The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom ― A #1 NYT Bestselling Diet Book with Over 100 Simple Recipes

Hi, my name is Meg and I'm a chronic failure when it comes to dieting. (hi, meg!) The absolute BEST thing about Whole30 is that it simply is not a diet. I first stumbled upon Whole30 after two different friends--from two different friend circles--discussed this 30 day "plan" they were completing. As one girl whined and moaned about not being able to chew gum, I naturally took that as a challenge and thought: I'll do this Whole30 and not be such a baby about it. I read the Whole30 blog, I used Instagram as a means to gather additional recipes and helpful hints, and ten days later, I began day one. Surprisingly, I found it to be the BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED to my little round self. I gained confidence, learned that I do have the ability to say "no" to food cravings, discovered a myriad of new recipes, cured all of my PCOS symptoms (regular menstrual cycles for the first time in ten years and no cysts), and as a bonus, dropped 2 pants sizes. As a child, I was in and out of the hospital with stomach pains and problems (I'll spare all the details) and after following Melissa & Dallas' Whole30, I ate sans stomach aches for the first time EVER. Truly, I did not know that was possible. For my entire life eating a meal meant some level of pain/discomfort while my food digested. Not anymore! Also, chronic migraines: gone! Whole30 can be a challenge, but it isn't hard. It's worth it. About this book: LAWD, HAVE MERCY! It's beautiful. I'm leaving it on my coffee table forever. (Confession: I did, in fact, walk back and forth from my kitchen to my coffee table while I cooked tonight because I didn't want to risk getting food on the new pages. It's brand new and I'm in love, okay?) It presents all information necessary to complete Whole30, informs one about all rules, discusses the importance of following the rules, and provides a plethora of recipes and resources. (They went above and beyond here, people.) The photography is amazing. The typography is stunning. The recipes are delicious. And, may I say again that the book is just so incredibly BEAUTIFUL? From one wonder woman to another wonder (wo)man, you must buy the book. Give Whole30 a try. (If all else fails, you'll have a stunning book on display to let all your guests see how "healthy" you are.) But really, Whole30. Just do it. (Also, I'd love to answer any additional questions you may have regarding this book or the purchase of this book. instagram: @roemeg)

I read It Starts With Food in January & completed my first Whole30. Before January, I had followed a very strict low carb diet for 2 months. I even consulted with a physician after one month of no results on the low carb diet, who suggested I add in more protein and small meals to help with weight loss. In the past, low carb diets worked like a dream for me, but this time nothing happened. Probably from years of dieting when the scale tipped to an undesirable number then eating what I wanted once I was back to my normal weight. (Or maybe all of the artificial sweeteners & processed protein bars I was filling up on?) I'm mid thirties with 2 kids &, even though I'd lost all baby weight, experienced a big move that precipitated me gaining about 15 lbs before I went low carb. When it didn't work, I panicked. Thank goodness I found It Starts With Food. I had never felt better in my life. I lost 10 lbs in one week (I know I wasn't supposed to weigh myself, but I felt so good I had to!), where I had been at a stale mate on low carb. In all, I lost 15 lbs, which took me back to my normal weight. Towards the end, though, it wasn't about the weight. It was about the health. I've gone in and out of a paleo type diet & falling off the wagon since January & felt like I needed a reboot. I had pre-ordered this cookbook in April so I dusted it off in July and got started on Whole30 number 2. My husband is doing it along with me this time. We are on day 8 & I referenced the Whole 30 timeline that says days 10 & 11 are the hardest days in conversation today. He has finally gotten through his energy slump & has been feeling great, so asked why Day 10 was supposed to be hard. I told him about food boredom. He acted appalled. "Everything we've eaten has been AWESOME!!" If you knew my husband you'd realize how out of character this comment is. His diet (pre Whole30) consists of numerous Cokes (sometimes 6-8 a day!), cheese, and grains with a healthy amount of meat. He loves doughnuts and French toast & canned green beans & carrots are the only vegetable he'd eat. Since following 90% just this cookbook, he's actually tried and LOVED asparagus, sweet potatoes & more. What's even more crazy is that this weekend he actually took to the kitchen & created some "hot plates" of his own. We have been married 7 years & I can count on my fingers the number of meals he's cooked. So this is big. He's interested in food & health & new flavors. His enthusiasm is making this 2nd time around so much more fun. I recommend this for anyone new to Whole30. While a lot of the info in the beginning of the book can be found on the website, the recipes really are delicious. They're not intimidatingly difficult, as several of the paleo books I've bought are. Most ingredients are common and easy to find. I still recommend It Starts With Food, but if you're only in it for weight loss, this book might be where to start. It Starts With Food is more of the "why" behind all of the rules. It helped me during my first Whole30 many times. Mainly because of all the questions I got--like "Isn't corn a vegetable??" and "Oh, one piece/glass/taste won't hurt you, will it??" I'm the type of person that needs to know the why or I might buy into a little cheat every now & then. My husband, on the other hand is not like me. He hasn't read either book & doesn't plan on it. Lol He just relies on me & what I tell him. So, I guess it depends on you, but if you want a good book with the Whole30 rules & resources & delicious recipes that are doable by anyone, this is a perfect place to get started. Best of luck on your journey!

