A quick guide to starting (and staying) Whole30!

With the Holidays almost behind us and the New Year about to start, our thoughts inevitably turn to what we can do better next year. And, thanks to recent indulgences, these often revolve around eating better and being more active. Whether you’re joining a Whole Life Challenge team or just making a conscious effort to treat your body more kindly, we’re here to support you. Check out our 4 easy tips below before starting your 2016 Whole30 journey!

1. Set realistic goals

The first step in changing your eating habits is knowing why you want to change them in the first place. Is it to alleviate a health issue? Lose weight? Gain muscle? Be faster? Live longer? Look better naked? These are all valid goals. Figure out what yours is and why it’s important to you before you start. Just be realistic.

2. Do some recon

Next, arm yourself with some serious knowledge. The more you know, the more likely you are to change your daily patterns. Knowing why something is bad for you and the long term effects does more than someone just telling you it’s bad. It works the other way, too. Knowing the principles behind Whole30 or Paleo makes it easier to ask the right questions at your favorite restaurant or choose grassfed meat over grain-fed at the grocery store.

Some of our favorites are: It Starts With Food, The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet and The Paleo Cure.

3. Banish the junk

If it’s not on the approved list of foods, get rid of it. It really is as simple as that. Afterall, you can’t eat it if it’s not there. This goes for eating out as well. If you don’t have the willpower not to order your favorite deep dish pizza, then don’t go to the pizza parlor.

4. Prep, prep and more prep

It’s no surprise that people fall off the food wagon the most when they’re hungry and have no good options readily available. So plan ahead. Research recipes. Go shopping. Set aside a day to prep meals for the week. Keep approved emergency snacks in the car, at work and in your bag. All these little things make a big difference when it comes to staying on track.

5. Be accountable

Tell people what you’re doing. Join support groups. Harass friends and families into doing it with you. The bigger your support system is, the more likely you will stick with it. But most importantly, be accountable to yourself. If you’re going to cheat, then cheat. (Hey, we like candy as much as the next person.) Just do it mindfully, enjoy it and move on.

That’s it?

Yup. That’s it. Honestly. We aren’t saying it will be easy but it’s pretty straightforward. If you need a little more help, visit the Whole30 website for everything from shopping lists to recipes and approved food partners. You know who’s an approved partner? The Honest Bison! And we couldn’t be prouder to be on that list.