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If you\u2019re on Instagram, odds are you\u2019ve seen more than few posts about #Whole30 in the past year. The viral health movement encourages followers to cut alcohol, sugar, grains, legumes, dairy and additives<\/a> from their diet for 30 days straight \u2014\u00a0with zero <\/em>cheat days<\/a>. That\u2019s right: Screw up, and you start the challenge over.<\/p>\n Sounds like torture? From zoodles<\/a> galore to plates packed with protein<\/a> (and only the occasional #needsugar plea), these posts are health food eye candy, not hangry rants. And they\u2019re not going away anytime soon, either. The Whole 30 Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom<\/em><\/a>, by co-founders Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, is on bookshelves everywhere, with the goal of making the program more accessible to everyone.<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/strong>You\u2019ll Never Guess How Many Processed Foods Americans Consume<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe kind of refer to the Whole 30 as the anti-diet<\/a>,\u201d says Melissa, a certified sports nutritionist. \u201cIt\u2019s not a diet, it\u2019s more of a lifestyle change.\u201d Here\u2019s what you can learn from The Whole 30 book \u2014\u00a0plus, three Whole 30 recipes worth \u2018gramming.<\/p>\n If dieting tends to turn into a 24\/7 pity party for you, Dallas and Melissa Hartwig, also authors of It Starts With Food<\/em><\/a>, are here to snap you out of it. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare tell us this is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee<\/a> black. Is. Not. Hard,\u201d reads one line from the program.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> The 25 Craziest Workout Excuses Trainers Have Ever Heard<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not designed to do Whole 30 for the rest of your life, it\u2019s a short-term learning process, a short-term intervention. It\u2019s a gateway into knowing how foods affect you so you can make more informed choices going forward,\u201d Dallas, a physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist, says.<\/p>\n At its core, Whole 30 is a combination of a strict paleo diet<\/a> and an elimination diet<\/a> that focuses on slashing inflammation-promoting<\/a> foods from your life. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to figure out how the foods you\u2019ve been eating impact how you look, and feel and impact your quality of life,\u201d Melissa says. \u201cYou have to 100 percent eliminate those foods from your diet in order to do that.\u201d In other words: No slip-ups. \u201cUnless you physically trip and your face lands in a box of donuts, there is no \u2018slip,\u2019\u201d the book reads.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> The 30-Second Trick That Might Stop Your Food Cravings<\/a><\/p>\n By sticking to the diet for 30 days, Melissa and Dallas hope you\u2019ll be able to identify the foods that make you feel bad. They say they\u2019ve seen and heard of results ranging from weight loss, more energy and improved health to faster recovery from tough workouts<\/a>. Even better, they believe eliminating bad eating habits can lead to true \u201cfood freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not eating things [for] emotional reasons<\/a>, or because you\u2019re of out of control with cravings<\/a>. You\u2019re not white-knuckling your way through the day resisting every candy dish \u2014 you feel in control,\u201d Melissa says. \u201cWhen you do make a choice to eat something that\u2019s not healthy, but you decide is worth it, you eat it and savor it and there\u2019s no guilt associated with making that food choice. You make a deliberate decision and move on.\u201d<\/p>\n You might not be able to wake up tomorrow and start Whole 30 on a whim \u2014\u00a0nor should you. \u201cPlanning and preparation are key,\u201d Melissa says. That\u2019s why their book is packed with more than 100 recipes, tips and cooking instructions on how to prepare your kitchen<\/a> and a detailed FAQ section to address all your qualms.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong> 12 Brilliant Meal Prep Ideas to Free Up Your Time<\/a><\/p>\n The book also advises you on how to resist temptations<\/a> (like date nights or business dinners), and how to explain your new lifestyle to family and friends when they\u2019re pushing a glass of wine into your hands. \u201cIt\u2019s not just physical, we also talk about getting emotionally and psychologically ready for a dramatic life change,\u201d Melissa says.<\/p>\n After your 30 days is complete, you\u2019ll get advice on how to slowly reintroduce each food group into your diet (and determine if there\u2019s anything you want to eliminate for good). Also important: Building a support network, either of friends, or among other Whole 30-ers online, so you\u2019ll have a community to prop you up when sugar carbs start calling your name. Start combing those Instagram posts for potential pals.<\/p>\n With no grains allowed, the Whole 30 diet relies on zoodles<\/a> (zucchini noodles) to help you get your spaghetti fix. If you don\u2019t have a spiralizer<\/a>, simply use a peeler to make your veggie strands instead. Short on time? Get your meal prep<\/a> on by making the sauce for this dish a few days in advance. Kitchen newbies, there are tips on how to not <\/i>overcook your shrimp. But\u00a0there\u2019s no shame in buying this shellfish cooked, instead of raw, either! You\u2019ll get all the great taste of an Italian dish, without the carb-induced bloat.<\/p>\n Just because you can\u2019t have a real bun on Whole 30, doesn\u2019t mean your burger should be bare. Sandwich that beef patty between two slices of veggies, instead. This eggplant bun will add a delicious (and nutrient-packed) burst of flavor to each bite. Not a fan of this nightshade? You can always substitute sweet potatoes<\/a> or portobello mushrooms as the shell. (Bonus: Your veggie buns might even hold up better than bread, which tends to get mushy.)\u00a0Pop your veggie of choice in the oven\u00a0and dinner will be ready in no time.<\/p>\nWhat the Whole 30 Diet Is All About<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to Be Successful on Whole 30<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Whole 30 Recipes You’ll Love
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1.\u00a0Romesco Garlic Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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2.\u00a0E<\/strong>ggplant Buns<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
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3.\u00a0Chimichurri Beef Kabobs<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n