3 Tips for Sticking with Whole 30 Through a 24-Hour Crisis

A key part to success with Whole 30 is planning.  However, life does not always go as planned.   Like this past weekend for example.  I honestly didn't know if I would make it through while successfully sticking with Whole 30, but I did!  Here's the story of how . . .

This past weekend's schedule was jam packed.  I was scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday at my side hustle (aka second job - side hustle sounds more fun).  My parents were moving on Monday so our weekend was to be full of prep work, plus I had a special project to wrap up with my Dad. I had set aside time to plan the upcoming week's menu, grocery shop and meal prep (as of Friday, I was on R2D12) on Saturday evening.  Both of my teenagers were working at their summer jobs.  My husband, who suffered a massive heart attack on February 1st of this year, had plans to attend Cardiac Rehab on Saturday.  All four of us were set to move through the weekend in a carefully choreographed performance.

When I clocked out from my side hustle on Saturday evening, I checked my phone and found a text from my husband.  He had stopped at Urgent Care on his way home to have his ear checked out (he suffers from frequent ear infections).  His ear looked fine, but due to his history and the fact that he was reporting some of the same symptoms he had prior to his heart attack, the doctor suggested that he go to the ER for some tests.  They had called ahead for him and he was on his way.

By the time I arrived at the ER, my husband was hooked up to an IV and the initial round of tests had been done.  We knew at that point that he was not actively having a heart attack and were waiting for the results of the various tests.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my husband and I from

our recent vacation.

Obviously, my main focus at this moment was my husband.  However, as time went on, I began to a panic a little.  I was filled with worry for my husband.  I was tired and hungry.  My schedule for the weekend was shot.  I had plenty of time to meal plan while I sat there, but when would I get my shopping done?  How would I find time to do the prep work?  My emotions were bouncing all over the pace.  I wanted a pizza and I wanted one bad.  As soon as we found out what was going on, I was ordering a pizza.  I was going to pick it up on my way home.  I was going to eat it - A LOT of it!

But that didn't happen.  I stayed focus and hung in there.  I pushed through that intense desire to cave and maintained my Whole 30 eating habits the entire 24 hours that my husband was in the hospital.

Three things prevented that from happening and keep me on the Whole 30 straight and narrow:

1) PREPARE FOR A FOOD EMERGENCY - I had emergency provisions in my purse - a Larabar (a compliant one of course!) and an apple.  As soon as my husband was allowed to eat something and was brought a tray, I broke out that Larabar.  When I left the ER a couple of hours later to run home to get the belongings he would need for his night stay, I munched on that apple.

A schedule or a plan can change at any time.  You never know when life is going to throw you a curve ball.  It's normally always easy to find a fast food restaurant to pop in to, but that's not the type of food we're looking for now is it?  I always carry some sort of compliant snack in my purse for such emergencies.

I sent this picture to my friends from the ER - I was ready for a food emergency!

2) A STRONG CIRCLE OF SUPPORT - I know that I am an emotional eater so as soon as I settled into the ER I started texting my two friends who I am currently traveling with on this Whole 30 journey.  They texted me throughout the evening and into the next day.  Words of encouragement.  Funny memes.  When I texted that I thought this would be the moment that sent my Round spinning out of control, my phone went crazy with positive reinforcement to stay strong.

A positive circle of support is so important - whether you are facing a crisis or its just a regular Tuesday afternoon.  Support can come in person, by phone, via text or from people you've never met face-to-face - your Whole 30 Facebook family!

Me (right) with one of the members of my Circle of Support!

3) POSITIVE SELF-TALK - Early on I was thinking that I was not going to be able to hold on.  Pizza is often my go-to emotional support and, trust me, I could taste it!  However, as my friends kept picking me up off the ground, I began to change that conversation going on in my head.  I was telling myself, "You can do it."  As I drove thru the driver-thru to get my kids dinner and could smell those French fries, I ran through the list of positives in my head - improved sleep, decreased pain in my hands, faster time on my last run, looser pants.  I became my own one-member cheerleading squad!

It is easy for self-talk to defeat you and it takes purposeful effort to change the conversation, but it is possible.  Sometimes when I'm by myself or running a 5K, I talk out loud.  That way I'm not only thinking it, but I'm hearing it.  You can do it.  You got this.  You are rocking this round!

picture from www.caba.org.uk

To be honest, I'm kind of proud of myself that I faced this crisis and stuck with my eating habits.  It's the first time my emotional eating habits were tested to this extreme.  And if I can do it, I know that YOU can do it!  Just remember - be prepared with a snack, surround yourself with a strong circle of support, tell yourself that you can do it!