I finished the Whole 15! It wasn’t as drastic a difference as when we did our original Whole 30 in January, but we still experienced some benefits. Did you try a Whole 15 or start a Whole 30? Share your results in the comments!

During the Whole 15

The first week of the Whole 15 went well. I planned out our meals and shopped for most of the items ahead of time. The first day went well and the second day went fairly well, though I was wanting cake and a latte by the end of it. Once again my husband and I did not experience any headaches or extreme irritability, etc. during the detox of the first 2-3 days.

But by Day 4 (and into Day 5), I was extremely tired and decided that it must be related to the Whole 15 plan. That is a common effect around that time, though we did not experience it during our Whole 30. Somewhere around Day 5-7, I definitely felt bloated and like I had actually gained weight. This is also common after a few days, which is why it’s recommended to avoid weighing yourself during the plan. Sometimes your weight will go up before it goes down.

Then I hit Day 8. We were out and about all morning and tea just wasn’t going to cut it (and I don’t do black coffee). I decided to cheat and have a latte. I thoroughly enjoyed it and did not regret my decision. Since our point of doing Whole 15 was just as a reset and not about food issues, we decided that we would be a little easier on ourselves during the second week. So yes, I had a cheat of some sort each day the rest of the time. I would rather have done it without the cheats, but my motivation was lacking in week 2.

We still mostly followed the Whole 30 plan until the end though. If I did it again as a small reset, I think a Whole 10 would work out better. And if you are doing a Whole 30 for the first time – do NOT cheat! You’ll want to get the best results you can, which work out best if you stick to the plan.

Results of the Whole 15

Though it was harder to stay motivated with the restrictions on the Whole 15 compared to our Whole 30, we still had some good results:

• We ate more fruits and vegetables.
• We didn’t eat out so saved money (and calories).
• I decreased my taste for sugar even MORE! I am now able to drink a coffee or latte with 1 teaspoon of sugar (used to be 3 teaspoons of sugar before I ever did a Whole 30)! The sad part is that I don’t feel super well after eating a very rich & sugary dessert. It will take me a few times of experiencing that before I get the hint though – lol.
• I lost 6 pounds (yes – in 15 days and even with the cheats) and my husband lost 9 pounds!

So obviously it was worth it for us to go through a Whole 15 as we begin Summer! I expected some decent results for 15 days, but this turned out even better than I thought.

What’s Next?

After finishing the Whole 15, I don’t just want to go completely back to what we had slid into before. I plan to make at least one meal a week a Whole 30 meal. We will also be trying to keep sugary things to a minimum and staying away from extra grains. And we plan (but will we succeed??!!) to limit wine or beer to the weekends. I will also be working on incorporating more fruits and veggies into the day.

I do like having some kind of plan to stick to, so am now working on an exercise plan. I started the 30-Day Shred since it doesn’t involve any big plan other than completing the workout every day. I finished 5 days of working out! I just switched over to Ripped in 30 by Jillian Michaels – it was recommended to me as a much-improved version of the 30-Day Shred and I like it much better so far. Unfortunately, anytime I start a workout program my weight jumps way up. I’m hoping that after my body gets over the shock – maybe next week – that weight will come back down again.

Did you decide to join in and try a Whole 30 or Whole 15? How did it go? What was your biggest challenge and your biggest success with the plan? If you haven’t tried one yet, you can check out my Whole 30 series of posts and my Whole 15 post that includes a super simple 2-day menu to get you started.

It has been decided. At least it has for our family. It’s time for a Whole 15 to reestablish healthy eating habits for the Summer (and maybe-hopefully lose a couple pounds along the way)!

Is Whole 15 a thing? If it wasn’t already, it is now, because I made it up! Timing would be a little tough to do another full Whole 30, but I think we can work in half, so that’s the plan. And I’ve worked out the timing so it ends just before Father’s Day. That means full fun and indulgence (within reason – let’s not go too crazy) on Father’s Day. If you’re feeling like jumping in on short notice, join me!

