Week 3 Whole30 Recipes

One potato, two potato, three potato...SWEET POTATOES!!!!


Welcome to my Whole30, Week 3 recipe entry! The moral of the story for this week is plain and simple. Eat. More. Sweet. Potatoes. We have them with everything. We cook them in many different ways to keep it interesting. Sweet potatoes baked in the oven topped with ghee and cinnamon or sweet potato wedges or even sweet potato "chips." No matter which way you spin it, they are packed with tons of amazing nutrients and they taste pretty darn good too! Win/win. White potatoes are OK too in moderation. We like to mix those in as well sometimes! Enjoy! 

Simple and delicious. We like to grill a lot on the weekends with our new Cabela's Pellet Grill (it really is a great investment). This is a grass fed burger smoked with Penzey's Cajun seasonings topped with tomato, onion and homemade mayo (recipe in previous post) as well as a little Whole30 approved mustard. Served with a sweet potato which was baked in the oven and topped with ghee and cinnamon. Also served with a broccoli stir fry. Saute up some fresh broccoli mixed with Trader Joe's cruciferous crunch mix with a little coconut oil and about 1tbsp. Coconut Aminos (find on Amazon or your local health store). Salt and pepper to taste. Served with a Whole30 compliant dill pickle spear. Perfect Saturday night dinner!:) 

This little bowl of heaven is what I like to call Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tomato Soup. The recipe is super simple and you can have a delicious meal waiting for you when you get home from work. You will need:
4 frozen skinless boneless chicken breast
2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 14 oz. can of coconut milk (full fat), shake before opening can to avoid separation
2 14 oz. can diced tomatoes and juice
2 cups of chicken broth 
1 small can of tomato paste
1/2 jar of your favorite tomato sauce 
Sea Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low for 9 hours. Enjoy! 

Leftover egg muffins are the best breakfast idea in the world. Find the recipe in previous post. We heated these little bad boys up all week and saved so much time on breakfast! Here I have topped with a little extra chorizo breakfast sausage from Whole Foods with some salsa and served with a side of homemade crock pot cinnamon applesauce. This applesauce is delicious and only TWO ingredients: Apples & Cinnamon! I used two bags of organic fuji apples from Trader Joe's. Try to pick a sweet variety of apple so that your sauce will be sweeter. Wash and peel the apples, dice up and throw in the crock pot. Top with as much cinnamon as you like and cook on low 10 hours or on high for about 5-6 hours. Enjoy! 

ATTENTION BACON LOVERS: Bacon IS allowed on the Whole30 as long as it is uncured with no sugar added. We found a great paleo friendly brand at Whole Foods. I wouldn't reccomend going crazy on the bacon if you are after weight loss, which obviously most of us are. Once a week on your Sunday morning is A-Ok in my opinion! Paired with some scrambled eggs topped with salsa and some Trader Joe's hash browns cooked on low in the skillet with a little ghee and salt/pepper to taste. Yum!!!

If you follow my Instagram account then you know I'm not a huge fan of smoothies for breakfast. May just be a mental thing, but I always feel more full when I actually chew my food, rather than drinking it. However, this smoothie was delicious (tasted like pumpkin pie) and kept me full until lunch. So if you are in a hurry, this is a great option. Fill your blender to the top with organic kale. Add 1/2C full fat coconut milk, 1/2 can of pumpkin, 1/2C water and 1 banana (frozen is best). I also added a large handful of ice and a couple drops of vanilla. Blend up and top with cinnamon and unsweetened coconut shavings. Delicious and satisfying. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again-- I really love keeping lunches as simple as possible. I don't have a ton of time on lunch break as most of you probably don't either. Look for grass fed Applegate Farms hotdogs at your local health food store. They are delicious and super filling. I like to top mine with raw kraut (also found at your local grocery store, usually in a large jar). Served with some leftover garlic potatoes and broccoli (leftovers make great lunches) and as always, a side of berries. I'm a big fan of packing in as many anti-oxidants in a day as possible. Plus blackberries are just YUM. 

