#BestSelf2015

Today I am honored to be guest blogging on Binks & The Bad Housewife. I took a step in vulnerability and I talk about some real life struggles with image, weight, and self confidence. I also talk about my Whole30 journey. Here's a snippet of my post.

"I think this whole weight loss/living healthy thing is a constant journey of figuring out how your body works and reacts to certain foods and exercises. My body really liked when I fed it clean and whole foods. Knowing how your body reacts to things and having the will power to eliminate those items from your life is the journey am I choosing to take. It’s tough. I am “that girl” at the restaurant that has some specific requests for her food but I am ok with that now. What I have learned over the past almost 2 years of discovering how my body works has been a game changer for me. Don’t get me wrong, I am human and will fail occasionally. Example: I knew I was going to start another round of Whole30 on January 1 so… on December 31st I ate pizza and cheese bread. Yes, both gluten and diary. Ouch. Let me tell you it was delicious, but not worth it. My skin is still trying to recover from that night of gluten and dairy binging."

Go over and read the rest here! Tell Abby that Bee sent you! She is an amazing blogger and has such a real voice and passion behind each blogpost. Plus, her style and eye for vintage pieces is to die for! Her and I go back all the way to 9th grade Algebra class. 

Whole30 Champ!

No sugar coating here, just my raw, organic, grass fed thoughts on completing the Whole30. I heard about this through two of my favorite biggest loser alums, Olivia Ward and Hannah Curlee [check out their youtube channel], and Olivia's husband, Ben Ward. Since Autumn of last year my diet has changed dramatically. I cut out gluten, dairy and some other odds and ends. Adding a few more restrictions to my diet for 30 days didn't seem like too big of a challenge. I was wrong, it still was a challenge. The goal of Whole30 is to reset and recharge your body. To boost your energy, metabolism, immune system, get your skin glowing, end unhealthy habits, and have a great night's sleep. Also add on a bonus of losing weight and inches. [however you're not allowed to step on the scale during those 30 days] 

I thought, "let's take October, possibly my busiest month of the year and add this challenge to it." Seems crazy but I thought if I was busy enough I wouldn't be thinking about how much I miss all the things that were on the 'no eat' list. 

^ favorite breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with sliced avocado & raspberries. ^

My Thoughts: This was an incredible experience and my body reacted great to the reset. Don't get me wrong, the first week was horrible. I had a headache. I was grumpy. I wanted to lock myself in my house and not come out. After I powered through that first week, it seemed to become more of a habit to eat clean than a requirement. I lost 8lbs and inches off my waist, arms, and legs. I noticed about halfway through that my face and neck seemed to have slimed down and it just continued to slim out during the rest of the 30 days. I also noticed right away that I was sleeping better. I found myself waking up feeling rested rather then restless. I also found myself having more energy throughout the day. Normally I would get a 4 o'clock afternoon lull and feel like I just needed a nap or a snack to keep the day going but that feeling went away. Also, my skin cleared up and started to get this little glow. My confidence is up and I am feeling great! 

^ favorite lunch/dinner: grilled tilapia with garlic pepper, sweet potato fries, and salad. ^

Would I do it again?: I think I would totally do this again. It's interesting to me to find out how my body reacts to certain things in terms of weight loss. I know that slow and steady wins the race and that's how I want to go about this whole weight loss thing. I am going to take bits and pieces of the Whole30 and apply it to my everyday life. Such as black coffee, more fruits and veggies, no peanut butter, no night time snacking, and less soy. I am also going to keep the habit of checking labels for added sugar. Sugar is everywhere and the less I get in my body, the better I feel. I am however very happy to have gum back in my life.

Favorite 'Yes' foods: After spending some quality time in the grocery store and doing my online research as to what I could eat, I have come out this experience with some serious food favorites. Applegate Grass Fed Hot Dogs would probably be my favorite discovery. I think I bought 3 packages of these during the 30 days. I would eat them in different variations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also purchased Sunbutter twice. It's a peanut butter substitute made from sunflower seeds. [It became very clear to me how much peanut butter I was eating when I had to take it out of my diet.] I would pair the Sunbutter with a fresh from the orchard, honey crisp apple. Of course I loved having LaCroix, Kombucha, and Coconut Water as beverage options on top of just plain ol' water. Another thing that I really enjoyed and made a lot of was salads. Anything that was Whole30 approved I would just throw on top of a bed of spinach and eat it up. 

^ FroYo without the FroYo... didn't think that I would ever just get a cup of fruit toppings at a FroYo bar. I think it's very easy when changing your eating habits to become a hermit and stop the socializing and going out to eat with friends. It's tricky, but you can manage. This was my way of managing. And you know what, I didn't miss the FroYo at all. ^

I am so proud of myself for completing this challenge. It has been an amazing 30 days. I recommend this to anyone who is struggling with their eating habits, sleeping patterns, skin, energy level, and weight. I remember thinking that 30 days was such a long time but it's not when you compare it to the rest of your life. Taking care of your temple is a lifelong responsibility.