So usually I tend to write about things like classroom setup, goofy things kids have done, projects in the classroom, ideas I've had, and things I am working on.
Today we're going to talk about something that is just a little outside of that norm.
Food.
Yes, food.
I promise this is teaching related.
No, really - it's teaching related.
On April 21st, my girlfriend and I decided to start a program called Whole 30. Recently the creators of the Whole 30 program have been on TV and radio, as well as featured on blogs and on their own website, as well as in several books
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This came from a suggestion from my girlfriend who sent me a text message to research the program. Of course, being the obliging boyfriend that I am, I immediately Googled what this was all about. And promptly dismissed it as ridiculous, too hard, too exclusive, and reeking of some Hippie/Vegan/Earth Child nonsense (and that, dear readers, is how to alienate and irritate multiple groups of people all at once!).
A week later, she brought it up again, and said that a coworker of hers was actually about halfway through and couldn't believe how well it was going. I essentially decided that I could do it, but would have to do the reading and studying and preparing necessary first, so I promptly bought a Kindle edition of "It Starts With Food." Before the end of the first chapter or two I was sold.
The entire idea behind the program is that you are eating too much of everything that is bad for you, and that includes some things that you think are healthy. The bulk of the program revolves around a simple idea: eat nothing but whole food - lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and good fats - for thirty days. You must exclude all added sweeteners (including honey and agave, especially including artificial sweeteners like aspartame), all grains and pseudo-grains (sorry, no quinoa!), all dairy with the exception of clarified butter and ghee (they give you instructions on how to make your own), white potatoes, alcohol, soy, and legumes.
Now just hold on there one cotton pickin' minute. Soy? That's what the health nuts eat! Legumes??? Those have important nutrients! No grains at all? Meh... Dairy? Isn't milk supposed to do a body good? Just what kind of tree-hugger crap is this?
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| Where's the tofu, man? |
Actually, those are just about the exact thoughts that went through my mind upon reading the basic tenets of the program. The funny thing is, after 3 weeks of doing this program, I don't really miss those food items. Sure, there are a lot of things I can't have right now, and lots of things I may never really eat again (especially in any kind of quantity), but it's absolutely worth it. There is nothing nutrition-wise in any of those things that you can't get from eating the right food. Even better, if you are careful about selecting produce that has been grown without the use of chemicals and meat that has been pastured/free-ranged/grass-fed, you're eating far cleaner anyway. I had started to buy into the idea that maybe pesticides and fertilizers and herbicides and whatnot weren't really something I wanted in my food stream, but hadn't done much of anything about it. It's expensive. But since I've begun doing research (some through the internet, some just using the old taste bud approach), I'm coming to find that it is frequently worth it.
As a side note, one of the guiding rules is not to step on the scale for the entire 30 days.
I'll tell you right now that I've broken that rule. In my defense, my girlfriend started it.
But what's more - in three weeks I've lost 11 pounds without doing a darn thing outside of my normal routine (aside from cooking more).
I have more energy, I don't usually find myself sagging mid-afternoon, I feel better overall, and the 11 pounds I lost came straight off my stomach where I was carrying around all of the adult beverages I have consumed directly or indirectly as a result of being a teacher. Even better, I've found myself to be less irritable and more patient in general, which was becoming a real problem. I've always been one of the most patient, laid-back people I knew. Until about a year ago. I suddenly realized that I was getting irked or frustrated or downright angry about stupid things that never bothered me in the past. Having changed my diet, I have definitely noticed a return to how things were. I know that the folks around me had to have noticed as well.
Now here is the connection to teaching:
I TEACH BETTER WHEN I AM NOT FEELING CRAPPY!
I have had more energy to do things in the classroom this past three weeks. I have had more good ideas flowing this past three weeks. I have felt more like I am being a positive influence. I have had more patience. I am better able to deal with student behaviors and troubles. Overall I am a much better, more effective teacher, all because I am not fighting with myself to get through the day so I can go crash at home.