I was flying solo with this dinner and a lot of you will probably encounter your spouse or children really disliking a certain type of vegetable that you love. For me, this is brussel sprouts (Nick HATES them). He was out working late for the night so I roasted up some garlic brussel sprouts served with a delicious piece of wild caught salmon. For the sprouts you will need: 1Tbsp. coconut oil, 3 cloves minced garlic, 4 cups brussel sprouts and 1tsp salt/pepper to taste. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Rinse and cut off the ends of the sprouts ( I would also recommend cutting in half). Place in a glass baking dish and toss with the 1tbsp. of melted coconut oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, stirring once after 10 minutes. Add your minced garlic, give a final stir and roast for final 10 minutes. Yum. For the salmon, I just used Penzey's chicken and fish seasoning and pan seared in about 1tbsp. coconut oil until done. Served with a dill homemade mayo. Enjoy!

Whole Foods Andoille sausage smoked on the pellet grill and topped with red, green and yellow bell peppers with a little dijon. Served with garlic tri-color potatoes (Trader Joe's) and organic broccoli. First boil the potatoes until tender, and then saute in the skillet with ghee and as much minced garlic as your little heart desires:) Enjoy! 

A staple for most mornings for me is a side of berries. Sometimes if I am extra hungry or know that I am going to have a long morning, I will add about 1tsp. almond butter to top them off. So good. Also scrambled eggs with Whole30 compliant spicy sausage and green pepper topped with homemade salsa and homemade guac. I think breakfast has become my favorite meal of the day:) 

This coconut ginger shrimp stir fry was simply to die for. First, I cooked up the shrimp in the skillet with some Penzey's Cajun seasonings. Once those were done, I put them off to the side for a bit.

Then, I used about 2tsp. coconut oil in the skillet to saute up all the veggies. I did red, green and yellow bell peppers, fresh green beans, and zuchinni sliced thin with my jullienne slicer. Salt and Pepper to taste, some basil, a little ground cumin, a pinch of cloves, a little onion powder and a little of the same cajun spices.

Then, I added the shrimp back in and added 1/2 can full fat coconut milk and about 1/2 tsp of ginger. Then I let it simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes to soak up all the flavor. EZ PZ. 

Ain't nuthin' wrong with some pellet grilled filet;) We smoked up these grass fed fillets with some Penzey's Cajun blend, salt and pepper. If you can't tell by now, we LOVE spice. Not everybody does, so season up your meat choice the way you like it. Served medium with sweet potato wedges and another broccoli/cruciferious crunch stirfry (recipe above). For the wedges, boil up 2-3 sweet potatoes until tender. Remove, let cool a few minutes. Slice into wedges, drizzle with olive oil and lots of yummy seasonings, then roast in the oven at 425 for about 25 minutes or until browned.

At some point during your Whole30 you will probably attempt to make something that sounds amazing and it will turn out utterly NOT amazing. Here, I was attempting to make strawberry sorbet for dessert in my vitamix and I clearly did something wrong because it turned out like a bunch of little ice pellets and not creamy at all. My grandma always taught me waste not want not, so of course, this did NOT go to waste. Added 2 bananas and a little almond milk plus a couple drops of vanilla and turned this into a yummy strawberry banana smoothie topped with coconut shavings. Get creative. Things happen. 

I never would have imagined before starting the Whole30 that I would actually enjoy tuna. I think the last time I tried it I was probably ten years old and hated it. Through this program I have discovered a new found love for it in all forms. Here, we cooked up some wild caught Ahi Tuna Steaks in the skillet with a little coconut oil and lots of seasonings. The great thing about tuna is that it does not need to be cooked long. You actually want it to be more rare on the inside. The taste is just amazing. Served with organic green beans and leftover potatoes. I always like to serve my fish with a little side of Whole30 mayo mixed with a little dill and topped with a little lemon juice. Delicious! 

Turkey lettuce wraps for lunch topped with homemade tahini hummus and some organic tomatoes with leftover veggie blend and a club soda. Fresh, yummy and kept me full until dinner, which is always the goal.

