GLUTEN, DAIRY, & GRAIN FREE(DOM)

Prior to The 30 Clean, I was using the app My Fitness Pal to record what I was eating. I became obsessed with counting calories, logging my SoulCycle classes, and the miles I walked or hiked. In order to get to the goal weight I had chosen for myself, the app had me targeting 1400 calories per day. Yikes. That's low. I'm a smart person and I knew that seemed like a stretch but I went for it anyway because I wanted to lose the weight. Truth be told, I was HANGRY (hungry + angry). All. The. Time. And frustrated – despite the cardio, I’d only budge a couple of pounds here or there and it wasn’t consistent. It’s not surprising that this program didn’t work. I couldn't stick with it. Nor did I want to.

Fast-forward. My first 30-Clean challenge was a huge success. I lost nine pounds and several inches in four weeks and it could have been more if I hadn't gone rogue that last weekend and had too much wine. But hey, I’m human. I was sleeping better, eating more, and had more energy than ever before. The key was removing inflammatory foods like gluten, refined sugar, dairy, grains, and alcohol and boosting vegetables, greens, organic proteins, complex carbs, healthy fats, and my intake of water. Importantly, I didn’t cheat. I stuck with the program, even in the beginning when I didn’t feel like it, and it paid off. Then, that momentum kicked into full gear and the weight/bloat poured off. By the way, I was never hungry...or, HANGRY!

Yes, I was intimidated at first. I was nervous about what to eat, how to plan for meals, the expense, the time, etc. But here’s the thing – by the end of the first week, I had it figured out. It’s so easy!! Meals aren’t hard, nor do they need to be ‘fancy” unless you choose, but taking the time to plan and prep is key. I photographed some of the meals I ate and you can see them here: instagram.com/kaleandkombucha

People have been asking what my workouts were like during the challenge. I have to be honest – I didn’t work out at all. Not. Once. I had been coming off of a surfing injury and was pretty limited to any physical activity. I know ‘no workouts’ shouldn’t be a selling point, but it is something to note. It goes to show you that so much of health and weight loss can be attributed to exactly what we put in our mouths. Nonetheless, I can’t diminish the importance of exercise for a healthy body and mind. (I’m gratefully back to hiking.) Nor can I diminish the importance of not going overboard and becoming obsessive about any program that you are engaged in. It’s life people. For the next while, I plan on abiding by the 80/20 rule. 80% focused on eating clean, 20% open to the realities of life (going out with friends for a cocktail, entertaining, enjoying dinner at someone's home, or having a small treat with my son). The point is to be mindful, give ourselves a break if we choose to deviate, and be patient as our bodies take a day or two...or even three thereafter...to rebalance.

When we look at health and fitness, it's easy to want to jump on the latest trend with our friends: someone is doing a juice cleanse, another is hooked on Arbonne smoothies and supplements, a third is a new cross-fit convert, and a fourth is held captive by their Fitbit, Jawbone, or fitness app. We're all searching for something that will work for the kind of lifestyle we have or want. If one of these approaches is successful for you and you've found good support within its community, bravo! I'm glad you've found your path.

The crazy thing is that MY answer had been in front of me the ‘whole’ (pun intended) time. I got close to my goal weight by simply eating loads of clean, organic foods. And beyond the weight loss which is always a swift and powerful motivator, the best part was that I just felt great. Happy. Energetic. Clear-minded. More patient. As such, The 30 Clean isn’t a “diet” for me -- it’s a viable approach to healthy eating habits and a lifestyle and that I’m not looking to give up any time soon. Or maybe ever. That’s what I call freedom.

#bodymind