lets talk | Whole 30, skin care, and other tips

Hi. So I'm not entirely sure why I keep posting since it doesn't seem like anyone reads my blog anymore. :P THAT SAID, if you are reading this post, LEAVE A COMMENT and let me know... .or else I might give up blogging altogether. And yes, that's a threat. ;) Honestly, writing is such an emotional outlet for me I almost don't care. I'll never stop writing. I'm a word-nerd.

Ok, down to the nitty-gritty. I started the Whole 30 program four days ago. Now, before I continue, this was not a daunting or weird idea to me. They say everyone feels that way on the first day, and then you go through all these crazy phases like "Kill All The Things," etc. Its been easy for me (for the most part,) because last year around this time I went cold turkey and gave up EVERYTHING in my diet, started working out regularly, and dropped several lbs. Now, I didn't completely cut out sugar (I was still eating dark chocolate,) or cheese on my salads. Since then I've discovered that yes, the diagnosis from years ago was right, and I am pretty severely lactose intolerant. So I ditched dairy a couple months ago while still in Colorado.

So far the biggest challenge of Whole 30 is cooking. Not because I don't know how to cook--I simply don't have the time. I'm finding myself coming home from work STARVING but also dreading chopping all my veggies and turning on the stove. Minor obstacle. I'm a big believer in setting my mind to something and just doing it. Anyone is unstoppable with the right mindset and motivation. Anyone and I mean anyone, can get their food addictions under control, lose weight, and change their lifestyle. Dieting, as far as I'm concerned, is a cop-out. Change the way you look at food, and everything else, including mental clarity, dropping a pant size, etc, will come full circle. I guarantee it.

I felt my best when I was in Asia for a month this summer. Almost every meal was served family style and consisted of rice, meat (usually pork or chicken,) fish, vegetables, and fruit for dessert. Often there would be a small portion of rice accompanied by a variety of soups and stir-fry. Personally, I found it delicious, and unlike my teammates, I never got tired of rice. I had a ton of energy, my digestive issues disappeared, my skin was clear, I experienced little to no bloating, and aside from being overtired, (the result of the trip, not the food I was eating,) I had tremendous stamina and zero brain fog. Coming home I fell into a lot of bad eating habits all over again. Even though I have remained gluten and dairy free, I have consumed a ton of sugar (blaming Starbucks!) and began feeling sluggish, etc.

I'm not saying you need to begin eating only Asian-inspired food! But they really know what they're doing when it comes to a cleansing, detoxing, well-balanced diet. Obviously (for those who have done the program and know the rules,) I won't be eating any grains over the next 30 days, so rice is out. I think once I start implementing certain foods back into my diet that I'm going to try Thai cooking for myself! 

There are a few core things I've been doing on a daily basis to keep me feeling healthy and beautiful. Yes, beautiful. :) Good skin in a huge part of that for me. I have naturally acne-prone skin, and if any of you have followed my blog for a length of time, you know how badly I've struggled with it. Over the last few years I've conquered a lot of the problem, but occasionally I still encounter red patches or a breakout. I am NOT going to try to solve anyone's acne issue because each case is unique, but I'll talk a little about some of what's worked for me.

Lots and lots and lots of water. This is very basic, I know, but never underestimate the power of being well hydrated! I try to drink at least 8 cups a day (the amount you need will vary with your body weight,) and bought a huge bottle that holds that much. Adding fun, anti-inflammatory ingredients like slices of cucumber, lemon, or berries, keep it interesting.

Oolong tea. I mentioned this miracle tea in my last post, and seriously, I cannot sing its praises enough! Not only is it tasty (at least for coffee-deprived me,) but it is PACKED full of health benefits, including weight loss, heart health, brain function, an aid for acid reflux,  has a calming effect, and much, much more. It's been an awesome addition to my Whole 30 diet.

Pilates. More specifically for me, Blogilates with Cassey Ho. You can follow any workout regime that you'd like, but Blogailates has been really awesome for me. Not only can I do it at home (huge win in my book!) but Cassey's videos really challenge my body and her positive outlook encourages me to push myself harder. I feel like pilates gets a bad rap since it uses little to no equipment, but trust me, it is super effective, and you.will.SWEAT. I've been trying to work out at least 3-4 times a week since December, and with the exception of about 3 months of traveling and work over the summer, I've been successful.

Soul Scripts. So this is something I've discovered recently on Instagram, and honestly, I think I'm pretty late to the game. But this is a nice Christian resource  for daily inspiration and motivation. Sometimes it only takes a quote or simple thought to get the day started off right. "Just because you're not at your destination doesn't mean you're at a dead end. You're simply on divine middle ground." #soulscripts  

Pacifica. I promised I'd talk a little about skincare! My skin has endured a lot of changes over the years...acne, oiliness, dryness. While in Thailand it was nearly perfect. I also saw a huge difference in my hair's texture and body, which I attribute to the insane humanity. From there I went to the mountains of Colorado, which is extremely dry, and while I didn't experience any significant breakouts, by the time I got home my skin (especially in the T-zone area,) didn't know if it wanted to be oily or so dry it hurt! I started using the Pacifica brand--which is 100% vegan and cruelty-free--at the recommendation of a friend, and I'm so glad I did! I have tried three of their face cleanses with amazing results. They did end up being a bit drying but combined with Coconut Probiotic Water Rehab Cream, my skin is more glowing and even-toned than ever! Plus its pretty hard to pass up a reasonably priced vegan product. :)

That's all I have today, lovelies. If you want to continue seeing posts please leave me a comment, otherwise, I am considering shutting my blog down, which I really don't want to do. Cheers!