It's easy to get caught up in our weight loss dreams. I'm guilty of thinking way too far ahead and setting goals like "I want to lose 50 pounds in 6 months." Weight loss does not have to be so drastic. This healthy eating lifestyle change WILL change your body and your mind. It may not happen over night, but stay positive. Focus on what you are doing THIS WEEK, or even this DAY for your body. It will make a world of difference for the results that you want to see in the future. I hope you have enjoyed my week three recipes. I'm sure you are doing fabulous! You are strong and I know you can do it. Find your motivation and no matter what, don't give up on yourself. Until next time!

-J

Whole30 Week 2 Recipes

Today is day 13 and I am down a whopping 7.4 pounds! As if I didn't already believe in this program, this loss really proves to me that something is definitely working! Not to mention I haven't had this much energy since I was a ten year old! I hope that you are finding as much success as I am so far and as promised, here are some recipes and photos from my Week 2 Meals. 

Chicken soup really is good for the soul..especially during the winter on those super cold nights. I love making Whole30 meals in the crockpot! Prep the night before, turn it on before work and have an amazing meal ready when you get home. Recipe: 1 1/2 quarts of organic free range chicken broth, 1 cup of water, 4 organic chicken breasts, 4 celery sticks chopped, 1/2 bag chopped baby organic carrots and 1/2 large yellow onion, chopped. Add the chicken first, then your veggies, then your stock. Season up with your favorite seasonings (I love parsley, garlic, salt and pepper). Cook on low 4-6 hours. Shred the chicken and place back in the crockpot. Stir and serve! Yum!:)

Easiest. Dinner. Ever. Broil up some organic chicken breasts seasoned with your favorite seasonings. Top with hot sauce (as long as it is Whole30 compliant!). Frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix (if you are in a hurry, frozen veggies are OK). Homemade red mashed potatoes: 2 1/2 pound bag of red potatoes. Cut into 4ths, wash them then boil them in salted water until tender. Place into large mixing boil. Add some of the water from the boil and start to blend with a hand mixer. Add seasonings (I did parsley, salt, garlic and pepper) and also add about 5-6 teaspoons of ghee to add a creamy texture. This made a HUGE serving that lasted us about 3 days. Perfect for leftovers--they heat up really well! 

Yep. You're seeing this right. Certain items at Chipotle are WHOLE30 APPROVED!!! Thank heavens and what a nice break from cooking. Here are the approved items you can order: Salad with carnitas (this is the only meat option approved), tomato salsa, hot salsa and medium salsa with a large serving of guac. YUM!!!

In trying to plan ahead for the week, I made these yummy breakfast egg "muffins" on Sunday evening. You can re-heat them all week! You can just use whatever you have in your fridge. I chopped up a green pepper and an onion and cooked it up with some organic chorizo from Whole Foods. Grease your muffin pan or these WILL stick. I just used a tiny bit of Ghee. Spoon a scoop of the meat veggie mix into each muffin tin then whisk up a dozen organic cage free eggs and pour the egg mixture evenly over top all of the muffin tins. Season with salt and pepper. Delicious! 

Quick and easy post-workout breakfast. 2 egg muffins (see recipe above) with some chopped up organic strawberries and blackberries topped with 1tsp. Trader Joes Whole30 compliant almond butter. It almost tasted like a dessert. No time for coffee? Grab an Honest Tea green tea at your local health foods store. Love the flavor and Whole30 approved:) 

I finally mastered homemade mayo on my 3rd try. It can be a little tricky, so read the directions carefully. Totally worth it though and tastes WAY better than the store bought processed crap. You will need: 1 ROOM TEMP organic egg, 1 ROOM TEMP lemon, 1 1/4 C LIGHT olive oil, 1/2tsp mustard powder and 1/4tsp salt. Mix the egg, 1/4 cup olive oil, mustard powder, and salt in a bowl with a hand blender. While blending, SLOWLYYYY pour in the remaining 1C of olive oil until the mixture emulsifies. I bought a measuring squeeze bottle off Amazon which is really helpful for pouring as slowly as possible. The slower you pour, the thicker the mayo. Once you are finished mixing, squeeze in a little room temp lemon, stir and enjoy! 

