ive only done a whole30 once since starting to eat paleo about 8 or 9 months ago. i had a 7 week migraine (yes- SEVEN WEEKS FML) and had reached a weight loss plateau. i also found myself getting a bit depressed because of the headache and frustrated and cheating a lot more here and there. so, i did it to hopefully rid myself of any dietary contributions to the headache, break through the plateau, and get myself back on track. i also gave up coffee when i did my whole30, just drinking some green tea for a bit of caffeine as needed, a few times a week. for the record, i didnt lose any weight and the migraine didnt break up. it did work to get me back on track though, and adding dairy back in when it was all over didnt cause me a second of problems so that was nice to know.

the migraine did eventually go away, but i believe it was totally related to female hormone issues and wasnt dietary. i still havent lost any weight at all in months, so no ide what thats about......maybe i should ask PHers......

anyhoo, i think of it as a reset button. i would like to schedule one in a few times a year, especially after holidays and typical periods of binging like my birthday, vacations, thanksgiving and xmas, etc.

I've been overdoing it a bit on sugar lately, and I find it helpful to "hit reset" when that happens! For me, challenges like this strengthen my resolve to eat well, and give me a sense of accomplishment, which is a good feeling. I also am having some gut issues that I think may be due to dairy; trying to get that figured out.

I do mine to get back on track. Or I do 14 day challenges to see if removing for instance, dairy or coffee is causing me issues then I re-introduce it.

I think its also the mindset that 30 days is how long a habit takes to form or break. Personally, its more like 45 days :) (No willpower) Now that you bring it up, I fail/cheat on 30 day challenges and recently considered doing only 14 day.

I'm curious to hear the background behind your question. Please share!

I actually didn't do a challenge, I just.. did it. Initially it was due to really positive influences in my life. I started quietly not talking about it, definitely not one of my best ideas when I think back, but I'm stubborn and wanted to experiment on my own with only myself to have a conversation with if, in my view, I failed. I know I know facepalm. Unfortunately events in my life suddenly spiraled and took a nosedive and Paleo kind of turned into something that I could focus on, a good thing as Martha Stewart would say :) I was absolutely lock down clean for 2-months, no indulgences, as I wanted a good solid structure. 3rd month relaxed the rules allowed dairy back in as I do CF and needed the additional fat/protein, coffee, booze, etc., and now 4th month? Happy as a Narragansett clam. Everything feels so_damn_amazing :)

I am currently in the middle of my Whole30/30 day challenge. I have been eating the paleo lifestyle for about 4 months and have hit a couple of weight-loss plateaus. The first plateau, I just adjusted my diet a little bit and dropped a bunch of weight. But my second one, I was having a very difficult time and was getting discouraged since I knew/know I have more fat to loose. So, I decided to try the Whole30 just to see what would happen and I dropped 3 pounds in my first 10 days. I'm not saying it's because of the Whole30, but the reason for the Whole30 is to be EXTRA conscious of the foods that you are eating. Although I was eating paleo before hand, I was not keeping track of the foods I was eating, which allowed for easier cheats more often, which is where I think I was going wrong. Although I think cheats are healthy every now and then, now that I am more conscious of the foods I am eating, it will happen a lot less often. The biggest reason is just to think about what you are eating. I recommend it, especially for someone who is going back and forth in trying paleo. The results you get and how you feel in 30 days drastically changes! I'm trying to get my parents to try the Whole30 right now, but so far, no luck! It's a difficult concept to grasp...

I did it to start to see if this was a feasible way to eat and if I felt better.

Now I am considering it for two reasons.

The first is to test an exclusion like BaconBitch said. If the original taught me anything it is that I don't know how I will feel without something until I try it.

The second is to create a platform to experiment on. This would be 30 days or so of a very strict diet and then adding back things for two weeks to see if it is or is not good for me. This would take a dedicated stretch, but it is an idea I am toying with.