Why Do a Whole 15

If you’ve been thinking about trying Whole 30, a Whole 15 is a chance to start with a shorter version to see how it goes. I would highly encourage anybody at the end of 15 days to keep on going if you’ve never done the 30 because you’ll already be past the toughest part. If you’ve already done Whole 30, but eating habits are sliding and you want to start Summer off on the right foot, then 15 days should be enough to get you back on track.

This is just 15 days – totally doable! If I can do a full Whole 30, then anybody can, and this is only half. This still gives you enough time to detox from the bad stuff and to start feeling better and having more energy. It also will help get you in the habit of preparing healthier meals for yourself and/or your family. Bring on the Whole 15 – who’s with me?

When I’m Starting the Whole 15

I’m beginning my Whole 15 on Saturday morning, June 4. OK – I know, who in their right mind starts on the weekend, but then it ends Saturday night, June 18, just in time for Father’s Day. Dates can always be reworked to make it work better for you and your family if you decide to try it. You can start on a Monday instead, if you like.

But here’s why a weekend might be easier to start on (unless you already have special functions planned): more time for meal planning/prep and healthy snacks if needed, not in as much of a rush on the weekend as the weekdays so easier to stick to plan at the beginning, and hopefully more time at home rather than at an office where there might be tempting goodies. In fact, my family does have a couple of things happening this weekend, but by planning ahead and bringing along some food that is Whole 30 compliant, we can still go enjoy fellowship and ignore the foods we need to stay away from.

2-Day Meal Plan for Whole 15 or Whole 30

Just in case you decide to join me on my Whole 15 or try it or a Whole 30 out at a later date, here’s a 2-day meal plan to make things easier at the beginning. Simple stuff and no strange ingredients so you can ease in, giving you more time to plan out meals for the rest of the time and shop for extra ingredients that you want on hand.

Day 1 Meal Plan (for 1 person)

Breakfast:

Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage, sliced and sautéed (1)
Scrambled eggs (2)
Fresh blueberries or strawberries (1/2 cup)
Drink: Black coffee with or without unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened iced tea

Lunch:

Lettuce mixture of any kind (2 cups)
Carrot shreds (1-2 tablespoons)
Red seedless grapes, cut in half (1/2 cup)
Chopped pecans (1/4 cup)
Cut up cooked chicken breast (1/2 – 1 breast)
Dressing: Equal parts Light Olive Oil and Balsamic vinegar, salt & pepper to taste
Drink: Water or unsweetened decaf iced tea

Dinner:

Salad made with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.(1-2 cups) and same dressing as lunch salad
Beef & Veggie Chili – Low Carb (make double or triple batch, enough for lunch leftovers next day)
Drink: Water

Snack (before or after dinner):

1 apple, sliced
2-3 Tablespoons almond butter, for dipping

Day 2 Meal Plan (for 1 person)

Breakfast:

Fried eggs (2), fried in coconut oil or ghee
Sautéed apples (1)
Drink: Black coffee or unsweetened hot or iced tea

Lunch:

Leftover Beef & Veggie Chili
Baby Carrots (1/2 cup)
Drink: Water or unsweetened decaf iced tea

Dinner:

Salad made with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. (1-2 cups) and same dressing as lunch salad from Day 1
One-Pot Slow Cooker Chicken Dinner (make enough extra for lunch leftovers next day) *Sub ghee for butter
Drink: Water

Snack (before or after dinner):

Cashews or almonds (1/3 cup)
Coconut shreds, unsweetened (1-2 tablespoons)

Get Ready, Get Set…

I’ve got to finish planning out my first few days of the Whole 15 and still shop for ingredients. So as you can see it’s not too late for you to decide to join me on this 15-day adventure! If you do decide to do it, please go back and read my Whole 30 series as well as the Whole 30 rules from the website so you know exactly what you are in for. And check my Whole 30 Food post for ideas as well as my Whole 30 Pinterest board, which I keep adding to. I will post on my Facebook page throughout the 15 days to let you know how it’s going and to encourage you if you decide to join me!

Have you done a Whole 30? Are you going to try the Whole 15? If you decide to join me, comment and let me know or comment on my Facebook posts! Happy healthy eating to you all as we start our Summer fun!

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