In a hurry for lunch? Leftover meats make great second day salads. I just chopped up a chicken breast that we had previously smoked on the grill, added some leftover cooked broccoli and some diced onion and then topped with my homemade Tahini hummus. Served with an orange and a club soda. I really love the orange flavored La Croix. For the hummus you will need: 2 medium peeled and cubed zucchini, 2tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1/2 lemon juiced, 1/4 cup creamy tahini, 3 large garlic cloves, 1tbs. olive oil, 1tsp. cumin, 1tsp. salt. In a food processor or vitamix, pulse all of the above ingredients until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate an hour to let it thicken up before serving. Enjoy! 

This was one of my favorite Whole30 meals so far. 2 organic grass fed Applegate Farms hotdogs smoked on the pellet grill and then topped with some raw kraut from Whole Foods Market and drizzled with dijon and diced onion. Served with a Whole30 compliant dill pickle spear and cilantro lime sweet potato wedges. For the potatoes: Boil 3 sweet potatoes in salted water until tender. Let cool for a few, then slice into wedges, Toss in olive oil and sea salt then spread on an aluminum foil lined baking shit and roast in the oven 10-15 minutes at 350 until browned. Top with chopped cilantro and lime zest. So yummy! 

Leftovers are an amazing thing on the Whole30. We like to make big batches of recipes so that it lasts several days. Here we are having leftover spaghetti squash with homemade meatsauce (I will include the recipe below) with some leftover red mashed potatoes (recipe above) and a veggie stirfry. Dinner served in 5 minutes:) 

Green eggs and ham? Nah. I prefer pink eggs with bacon;) 2 eggs scrambled with some red spinach from Trader Joes topped with salsa and paleo no sugar added, uncured bacon. What a treat this was!!! 

Salads really are a great, quick option for lunch. Cook up some organic chicken in the skillet with some coconut oil and add lots of yummy Whole30 approved seasonings. I love salsa for everything, so I topped it with salsa, cucumber and onion and served with a side of Pineapple. Very filling! 

Stir Fry is always a great option for dinner and pretty quick and easy too! We decided to try a sausage stir fry made with the Andouille sausage from Whole Foods Market deli with mushrooms, peppers, onions and pea pods. Stiryfry up with some Coconut Aminos sauce (you can order on amazon or find at your local health foods market). Spicy and delicious! 

Spaghetti Squash with homemade meat sauce in another favorite of mine and super easy. Buy 1 large spaghetti squash (it yielded 4 meals for us). Cut in half, drizzle the inside portion with olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a lined baking sheet. Roast in the oven at 425 for 45 minutes. Once cool, use a fork to scrape out the insides, Scrape in a long horizontal motion for longer spaghetti-like strands. For the sauce: cook up some grass fed ground beef in the skillet then add 1 can of tomato sauce and a small can of tomato paste. We also sweated some garlic and onions together with some spinach and added that to the sauce. Get creative. Ours was so flavorful and delicious we didn't even miss pasta! 

We live in the middle of nowhere and have to drive almost 3 hours to get to Trader Joes and Whole Foods. (I will never take living close to these places for granted ever again). We stocked up on lots of healthy goodies! I recommend both of these grocery stores if you have them near. They are great for this program.  

If you are like me and can't live without your vitamix, than this is the perfect quick lunch recipe for you. You can make all kinds of soups in the vitamix (if you don't have one, I highly suggest investing in one). I just blended 2 large tomatoes, 1 small can of tomato sauce, 1 cup of chicken broth, 1/2 cup of water and then some fresh cilantro and onion. Top with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes for some spice. Voila!! 

I know at first the Whole30 can seem intimidating or scary, but I promise you, it isn't. Like this quote says, you have to do something you've never done if you want something badly enough. You can do it!!! Keep going. I am halfway through and it has gone by so quickly and it has been pretty easy. I love that it is changing my life for the better and it can change yours to! All you have to do is commit! Until next time Whole30ers. 

-Jordan 

First 7 Days of Whole30 Recipes

As promised, here are some photos and recipes from the first sven days of my Whole30. I hope they are helpful to you and bring you some kind of inspiration. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions:) 

My first Whole30 meal was simple and delicious. 3 eggs cooked on the skillet on top of spinach and drizzled with a little olive oil. Topped with avocado slices and salt/pepper to taste. Served with a side of berries and less than 5 minutes to make. Quick and easy breakfasts are perfect for all of us on the go!

