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Believe it or not, in my 2 1/2 years of elimination diets, AIP, GAPS, and real food, I have never done a proper Whole30.

So why now? Why now, when I have been a GAPS blogger for almost a year? When I am promoting a GAPS-based reset?

First, it is simply the fact that I need it. For the past 3 months, my day has looked a lot like this: Eggs for breakfast, sandwich for a morning snack, kitchen scrounging for lunch, potatoes, wheat, and dairy for dinner. If I am being really good, meat and veggies might show up at dinner. I felt fine for awhile, but that is fading. My skin is constantly broken out and I generally haven’t been feeling my best. I am also very prone to winter depression, and I need to head that off.

Second, it is because the above makes me feel guilty. Here I am, writing posts and promoting books about the GAPS diet,and I am doing the exact opposite. It may be mostly real food, but not 100% and I know I am not treating my body as well as I should.

Third, I have a point to prove. I have 2 months of grocery budget living mostly on grains, potatoes, and butter. I know what that costs. And I need to prove that I can live on my budget with nourishing foods. I need to prove it to myself and to my husband, and I want to share it with any of you who are worried about the financial aspect of an undertaking like this. It won’t be a perfect analysis, as my husband will not be doing the Whole30 with me, but it should give a good idea.

Fourth, I want to learn more about food here in German. What is in it, how it is made, and what it costs to eat paleo in Germany (well, at least in a small town in Bavaria). Every week, I will share my findings with you.

Fifth, I want to prepare for my reset, which I am going to do along with all of you. It will kick my butt if I don’t, and I can’t go to school, work, and run the reset if I am totally dead from detox. Normally I would recommend Plan 1 for people in a situation like I am in right now. But I can’t ask others to do Plan 2 if I am not doing it myself. Back to the guilt in #2.

And why Whole30 instead of Full GAPS? Well, to be honest that is because we have like 10 pounds of potatoes, which are allowed on the Whole30 and not on Full GAPS. And they only cost 15 cents per pound. Plus, there is such a strong community and band of resources. I need that right now. That that is lacking from GAPS is precisely why I wrote Healing Patiently and why I created my structured 14-Day Gut Reset and the support that comes with it.

And what will my Whole30 look like? It will be very simple in order to fit our tight budget. There won’t be almond flour, avocados, and exotic vegetables that no one outside of paleo has ever heard of. I will also not be eating nuts, as they are a major “food without breaks” for me. My Whole30 will contain nightshades, despite my previous sensitivity. I seem to have healed it through GAPS, and I will be testing that during the Reset.

The hardest thing I anticipate will be the holidays. But despite Christmas, cookies, and Glühwein, I have decided to do this the whole 30 days. I’m sure I’ll have a great time on New Year’s Eve. 🙂

Our budget is small, but I know we can do it. I figure I can get my fill of meat and produce for 2.33€ per day (about $2.65). That leaves over a euro every day on my side of the budget for fats, seasonings, and treats like avocados. If nothing else, cutting the flour and sugar and upping the meat and vegetables will keep us fuller and I hopefully won’t want to constantly eat like I do now.

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