Ok folks- I don’t typically write reviews but this book has literally given me new life. Today is the start of day 11, and I have never felt better in my life! Thank you to the Hartwigs! Background: I’m a 39 year old, full time single mom with my own consulting business (so working around the clock) and come from the Personal training/Body building world. I had previously lost 155 lbs with hard work and good food (eating 6x a day and training) almost 20 years ago and have sustained numerous injuries and had several surgeries in just the last five years or so. Add to that stress and just life, and I’m 35 lbs heavier than my average healthy weight. I thought I knew everything I needed to know in order to get back to my “fit” self and yet here I was struggling with the simplest things. AND I seriously disliked cooking!! In all honesty, I initially skimmed through the book (after a friend recommended) because I have the background in healthy eating. What did it for me (and I have alllll of the clean eating books but never cared for them) were the recipes. Something about them just got me excited! I’ve been cooking like a machine and enjoying it! My very picky 8 year old son is even curious to try things and wants to cook with me! I have been using a few hours on Sat or Sun to prep and cook most things and then I don’t have to just have leftovers but I can have a variety of leftovers throughout the week including roasted cauliflower, coconut cauliflower rice, baked brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes with a reduced balsamic vinaigrette, salmon with ginger, garlic, and green onions, sweet potato crusted quiche, frittatas, etc etc etc! I’m thoroughly enjoying making all of these things and sharing them with friends and family. So so so so so feasible to do and so delish! CHANGES SO FAR: I used to sleep 1-3 nonconsecutive hours. I am now easily sleeping 6-7.5 and SOUNDLY. I easily get out of bed before the alarm sounds at 5 am. My chronic back pain is GONE. My gastrointestinal issues and literal FEAR of eating because I didn’t know what my stomach would do, is GONE. My stomach has NEVER been flatter and I am DOWN almost 12 lbs in just these first 10 days ( you’re not supposed to weigh yourself but I saw and felt such a difference, I was too impatient to wait but I won’t get on again until the end of the 30 or even 45 days if I choose to extend). And by the way, I NEVER see myself going back to how I ate before which was actually considered healthy so this is just adapting a health-IER lifestyle!! My energy levels are through the roof, they were not lying when they said in the book that your mood will be happier!! And for you ladies who have terrible premenstrual weeks, this will do wonders for you! CHALLENGES: I am VERY often at work functions that include lunches and dinners and have happily and boldly packed my own lunches and told people that I’m dealing with some food allergies so trying to avoid certain things/ eating out. It’s not always easy but I don’t even crave or look twice at that other food. This is not to say I don’t see myself every indulging here and there. Finally, I described this “diet” to my friend the other day as such because he was saying it would be too difficult to do: if God forbid you suddenly got sick and were given 30 days to live, but then told that if IN those 30 days, you followed this guidance, you would extend your life (and Your family’s) by years -HEALTHY years- would you even think twice?? I hope some of you find this review helpful. I am so excited for the next 20 days, 100 days, and lifetime of eating WHOLE-some-ly! Some pics attached!