Whole30 simple and delicious lunch. Grass fed, grass finished beef browned in the skillet with some Whole30 approved taco seasoning. (I use penzey's spices which you can order online) or you can make your own taco seasoning with all the spices in your cupboards! Topped with homemade salsa (I usually do something like: 2 tomatos chopped, 1/2 an onion, several cloves of garlic, fresh cilantro and 1/2 jalepeno with salt and pepper to taste all chopped in my vitamix). Finally, serve on lettuce wraps (organic if you can) and enjoy!:)

This is the first dinner I made on the Whole30. Not exactly easy, but worth it. Seriously delicious. These are Red Pepper Chicken "burgers" and here is the recipe:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 red bell pepper, cut into large chunks (seeds/stem removed)

1 tsp salt

pepper to taste

1 clove garlic

¼ cup almond flour

2-3 TBSP coconut or avocado oil

Add all ingredients to food processor (vitamix) Pulse until the meat is ground pretty fine (like ground beef texture) and everything is combined well. Scoop out enough to form a burger and flatten into a patty. Repeat for remaining patties. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place patties in and cook for 1-2 min. per side and then finish in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees. Serve with dipping sauces of your liking. I LOVE guac and salsa for pretty much everything and serve with some fresh veggies. Enjoy! 

Frozen bananas make a great guilt-free snack on the Whole30. Though you aren't really supposed to "snack" much, if I'm really craving something sweet I can bust out one of these bad boys. Buy some empty popsicle sticks on amazon or from your local craft store. Cut some bananas in half. Insert the stick. Wrap in aluminum foil, freeze and enjoy!

Chicken fajitas are a super easy dinner (or lunch) option on the Whole30. Sautee up whatever fajita vegetables you prefer in either some ghee (clarified butter which you can find at your local healthfoods store or on amazon. Be sure to look for organic and grass-fed ghee). or use a couple teaspoons of either olive oil, coconut oil or avacado oil. Cook up your organic, free range chicken in the skillet and add your veggies. Again, we used Penzey's taco seasoning for the flavor. Make up some homemade salsa and guacamole for toppings (for Guac I usually just do a couple avocados, fresh cilantro, a squirt of lemon and lime juice, some garlic powder, a dash of cayenne and salt and pepper to taste). Enjoy on organic lettuce wraps.

Game days for your favorite sport's team can be rough during the Whole30 if you don't have some Whole30 approved game day options! These all worked perfectly and were crazy delicious. Throw some grass fed, grass finished nicely seasoned burgers on the grill and top with homemade Whole30 mayo (see whole30.com for mayo recipe) mustard, homemade ketchup (see whole30.com for ketchup recipe) or some dill relish, most pickles have added sugar which is not allowed, but relish does not). Cut up some onions (we did 2 and it made A TON) dip in egg seasoned with salt and pepper and then dip in almond flour that you have seasoned with whatever seasonings you would like. We did dill, Penzey's sandwhich sprinkle, salt and pepper. Lay out on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet and bake at 425 for 10 minutes. Enjoy! See the recipe below for hot wing cauliflower included here. 

"Hot Wing" Cauliflower. If you like a little spice and you're like me and you love wings, you will LOVE this dish. Perfect for parties, game day, etc. Here is the EASY recipe:
1lb head of cauliflower washed and broken up into small florets

2 tsp. olive oil

1tsp garlic powder

1tsp paprika

1tsp chili powder

½ tsp salt

½ cup franks redhot

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425. Place cauliflower in a bowl with a lid. Add olive oil and shake to distribute evenly. Then add dry ingredients and shake again to make sure pieces are coated evenly. Spread cauliflower out on baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes. Pour wing sauce over baked cauliflower and let stand 5 minutes (or stick back in oven for a few minutes to cook the sauce in a little more). Makes 4 servings.

