Lifestyle

This post is a little different and a lot more personal.  So… I’m doing it. I’ve officially decided to start the Whole30.  When I made the decision to do this (even though my start date is not until next month), I knew one of the most important things is having accountability.  I am giving myself time to mentally, emotionally and physically prepare.  I want to have meals planned and everything ready to go for my December 1st start date. And to be honest, I look forward to Thanksgiving every year and I could not go into starting this program with that looming over my head.

If you’ve ever looked into it, you know it’s no small challenge. For 30 days, it’s goodbye to sugar, grains, dairy, alcohol, and processed foods—and hello to real, whole ingredients. The idea is to hit “reset” on your body and learn how food really affects your energy, sleep, mood, and overall health.

It sounds empowering (and it is!), but let’s be honest—it’s also a bit daunting. That’s why I’m talking about accountability before I even talk about food prep. Because I know myself: if I don’t have a little support, some encouragement, and maybe even a gentle nudge on tough days, it’ll be way too easy to give up halfway through.  

I know myself well enough to admit that motivation fades fast. The first few days are usually easy—I’m excited, organized, and feeling strong. Then life happens. I get busy, tired, or stressed, and suddenly a “just one bite” moment turns into “I’ll start again tomorrow.”

Why Accountability Matters So Much

Accountability is the secret ingredient that keeps a challenge like Whole30 doable. It’s easy to start strong when motivation is high, but when cravings kick in or you just want to order takeout after a long day, that’s when accountability really counts.

It’s about having someone—or even a group—who knows what you’re trying to do and can cheer you on when you need it most. Sometimes just knowing someone’s going to ask, “Hey, how’s it going?” can keep you from grabbing that off-limits snack.

My Plan for Staying Accountable

Here’s how I’m planning to hold myself accountable this time around:

1. Saying it out loud (like this post!).  There’s power in sharing your goals. By putting this out there, I’m not just keeping it in my head—I’m inviting you to help keep me on track.

2. Checking in daily.  Whether it’s a quick journal entry, a social media post, or a text to a friend, I’m going to check in every single day. Even if it’s just to say, “Still going strong” or “Today was hard, but I made it.”

3. Journaling every day. Even just a few sentences about how I’m feeling—physically, mentally, emotionally. I want to track the little wins (like better sleep or clearer skin) and be honest about the hard parts too.  I have purchased the book "The Whole30 Day By Day" that supplements the 30 days and is a daily guide that allows for journaling and logging meals.  

4. Finding community.  Whole30 has an incredible online community, and I plan to learn more about that. Reading others’ stories and seeing real progress is so motivating—it reminds me that the struggle is part of the process.

5. Giving myself grace.  Accountability doesn’t mean perfection. It means honesty. I’m committing to being real about the process, the wins, and the tough moments too.

Looking Ahead.

I’m not expecting this to be perfect. I’m expecting it to be real. There will be cravings, cranky days, and maybe even a few tears over coffee creamer. But I’m also hoping for some big “aha” moments—the kind where I realize what my body actually feels like when I fuel it well.

Official Start Date:  December 1, 2025

Want to Join Me?

If you’ve been thinking about doing Whole30—or just want to clean up your eating a bit—I’d love for you to join me. We can keep each other accountable, share recipes, and remind each other why we started.  If you’ve done Whole30 before (or you’re thinking about starting), I’d love to hear your best tips—or even just a “you’ve got this!” in the comments. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.  I have created a whole group just for us... Starting Whole30-Accountability & Support.  Come join me! 

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about 30 days of clean eating—it’s about feeling better, stronger, and more aware of what our bodies really need.