Why I Quit Whole30 #3

FYI: I’m not about to slate Whole30 in any way! I LOVE the programme…but it wasn’t quite working for me this time round! 

After I took on my second Whole30 in November / December of 2014 I decided to do my third this January. My second was such a psychological challenge, I was less organised and I felt like I didn’t do it justice.

Then I was coming to the end of my third, day 23 or so, and I was still not happy. So I jacked it in. I quit. Whatever. And I broke it with a protein bar.

Here’s the shortest overview of my attempt:


Day 1: The best day; where everything seems easy. I went on the longest run I’ve ever done on my own this day and had a few eating issues – I had a big breakfast, waited, then ran, then needed a snack mid run, then cooked a huge meal after. This meant I skipped a meal that day. My food shopping arrived, I did some more cooking and that was the day done. And that was where the issues began.


Day 2: I ended up skipping a meal this day too due to two big meals, being out and about as well as not being so organised.


Day 3 – 8: By Day 3, I was starving! Long runs, sprint training…I wanted to eat everything in sight! More running, swimming, late nights and disorganisation meant I probably didn’t eat enough during this time and ended up making a lot of purchases from stores to keep me going on the go.


Days 9 -14: I woke up that morning feeling like I may be coming down with something. I went about my day anyway and tried to ignore it. However, I woke up the following day feeling unwell; tired, headache etc. This progressed into a cough and other ailments due to being severely run down! During this week though, I continued with my exercise schedule to the best of my ability. In the end I missed a sprint session and a long run.


Days 15 – 16: A couple of days in bed and it was time to get back on with life!


Days 17 – 22: With my cough still lingering (especially after a run), I was conscientiously taking my iron, vitamin d, vitamin b12 complex and black garlic tablets to help my recovery. I also got filled in by Kiera at Run Club about how to eat when training. It seems I didn’t spend long enough reading through ‘It Starts With Food” to know this.


Days 23 – 24: Spent at my mums. She’s amazing and filled me with breakfast, lunch and dinners which were all tasty and complaint! This is when it clicked. 

My living circumstances are that I’m currently in a house share with minimal freezer, minimal fridge space, minimal time in the kitchen alone and not enough space for my liking in general to keep all the  food cupboard stuff I would like. I’ll be moving back to my own place at the end of March this year where I will have the whole place to myself! The plan is to do a HUGE shop to fill up the fridge, freezer and cupboards to get prepared! I’ll have tupperware coming out of my ears, I’m sure!

To Do:


1. Read through ‘It Starts With Food’ more thoroughly to get an understanding of why I am doing what I am doing, and how to do it properly!


2. Create a meal plan incorporating events / nights out / late nights / workouts


3. Spend 1 week prepping before; order in / restock food, ingredients and do some batch cooking which can be frozen in advance


4. I’d love to add a spiraliser and food processor to my kitchen appliances


5. Get in the know about nutrition for recovery – what to eat pre and post workout to ensure I look after my immune system and can make the most of my training! 

I didn’t quit Whole30 for cake. I quit for my sanity. I’m still eating at least 2 meals a day that would be whole30 compliant but adding in a few extra things to help with my training (i.e protein shakes etc). Who know’s what will happen between now and mid April but until then I have some amazing principles to apply and lots of learning to do!

Have you ever quit a Whole30?! What are your favourite nutrition principles to live by?!

Elle 🙂