For the next 30+ days, I will be eating meat, vegetables, healthy fats, fruits and nuts. I will not be eating processed food, sugar, dairy, grains or legumes, and I won’t be consuming any alcohol.

I’ve done a few Whole30 challenges before, but this time I’m looking for something a little different. I lost touch with my Paleo choices last year and I would like to reconnect with what it means to feel healthy, vibrant, and in tune with my whole self.

If you’re doing a Whole30 or other challenge, if you are living/exploring the Paleo lifestyle, or if you are simply looking for some tasty recipes to add to your repertoire, be sure to leave a comment to let me know you’re out there! I am so glad you stopped by!

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It’s Day 1! It’s time to get serious now. My day was a little unusual, but I can definitely say that it was the right thing to do getting started on the weekend. Generally I’m a “Let’s Start Monday” kind of girl, but this time I wanted to start on January 2. It worked out great because I was able to take some time to make lunch, get settled into my water routine, stay active and busy so I wasn’t thinking about food – just generally a good way to start.

I’m a little disappointed that I got so off track in the final weeks of the year, but I enjoyed the indulgence and socializing. And cheese. It was good cheese – every. single. time. And it went really well with wine. And those are two of my fondest weaknesses. So do I even call them weaknesses? Anyway, I’ve decided there’s no use dwelling on what could have been; I am right where I am today and ready to move forward from here.

I’m off to a good start and feeling very focused about the next couple weeks. It’s time to get myself and my health back on track. Happy New Year everyone!!

Day 1

5:00am – Black coffee

5:30am – 2 eggs w/ 1/2 tsp. coconut oil, 1/2 a large cucumber, 1/4 avocado, 1/2 tsp. evoo

12:30pm – Chicken salad w/ lots of veggies, about 4 oz. chicken and homemade ranch dressing, 1 c. roasted butternut squash soup

3:30pm – Orange

6:30pm – 2 Baked chicken thighs, Brussels sprouts from Juli Bauer’s cookbook (these were delicious!), 1/4 of a med. sweet potato, small handful of grapes

Food: Crazy day with an early start due to work and then late lunch because of basketball. The great thing was that I felt fine – definitely hungry by dinner time, but then I ate. Which is the point.

Mood: I was expecting to feel elated with it being Day 1, but I just felt steady. Maybe it’s because I know that I’m embarking on something which will have some hard times, but I also know it’s the right thing to do. So there’s more calm than excitement.

Sleep: 7 hours, could have slept a little more because I have some catching up to do, but I felt rested.

Activity: Weights in the morning / 3 mile dog walk in the late afternoon. I’m happy to be focused here again.

Focus this week – Drink lots of tea or water: My hydration has been a little lower than usual with the holidays, umm…perhaps it was the wine? So starting off this week making sure to drink a lot!