This 30 day program teaches the basic of getting back in touch with real food. The weight loss is amazing even though the main purpose is to focus on health. I loved the recipies and cooking. I do find it a daily struggle on what I can eat even making tons of leftovers. I eat avacodos everyday and nuts and eat as much as I want without weight gain! I also get to eat potatoes so can someone what enjoy this program from a food perspective. It's my first time so made lots of mistakes. I am a 95 percenter. Really hard to follow every rule at 100%. I disagree with the use of coconut oil. Back in 2009 it was considered the hot new trend. Now American heart association said coconut oil not good for the heart. So I try to do most meals with light flavored olive oil or avacodo oil which is not a listed oil. I really think you will enjoy getting back to food. It does cause a major awareness of chemicals and cheap oils like soy (which is the hormone estrogen!) and how it is in everything. For that I am thankful for this journey and learning to make much better choices for my body and health. And yes it is true, you will sleep much deeper and better at night like the book claims. They said no chips, but I do have some boulder potato chips cooked in coconut oil or avacodo oil and it keeps my sanity. Enjoy :)

This review is rather long, and I apologize for that, but the potential benefits to you of buying and reading this book are so monumental that it can literally change your life, both mentally and physically. Your results can vary but typically your thoughts will be clearer, you will have more energy, you will feel better overall, and you will probably eliminate some of the constant discomfort (or pain) that you have been dealing with for years. I encourage you to read it through in order to get a good understanding of what the WHOLE30 plan entails and could mean to you. My daughter and her fiance (both physicians) highly recommended that I try this WHOLE30 plan. They had both been suffering from intermittent bouts of gerd (and other digestive problems) and wanted to find out what specifically caused these episodes. Being "foodies" they found themselves trying different types of foods cooked with different methods and ingredients. And that is where this plan helped them pin down what was causing their unwanted reactions. They recommended the WHOLE30 plan to me because I have been suffering from constant (and sometimes debilitating) inflammation. There are several known foods/ingredients that can cause inflammation. However every individual is different and there are allergists specializing in determining what might affect you adversely. The problem with this is that even allergists (and/or their tests) can get it wrong. As a case in point, I am supposedly deathly allergic to tree nuts. I carry two Epipens with me just in case BUT I have never had a reaction to tree nuts! The problems I have with inflammation began after I retired and lost 80 lbs. Thirty years ago I had L4 and L5 (lower spine) repaired with a lateral fusion and a Bradford Wiring. My theory has been that dropping weight off my middle has caused my spine to shift and put extra pressure on one or more nerves. However after seeing four doctors (x-rays, CTs and MRIs) and two pain management specialists (epidurals and injections) I still have the same problems. Not only that but my imaging tests did not point out anything dramatic that could be causing my pain or require further surgery. Recently the pain has been migrating to different areas which makes it all the more mystifying. The WHOLE30 plan is designed to eliminate all processed foods and multiple ingredients that might be causing inflammation in people. The meal program essentially gets back to the basics and tells you what foods you can eat and which ones to avoid. The idea is to go through the purging process of eliminating your old food habits.. Assuming you have great results, like my daughter and her fiance have had after completing their first 30 days, you can then begin slowly adding in different foods to determine if the new food is causing any of your digestive or inflammation problems. They found that red wine, tomatoes and beer affected them adversely. Your results will depend on your own body chemistry. In the meantime, I have read the WHOLE30 book and begun the program. Additional weight has already been dropping off which of course is a side benefit. The average American diet is obviously geared toward instant gratification and we tend to eat foods that we love -- foods that are quick to pick up, tasty, full of salt and sugar, MSG, and gluten. Foods that cause Type 2 diabetes and the myriad problems that come from being overweight/obese. To help in this 30 day plan, the authors have told you what to expect (almost on a daily basis) as far as how you feel both physically and emotionally, that will show you what other people have gone through. Knowing that you are experiencing what other people have observed will confirm that you are doing the right things as far as your new eating habits. The WHOLE30 plan is simple and must be followed accurately and completely. The wild card is simply you as the individual and your reactions to being on it, how dedicated you are, and how successfully you get through the 30 days. If you get the amazing results you expect you can simply start adding some of your old foods back. You know which ones that should be avoided and you will probably find that you make more informed and intelligent choices. Feel free to go back on the 30 day plan at any time. Some people have done the 30 days several times, resulting in not only feeling much better but also losing a lot of weight. The knowledge to do so is in this book. The results depend on your level of commitment.

