I first was introduced to Whole30as I was lying on the beach with my friend Jordan. She told me she was going to start this challenge in a few days and I should do it with her. “What is it?” I asked. “It’s a diet where for 30 days you don’t eat dairy, alcohol, sugar, grains or legumes.” My immediate reaction was “Hard pass.” “But wait, you have to see these photos!” She whipped out the highly effective photos from the Whole30 Instagram account. Several folks posted their before and after photos and I couldn’t stop looking at the improvements they all showed. I looked at my own stomach, protruding from my too-tiny bikini and then of course, some 6-foot tall, gorgeous blonde pranced by, because let’s face it, you can’t not see that when you’re on the beach in LA. I’m someone who exercises almost daily and yet those abs I work so hard for are invisible to the naked eye. They are buried deep below gallons of margaritas, late night pizzas and handfuls of if-it’s-food-we’ll-cover-it-with-chocolate from Trader Joes. Maybe, I should give this diet a whirl. I looked at my calendar and realized that until Labor Day, I had no monumental events (weddings, brunches, parties, wine festivals, food festivals, birthdays…wow lame month) that would impede my partaking. Also, I like challenges. Sometimes when other areas in your life…my job…cough, cough… aren’t super challenging, it feels good to devote yourself elsewhere. Challenge accepted.
I now go to the farmers market (there’s a great one on Melrose Place in West Hollywood on Sundays) not just to score free samples, but rather to actually buy the freshest produce, fish and meat. I made a calamari steak for crying out loud. It was delicious and super easy.
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