I’ve officially made it through my first week of the Whole30.  Which to be honest, is something I never thought I would do, only because I’m all about balance and living a well-rounded life instead of following some kind of fad, or trend, or (gasp) diet.

So why did I decide to do the Whole30 then?

Because It Starts With Food – and I honestly believe that.  While I’ve been going on and on about living a balanced life in terms of eating food and indulging every once in a while, I felt like the time between November and January really got me off track.  As in, I basically had no balance and was ready to eat whatever, whenever, and to celebrate everything.  

Skillet Chicken with Garlic, Shallot, and Wine Sauce is an incredibly easy and comforting dish, full of flavor and perfect for family dinners or a friends get-together.

I might be exaggerating a little, but what it comes down to is I wanted to reset my body.  For the first time, I felt ready to challenge myself in a way I never had before.  And yes, that challenge may seem crazy to you: cut out all dairy, sugar, grains, and legumes, while mainly consuming meat, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats.

Whoa.  Crazy for a semi-vegetarian, too.

Moroccan Carrot Salad // Fork in the Kitchen

I knew back in December I was going to start in February, so I had a lot of time to prepare myself (maybe that led to some lack of balance?).  Over that time, I read It Starts With Food and The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom to prepare myself.  After getting all the knowledge, I was ready.

When I say ready, I mean I never thought I’d be so willing to give up cheese and carbs — all the carbs — and wine.  Ok, really, I basically lived off of these things.  Problem 1.

Biggest piece of Whole30 advice?

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!

Preparation is key!

I became really sick (again :/) just before I was to start the Whole30, which ended up being a really good transition into it, given that I wasn’t really hungry to begin with. ?  But I still planned, because not only can I not get by without a plan, my entire way of eating was changing and without a plan I would have resorted to old habits.

Roasted Root Vegetables // Fork in the Kitchen

What did I eat week 1 of the Whole30?

I haven’t felt deprived yet!

If you’re interested in continuing to follow along on this Whole30 journey, I’ll be posting weekly updates!  Even if you’re not committing to the Whole30, I hope you’ll be inspired to continue living a balanced life that’s focused more on whole foods instead of processed foods.

Please send me your luck as I move into week 2 – I have a feeling I’m going to need it!

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