displays different than how you feel), but my pants were falling off and people noticed how much weight I had lost. A girl I consider a “frenemy” even told me how good I looked. YAY!

Fast-forward through Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and New Years – I maybe only gained about 5 pounds back. I tried to start back up again but it was hard to stay motivated. I also started a Crossfit inspired training class 3-4 nights a week after work. I was too tired for the extra effort it took to buy my own groceries and cook my own meals when my mom had already cooked a delicious carby meal. (Yes, I moved back home after school) I started seeing a guy in February and that’s when it really went into a downward carb spiral. He lived 2 hours away and going to visit him on the weekends meant a whole lot of drinking and bar food. That only lasted a month but the eating habits did not, unfortunately.

So here I am, back to my original size, maybe even a tad bigger. I feel awful and uncomfortable all the time. After knowing what it feels like to be significantly smaller and then going back to where I was, I feel self-conscience all the time. It’s all I think about. How does my stomach look right now? Can you see my lovehandles? Do my arms look fat? My thighs are busting out of these shorts that fit perfectly last year when I sit! I’m constantly checking my reflection in anything possible. Now my sister is visiting. This wench has lost about 40 pounds in the last year and a half with Weight Watchers and no working out whatsoever. Ugh. I bust my butt in the gym and she’s skinnier than me now. This just proves that you can’t outrun your fork.

After this week is over, and the skinny wench (I love my big sister, I really do) and her family head back home I will be turning over a new leaf. I’m going to start Whole30. This is not only to make sure I don’t look like a complete fatty on the Fourth of July – but for the long run as well. I’ll be starting on Monday and between now and then I’ll be doing some more researching and planning. I’ll also be enjoying all of my sister’s favorite restaurants while she’s here, but that’s a different story. I know that the only way I will stick to this is if I have people looking to me to do it. My parents have never been very supportive with diets and my friends will pull the usual “Don’t be gay, have a shot” constantly but I know that if just one person is invested, I will do it to not let them down. So I’m going to write to you through my progress. Maybe daily… maybe weekly… I’m not sure yet. I would love any feedback and tips you veterans have and new beginners, feel free to join me on my journey!

24, Female, 5’9”, currently between 175-180 – Maybe you’ll get progress pics at the end but initial starting weight pics are out of the question! 