You can't go wrong with steak and potatoes and the best thing is...they are Whole30 approved!!! Just don't over-do it on the starchy white or red potatoes for weight loss. We marinated the grass fed, grass finished organic steaks in penzey's seasonings and did a "dry rub" of  sorts. Slice up some red potatoes, drizzle with olive oil and your choice of seasonings, throw in aluminum foil pouch and let cook in the oven for about 45min-1hour at 400 degrees. Sautee some mushrooms and onion in about 2tbsp of ghee and add spices. Simple and delicious! 

 I like to keep lunches super simple. I'm usually in a hurry on my lunch break as many of you probably are, and this is a great speedy option. Make your sweet potato chips in large batches ahead of time (evenings, weekends, etc). Slice potatoes thin, drizzle with olive oil and seasonings and bake on aluminum foil lined sheet for about 30-35 minutes or until done at around 400 degrees. Store and re-eat all week long:) For my tuna salad, I keep it simple. Look for wild caught canned tuna with ONE ingredient: TUNA. No chicken of the sea for you! Chop up a few slices of organic apple in food processor, add 1-2tsp. dill relish and add your can of tuna! That's it! Drizzle with a little homemade mayo and your done. And pineapple just rocks.

Whole30 chili is amazing, easy and just down right delicious, especially on a cold winter's night! Here is the recipe:
2 pounds grass fed, grass finished beef
2 cans diced tomatoes (NO ADDED SUGARS)
1 can tomato sauce (NO ADDED SUGARS)
1 small jar tomato paste (NO ADDED SUGARS)
3/4tsp. chili powder
1tbsp. garlic powder
1tbsp. cumin
1tsp. onion powder
1 cup free range chicken broth (or two depending on what consistency you want)
salt/pepper to taste.
Brown the ground beef in the skillet, then add to crockpot. Add all remaining ingredients to crockpot, stir and let cook on low for 4-6 hours and enjoy!

Whole30 Approved Fish and Chips. Pretty darn easy and pretty darn delicious. For the sweet potato fries, cut potatoes into thin fry-like pieces. Drizzle with olive oil and seasonings and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until done at 400 degrees. For the fish: choose a wild caught light flavored white fish. Dip in egg and then dip in almond flour (with seasonings added). Pan fry in skillet in about 2tbsp coconut oil and then finish off in the oven for about 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Serve with some greens to get some extra veggies and homemade Whole30 ketchup and enjoy!

This is an example of a typical breakfast that I really enjoy. Scramble up 2-3 free range organic eggs with some spinach and onion and top with homemade fresh salsa and guac. Serve with a side of berries. Yum! 

Hopefully you find these recipes useful and delicious. Because the first week can be a bit challenging as all of the sugars and toxins leave your body, I want to leave you with this quote. I know you must have a powerful reason for choosing this program, as do I. When you feel like quitting, remember the reason. Also if you love cute motivational work out clothing like I do, you can order from Etsy.com and support local businesses! Go here to visit one of my favorite shops that I just bought several items from including a "remember why you started" sweatshirt: https://www.etsy.com/shop/strongconfidentYOU?ref=pr_faveshops

Whole30 Happy

Greetings friends and fellow health food junkies! Happy 2015! 

I don’t know about all of you, but for me, 2014 flew by so quickly I could hardly stop to catch a quick glimpse of what was actually happening—and thus, so did my 2014 “resolutions.” I've never been a big fan of the term, but always felt obligated to create them for myself. The only problem is that I created so many (and some not even realistic or attainable) that I felt like I had failed myself, which really wasn't the case. I accomplished some pretty damn great things in 2014! I moved across country with my boyfriend to begin a new adventure working for Cabela’s and living in good ol’ Sidney, Nebraska. I got a job in my field. I joined a mentoring program where I mentor a 7^th grade girl at the school here in town on a weekly basis. I started to rebuild my relationship with faith and God. We became new puppy parents to an amazing little ball of energy, our seven month old black lap puppy, Stella. I rescued stray animals in the town whenever and wherever I got the chance (my heart is SO invested in rescue-not a better feeling in the world!). But as wonderful as all of these things are…I forgot to keep a promise to myself. I didn’t put the time and energy into taking good care of my health and my body and I paid the price. Multiple doctor’s visits and hefty doctor’s bills took up a lot of my time and my finances, when I should have been spending that time at the gym or preparing beautiful healthy meals in the kitchen. Constant sinus infections, injuries, illnesses—I just didn’t feel good and I know it’s because of my lack of exercise and eating whatever the hell I wanted. So… now here I am. Twenty pounds heavier than where I was when I wrote my last blog post in 2014 and I have decided that enough is a damn nuff.’ I am 25 years old and most days I feel like I’m going on 50. I need to get back down to a healthy weight and to feel better not just for myself, but for my family and for our future children. After reading Dallas and Melissa Hartwig’s “It Starts With Food,” my entire view of “dieting” changed dramatically and I realized everything I had been doing wrong in past numerous failed attempts to lose the weight. Viewing Katie Couric’s documentary “Fed Up” really clicked with me as well. Basically, to sum it up, PROCESSED FOODS ARE THE DEVIL. All of these “low-fat,” “low-carb” and “sugar-free” dieting products are a joke. Sure, for some people they may really work to help them lose the weight, but does that mean they are healthy on the inside or just thin on the outside? My bet is on "just thin on the outside" and there is a multitude of research and facts to back this up. For me, I have chosen to take on this journey so that I can be BOTH healthy and strong, to finally be at a healthy weight for my height and I know I can do it! Sure, grocery shopping and food preparation is a little more timely now, as reading labels to try to find foods free of bad ingredients and added sugar seems to be a nearly impossible task these days (THANKS BIG BUSINESS AND THANKS TO OUR GOVERNMENT- watch “Fed Up” on Netflix. Trust me, you won’t regret it), but it really is so incredibly worth it. I have an amazing partner on my side (my boyfriend Nick who deserves a “Best Boyfriend Award” for being so supportive and joining me on this adventure) and I know that together, we can get through this and accomplish great things. We read the Whole30 and we did the research and we strongly believe that it is the best plan for us. If you haven’t heard of the Whole30 craze…I highly recommend giving the book a read. It will change your life. It’s not a diet and THANK GOD because I HATE diets. It’s a healthy lifestyle—something that you maintain far past the 30 days free of dairy, gluten, processed foods, alcohol and sugar. Am I never going to eat a cheeseburger with REAL bread and French fries ever again in my life? Hell no! Life is much too short to deny ourselves of these simple pleasures every now and again. We just can’t eat like that all of the time or that shit will catch up with you, trust me! We are already on day seven and feeling MUCH better. Increased energy and less brain “fog” as well as increased overall mood. I know the sugar crash is coming because I've had a bit of a headache the last several days, but that’s OK. Once we get past the first couple weeks, it will become easier and easier. I know that this process will take more than a diet change and that exercise needs to be incorporated as well, which is why we have started going to the gym as often as we can. For me, weight loss is about more than just exercise and more than just diet, it’s about both combined to achieve the results I need, but every person is different. Do what works for you.  I have decided to start blogging again so that I can share this journey with anyone else who has ever been in my shoes. To any of you women (or men) out there who have ever looked in the mirror and felt horrified wondering, “How did I get here?” This blog is dedicated to you. I want to share pictures and recipes so that you can re-create them! Share with your friends, or share with the world! I don’t have any “secret” recipes (how silly). I have always wanted “helping others” to be the biggest part of my life and hopefully this small gesture of a health foods blog can do just that. I hope you will join me on this adventure and give the Whole30 a try for yourself! Available on Kindle and Amazon for a very low price compared to what we pay if we don’t choose to get healthy. Leave your comments. Swap your recipes with me. Teamwork and community is an amazing thing. I will do my very best to upload on here at least once per week with new pictures and recipes and in return, all I ask is for feedback, love and support from all of you wonderful people who are on the same journey as me. Let’s motivate each other and do this together. No more broken promises to ourselves. Let’s not look back in 2016 and say “damn, I failed myself again.” Let’s move forward into the future with confidence so that we can truly feel happy with ourselves and succeed in our lives. Here is to a kick-ass 2015!

ALSO: BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM FEED FOR ADDITIONAL PICTURES, RECIPES AND INSPIRATION FOR THIS WHOLE30 JOURNEY:) Follow me at: http://instagram.com/whole30happyjord/

AND PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/jordanr322/

In health, love and happiness

- Jordan