So the Whole30 challenge is finally donezo. PTL. I can’t say what I was really looking for, except a general kind of “re-start” to my eating/focus/attention/energy, and it totally did that. I also was excited to do it with Chris, and it was mostly cool and fun for us to actively support each other in making healthy choices, and to fight forgive each other when we were snarky and grumpy because we couldn’t eat what we wanted.
As the month went on, it became easier to resist certain forms of temptation. It became less and less difficult to say no to the bad stuff when we were so full of good stuff and experiencing the benefits of eating clean. Even when we were impatient or bickering or jealous of what the hobbits were eating, we had so much energy and focus we still could have kicked down about 40 doors.
That cumulative effect of good choices reminded me of some conversations we’ve been having in our small group from church regarding holiness. The book we are going through together talks about reasons to pursue holiness even when it feels inconvenient; even though it seems daunting and burdensome at times. The author says that “holiness begets holiness,” meaning that the more choices we make in favor of holiness, the more likely we are to make similar strong choices in the future.
There’s something that the hard core Paleo peeps call “Sex With Your Pants On” food. I know. Just stay with me. It means figuring out how to “Paleo-ize” desserts and junk food; basically shoving your old unhealthy diet into a shiny new Paleo mold. They say that Paleo-ified junk food is still junk food– Paleo pancakes, pizza, cookies and ice cream are not everyday food, and you shouldn’t try to recreate junk food with “approved” ingredients in some cooking version of gaming the (pre-historic) system.
At first, this made me sad. I love baking, and I was enjoying finding recipes for brownies/cookies/muffins that I could still make and enjoy when eating Paleo.
Even back when I started eating Paleo about two years ago, one of my main hestitations was fear that it would be too rigid for me– I’ve never really been a super black-and-white person, I don’t really do stuff all-or-nothing, and I don’t believe in ultimatums.
Yet, now I’m a believer.
Sex with your pants on defeats the purpose. It’s counter-productive. And it misses the point.
Said another way, it’s following the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law.
The point is to think critically about whether the food choices you are making during your Whole 30 fit the intention of the program, not just the technicality of the rules.
The idea is to be conscious; mindful and present of what you are choosing to put into your body. To be aware of what your goal is with the food that you are meticulously contorting into something vaguely similar to what you “can’t” eat now. Rather than eating a pale imitation of a “real” cake that has 4 different kinds of nut flours and 3 ingredients you had to order online and then remove from dry ice, remind yourself that your goal is to control your cravings and not let them control you. Have some strawberries and hot tea and press on.
If I’d thought for 30 days only about how restricted my food choices were, or how many days/hours/minutes remained until I could choke down a cupcake, I would have been even more miserable. Similarly, when I go through my week just doing what I believe is my duty or obligation – serving my family, doing my work, crossing items off my perpetual to-do list – I miss the point and purpose with which I want to live my life. And just as my goals for health influenced my choices to eat whole food for 30 days, so I want my ambitions for my life to motivate me to live wholehearted.
Brene Brown talks about wholeheartnedness a lot, and I highly recommend you check out her stuff. The point I’m making here is that there is simply no substitute for living with your whole heart. In food, in faith, in life— the principle is the same: Don’t hold back. Go for it, whether it’s holiness or health or something else entirely. Set your intention and follow-through, not just because you said you would but because you know that’s what’s best and you are reaching for your best. Now, please pass me some rolls with butter.
Open up before God, keep nothing back;
he’ll do whatever needs to be done
from Psalm 37:5 The Message translation of the Bible
What are you holding back from?
What do you need to commit to?
Are You Leading The Life You Want?