Giving up my love of olive oil for 30 days and I’m ready for the challenge.

For the last few years I have dabbled with the idea of doing a Whole30, but have never really committed. “I already (almost) eat like I’m doing a Whole30,” I would tell myself. “I love fruits and vegetables!”

You know what else I also love?

Cheese. Toast smeared with peanut butter. A glass of wine. Frothy cappuccinos with raw sugar crystals on top. Frozen chocolate chips. Greek yogurt with granola and honey. A big bowl of pasta. Cookies fresh out of the oven. Olive oil.

I have always lived by the motto my mom used to preach, “Everything in moderation.” Eating healthy is a part of my lifestyle, but I also believe in savoring the indulgences here and there. During the Whole30, you are challenged to eliminate all dairy, sugar, grains, legumes and alcohol. These are triggers for many things within your body (inflammation, bloating, aches and pains, etc.) and can make a huge difference in the way you feel (energy levels, skin care, sleep).

I have always lived by the motto my mom used to preach, “Everything in moderation.”

Each of those categories of food are a part of my eating healthy in moderation lifestyle – a little honey in my coffee, some brown rice with my protein bowl, a glass of red wine with dinner, etc. Call me crazy, but I am excited to take this practice of moderation to the extreme and completely remove these items. Sometimes to find a middle ground, you have to go really far to the other side.

People say when they finish a Whole30, they’ve never felt better. I want to know what that feels like! Taking away these core things for just 30 days will allow me to evaluate what I really need to be consuming and what foods are triggers for my body that I didn’t even realize were having an impact.

Cooking is a joy to me. It’s therapeutic and how I unwind. I challenge myself with new recipes often, but what about the challenge of eliminating some of my favorite things?

There’s a line from Whole30 that says, “This is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard.” This really resonated with me. I should not be complaining about eating incredible proteins and fruits and vegetables for 30 days. That should not be HARD! That is a gift.

“This is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard.”

I’m choosing to not look at it like I’m giving up a million things. Instead, I’m ready for the challenge to get creative in the kitchen with spices, herbs and sauces to make meat and fish and seafood full of flavor. I am going to explore new vegetables I haven’t eaten enough of and learn to savor the sweetness of fruit like dessert.

I’m planning on sharing my journey along the way through social media, lots of Instagram stories and hopefully a few blog posts. I am trying to convince everyone and anyone I know to join along because I think the experience will be 10x better with a community to recap with, share stories and recipes and (ahemm) keep each other accountable.

Comment on this Instagram post if you want to join in!

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela