The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Grain Brain.
You might remember my post a few weeks ago when I began the Grain Brain Challenge. I can’t believe four weeks have passed already. Here are my observations and a few honest confessions from the experience.
To recap: Grain Brain is a book by Dr. David Perlmutter that argues for removing wheat and gluten from your diet. The focus isn’t solely weight loss—Perlmutter’s main point is that certain foods can trigger inflammation that harms brain health and may contribute to long-term health problems.
The Grain Brain approach also recommends supporting diet changes with targeted supplements like DHA, ResVida, and vitamin D, along with prioritizing adequate sleep and regular exercise.
My Grain Brain results
Eating
After reading the book, I’m convinced that reducing gluten and wheat will be beneficial for me. Putting that into practice proved harder than I expected. I didn’t fully eliminate these foods—busy days, family meals, and the holiday season made strict adherence difficult. Starting the challenge between Halloween and Thanksgiving was probably not the best timing, but it taught me to recognize my limits and plan realistically.
Meal planning made a big difference. When I prepared meals in advance I stuck to better choices more easily. The biggest hurdle was dinner: cooking for the whole family while trying to follow a different eating plan for myself created the most friction.
Sleeping
Sleep was one area where I made measurable progress. I’ve been prioritizing an earlier bedtime and waking earlier, which made my days more productive. I’m still improving, but I’m more aware of how valuable protected sleep is and am working to keep that habit.
Exercise
Exercise stayed consistent during the challenge. I ran my first half marathon last month and completed a 10K this month, so I’ve maintained a steady routine. My pace has slowed a bit since then, so I’ll need to intensify training as I prepare for another half marathon in February.
Supplements
Of all the elements in the challenge, supplements produced the clearest effect for me. After adding the recommended supplements to my daily multivitamin, I noticed improvements in how I felt and thought. Initially it felt like a lot of pills, but the benefits made the effort worthwhile and something I plan to continue.
Going forward
My goal is to significantly reduce the amount of wheat and gluten I eat. I don’t expect to eliminate them completely, and I’m okay with that. The main lesson from this challenge is that incremental steps toward better health matter. Each change in the right direction brings benefits.
Thanks for following along! Have you read Grain Brain or tried the challenge? I’d love to hear your experience.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Grain Brain. All opinions are my own.