Whole30 review, y'all, for anyone interested. It's long. If not interested, just move along. Nothing for you here. I completed my own vegetarian version of Whole30 yesterday. 30 days. I am having a glass of wine right now. Here is what happened, and here is what I learned. Reason for doing Whole30: Trying to be healthier. Would be nice to lose weight, but goal is to feel healthier and more energetic. Modifications: My own vegetarian mods. Real Whole30 wants you to eat a lot of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and animal fat, but no dairy (except ghee). I did not eat meat or chicken. Ate more fish than I have eaten for a long time, especially salmon and water-packed solid albacore from the Door to Door Organics - Colorado. Would eat a whole can for lunch. Substituted olive oil for the animals fats Whole30 seems to like so much. I did just order some pasture-raised ghee from Amazon. I did include Greek yogurt (2%), eggs (and LOTS of egg whites), legumes (mostly cooked myself), extra firm tofu, and edamame. These are modifications for vegetarians suggested by Whole30, but they still prefer vegetarians switch to meat for the duration and don't do yogurt, legumes, or soy. Oh, well. Worked for me. I am not convinced that lots and lots of animal fat is good for you. I did not count calories, and I was never hungry. If I got hungry, I ate something. I learned to recognize the feeling of being satisfied. The diet is relatively high in healthy fats (ate a lot of avocados, olive oil, almond butter and almonds). Feel healthier?: Absolutely. No doubt about it. Much more stamina when walking and biking--climbed Mt. Elbert and Boulder 1/2 marathon is in a month--just speed-walked 11 miles in training for that. Began yoga and continuing daily planks. Still need to work on upper body strength. Sleeping much better. Post-nasal drip still there, but controlled with herbal meds. Probably has nothing to do with diet. Lose weight?: 7 pounds. Not nearly as much as I would have liked in 4 weeks. Sad considering all the changes I made. Clothing seems more than 7 pounds looser. You aren't supposed to weigh yourself for the 30 days, and at the end of 30 days, I was expecting a lower number. frown emoticon Cravings: Totally lost cravings for my big three "no brakes" foods: "healthy carbs" (like whole wheat bread, whole grain cereal, granola), cheese, and sweets. Like a lot of people who give up sugar, things like carrots and LaCroix water taste really sweet to me now. I go through those little packs of baby multicolored carrots really fast. Hank and Maya help. No gluten, of course. I know I'm not allergic to gluten and it isn't a health problem for me, but it's entirely possible it induces cravings. I am not planning to reintroduce these deliberately, but will eat them if the occasion arises (followed by 2 days of Whole30 plan to see what happens). You learn really quickly what your cravings are. Almond butter is allowed on the diet, but if you find yourself hoovering almond butter out of the jar, that is craving to be aware of. SWAPO: "Sex with your pants on." This is what Whole30 calls pseudo-desserts and treats that are made with Whole30-compliant ingredients but resemble cookies, candy, etc. They are forbidden on Whole30 because they keep you looking at treats as rewards. (Think paleo cookies or Chocolate Covered Katie--and I love her recipes!.) I mostly did not eat SWAPO food with the exception of a banana-eggwhite concoction I made a lot for breakfast and Chocolate Covered Katie's Seedy Protein Balls. I also made Capello's delicious almond flour pasta, which is considered SWAPO. Also took Larabars hiking Mt. Elbert. None of these made me want to run out and eat a pan of brownies. I am looking to introducing a few more of Katie's SWAPO foods with moderation, now that the 30 days is over. Wine: Didn't really crave it, but missed it, especially if Steve was drinking it and praising its glories. The problem with wine is that 2+ glasses awakens the "sugar and carb demon" and dissolves inhibitions and willpower. Sticking to 8 glasses/week and no more than 2 glasses a day. Counting glasses on Livestrong! Focusing on quality rather than quantity. Get the expensive stuff. Water: Plan to continue to drink more water instead of wine and/or coffee. I have also come to love kombucha and it seems to curb appetite. I have found that I don't miss wine if I have a glass of LaCroix mineral water (especially the pineapple strawberry flavor). Just want something in a glass. If you are interested in doing Whole30, get the book (and read it) and subscribe to Whole30 Daily on the website. The recipes are excellent! These people are totalitarian. If you cheat during the 30 days, you have to start over. If you want to modify (like my vegetarian mods), set it up at the beginning and don't cheat after that.

