Last January I started whole30. I had no idea what food really was. Why we need certain foods, what we should avoid, what happens when we eat certain things and the long term effects that can happen to our body due to food. I read the book “It Starts With Food” while going through the whole30 program. I found in reading the book it gave me some backbone to say no to certain foods. It also helped me understand how to buy groceries and what to look for on the ingredients. My starting weight was 117 and I dropped down to 110. So about 7lbs lost, I felt better I could wear my jeans comfortably, I wasn’t bloated, my sleep was amazing, and my energy stayed consistent throughout the day.

After whole30 I did overtime incorporated dairy and grain back into my diet slowly but but whenever I cooked meals I would opt for something that was whole30 approved. I made many lifestyle changes that always had me aware of what I was feeding my body. Summer came and I got careless. Gym dates were only a couple days a week if that and food was convenient but probably not the best choices and by December I was way off track. I was feeling run down, had zero motivation or energy in the gym, and while my weight stayed around 110 I just didn’t feel the comfortability in my own clothes anymore. So once again I decided to go hard with a healthy lifestyle in January.

It’s now January 14th and I have stuck with it. Paleo is slightly more relaxed than whole30. Pure Maple syrup and honey are allowed and boy do I use them! I’ve also found that I can buy products at my local whole foods that are Paleo approved and premade. Paleo bread, Paleo bbq sauce, Paleo mayo, and Paleo pancakes. This has helped set me up for success because I don’t always have the time or want to put forth the effort to making my own sauces, marinades, or meal prep. It’s awesome to have a quick and easy go to.

I’ve also found a lot of success by meal prepping. I cook a few meals by doing one crockpot meal, one oven meal, and one stove top meal at the same time. That way I don’t spend too much time in the kitchen and still get multiple meals made. A lot of times meals call for several of the same ingredients so I can buy in bulk and chop it all and desperate it out per meal. Super easy, super quick, and super organized. Another thing I’ve found to be helpful in successfully changing my lifestyle is teaming up with others around me for encouragement, meal ideas, meal sharing, and workout buddies. It holds me accountable, gives me night offs from cooking, and offers a lot of support.

14 days in and I am definitely feeling better, my energy is consistent throughout the day, I sleep better, I feel more confident in my clothing, and I know the food I’m eating is nourishing my body. I encourage everyone to give it a shot! I’ve got several recipes that I’ve tried and loved and would be so excited to share them with you. Leave a comment with your email and I’ll email you a copy 🙂