I look around the building and see teachers eating leftover pizza, frozen meals that are full of sodium and preservatives, tons of bread and cookies and muffins, and all kinds of things that I'm not allowing myself to have. And to be honest, I think I can say without a doubt that I feel physically better than anyone else in my building. And for once, that's not just because I am 15 years younger than the average! One of the other specialists in my building has been complaining of digestive tract distress for a year now. Go figure, it all seems to have started when she moved out of her parents house, had no one else to cook for her, and started eating prepackaged everything. Essentially she has salt-cured herself and loaded herself down with every preservative used in today's prepared meal industry. I (and another teacher) have tried to show her how much better she could feel with a change in diet, but she is determined it's too much work.
Yes, it is a lot of work to cook for yourself.
But are you an adult or a helpless baby?
I know for a fact that I spend an extra 4-5 hours per week in the kitchen compared to what I did a month ago. Some weeks it's more like an extra 10 hours. And this is on top of working 3 jobs. It's a lot of work. But since I don't have ridiculous exercise requirements on top of all that cooking, I'm okay with it.
The best part is that I get to eat literally as much as I want.
Let me repeat that:
I GET TO EAT AS MUCH AS I WANT!
Now, that doesn't mean I get to gorge on whatever I'm eating and go until I can't possibly take another bite. Instead, it means that if I want a few more sweet potato fries, I have no reason not to. If I want a big plate of leafy vegetables, peppers, carrots, and pork chops I can have it. I'm even encouraged to cook with lard and tallow! I haven't yet - still trying to win the girlfriend over on that one - but if I had it, I could use it! I've been making sweet potato hash and fried eggs frequently for breakfast, and eating an entire plate full. And in case you've forgotten, I've LOST WEIGHT doing it!
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| Pictured: Deliciousness. Also, weight loss. |
Another side note - I actually really like another one of the guiding principles behind this program. There are no cheat days. In their book, Dallas and Melissa Hartwig actually specifically say that the only "slip" is if you were to physically fall face first into an open box of donuts with your mouth open. And no, that doesn't mean you can add open boxes of donuts to your home decor hoping to improve your chances. For three weeks the only to "slips" I've had were for two (I think) good reasons. First, the guy at Chipotle misunderstood and put hot salsa on my salad - it is made with chipotle Tabasco, which has sugar in minute quantities. No big deal, the rest of the meal was delicious, and I didn't feel any ill effects. Second, I ran the Warrior Dash last weekend with my girlfriend, her son, and a friend of ours. At the end I indulged myself with my celebratory free beer that was included in the cost of the race. I felt like crap for about 24 hours. No guilt, just consequences - I consumed something that had negative effects on my body, I dealt with those negative effects, and now I am back on track. (I'll admit, I am very disappointed - I love good beer. I especially love semi-free celebratory beer after achieving something. Sigh.)
So if you are looking for that next thing to improve your teaching, this is it. If you find yourself reaching for another can of Diet Coke (what is it with teachers and Diet Coke???), this is better.
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| Pictured: the enemy |
If you have an unhealthy relationship with food, this is the solution. Overall, I don't think there is anything I could have done for professional development this year that would have had as significant an impact on my teaching as this has. It's truly amazing what my change in diet has done for me personally and professionally.
Just as a reminder, I want to leave you with this thought - I refused to do this when I first read about it. I'm a meat and potatoes and barbecue and beer guy. Hardcore. Ron Swanson is my spirit animal. Even though I am coming from that sort of angle, I am completely sold on Whole 30 and have no intention of going back to my terrible food habits, even after my 30 days are up. Will I reintroduce things that I haven't had for this whole time? Yes. I plan to indulge myself in some delicious ice cream the first day I'm done with the program. However, I will eat it in a small quantity, and won't be surprised if I find it to be disgustingly sweet.
Sometimes them's the breaks.