The rules for the Whole30 are a low starch/sugar 30 day "cleanse" to get you reset and onto healthy foods that are not inflammatory like grains and will help you maintain your weight. The rules are as follows: I'm putting them here so you can decide right off if you can do this or not: Do not consume added sugar, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup, stevia, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, etc. NO SWEETENERS INCLUDING HIDDEN SUGARS (my emphasis) Do not consume alcohol, in any form, not even for cooking. Do not eat grains. This includes (but is not limited to) wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, rice, millet, bulgur, sorghum, sprouted grains, and all gluten-free pseudo-cereals like quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat. NO HIDDEN GRAINS OR GRAINS OR PSEUDO GRAINS Do not eat legumes. This includes beans of all kinds (black, red, pinto, navy, white, kidney, lima, fava, etc.), peas, chickpeas, lentils, and peanuts. No peanut butter, either. This also includes all forms of soy – soy sauce, miso, tofu, tempeh, edamame, and all the ways we sneak soy into foods (like lecithin). NO BEANS AND NO PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM BEANS Do not eat dairy. This includes cow, goat, or sheep’s milk products like milk, cream, cheese, kefir, yogurt, sour cream, ice cream, or frozen yogurt. Do not consume carrageenan, MSG, or sulfites. If these ingredients appear in any form on the label of your processed food or beverage, it’s out for the Whole30. (A lot of processed foods have these) Do not consume baked goods, junk foods, or treats with “approved” ingredients. Recreating or buying sweets, treats, and foods-with-no-brakes (even if the ingredients are technically compliant) is totally missing the point of the Whole30, and will compromise your life-changing results. These are the same foods that got you into health-trouble in the first place—and a pancake is still a pancake, even if it is made with coconut flour. (Only eat things in this book) Some specific foods that fall under this rule include: pancakes, waffles, bread, tortillas, biscuits, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, pizza crust, cereal, or ice cream. No commercially-prepared chips (potato, tortilla, plantain, etc.) or French fries either. Bottom Line: ONLY foods listed in this book for 30 days, no prepared foods and no fast food or restaurant food. This is difficult. There are food services that send you "whole30" ingredients to cook, if you find shopping difficult and planning worse, that could work for you. Bottom line: this is VERY tough. Can it be done? Sure. But be certain you know what the first 30 days entail before you set yourself up for frustration and failure.

This is eye opening and life changing. The day-by-day section was so helpful when completing the 30 days because it helped me to feel normal during the process. Get the book, work the system, and try it. My blessing I say every meal is, “Dear Lord, bless this food, may it strengthen and nourish my body.” I was so convicted when I began this because I realized what I was eating previously wasn’t nourishing my body - I am so thankful for the grace of forgiveness and the process of growing closer to God even in what I eat.

This book could mean a healthier future to a lot of people in my opinion. It captures the Whole30 concept perfectly and I just love the photography and lay out within the book. I am currently doing my second round of Whole 30 after losing 10lbs the first time round (I know it's not just for weighloss however it is defo an added bonus). The thing that this book has taught me the most is to eat 3 meals a day and to stop snacking. This was a really bad habit of mine and after making the effort to cook some of these simple recipes I find that I am not hungry until my next meal is due therefore transitioned naturally. My favourite section is the 'One Pot Meals' section as I'm a kind of chuck everything in the slow cooker and get on with my life kinda girl! Whilst working different shifts etc, this really has been a life saver. I like the informal tone throughout the book also as it feel like you are talking to one of your friends rather than in depth complicated science about why it works. Another great section that they have included are recommendations such as website, books and films at the end of the book. I simply took the names of the people and typed them into youtube which bough up a wealth of lectures and websites relating to healthy eating, changing habits and living a more natural lifestyle. My and my mother are on day 10 of the second round of whole 30, I have not had a single craving so far, therefore wish me luck for the next 20 days! You should try it, it could change your eating habits for life :)

Chegou antes do prazo, bem enbalado e em ótimo estado.

very difficult to follow the diet also dishes are not meant for indian audiance

This is the one diet book I can honestly say is a life changer. I am 71 and have struggled with my weight all my life, weighing a maximum of 103kg in 2002. I have achieved good results with low carbohydrate diets but I still love chocolate and creamy desserts. This summer I was enduring a lot of osteoporosis pain and was determined to get my weight down once and for all. During this 30 day programme I went from 70kg to 62kg. In brief, it teaches you not to substitute fake sugar for real sugar. I write this after several days of eating (not bingeing, like I always have) all the Xmas goodies I fancied and this morning I weigh 63kg.

AMAZING! Great recipes and all the information you need to reset your body. Really loving this. Highly recommend.