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Golf’s Not Just for Grandpas: Your New Favorite Outdoor Hobby

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(A break from gut protocol talk, I’m on and off anyway so let’s talk about something fun)

Okay, let’s be real. When most of us picture golf, we might think of super quiet greens, serious faces, and maybe even a bit of a snooty vibe. And hey, we totally respect the tradition and skill that goes into the game, but for us? Our golf days look a little different.

For the Pink Tee Society, it’s more about laughing at ourselves, soaking up some fresh air, and, yep, the satisfying clink of a cold seltzer, or a hit of the Pennifer 🍃 if you prefer. The actual golf swing? Still a work in progress, but we’re here for it! We’re not afraid to mess up, it’s all part of the game. We all have goals to improve all while having fun with friends outside in the sunshine; just as important as hitting that little ball in my opinion.

Honestly, we were a bit hesitant about golf at first. It seemed… intimidating. Expensive. Maybe even a little too proper for us. But after a friendly nudge from Society co-founder Leana, we finally jumped in, starting with practice at an indoor golf range, and joining a few small-group training sessions. Even after just a couple lessons we had much more confidence in the way we played, a work in progress, and guess what? We were hooked! It wasn’t just about the satisfying thwack of a decent shot (though those are still met with girly screams!), it was the whole vibe! Cute outfits to chill time to exercise – it’s a win- win – win.

Forget all those stuffy golf stereotypes – for us, it’s become the perfect excuse to hang out with our “girl gang.” Leisurely rides in the golf cart aren’t just about getting to our next slightly-off-target ball; they’re our mobile chat rooms, our brainstorming sessions, and the stage for some great (and sometimes ridiculous) conversations. There’s magic happening out there on the course!

Now, let’s talk about the (all day) happy hour aspect. Personally, I don’t drink alcohol and haven’t since 2018, but can still appreciate the fun that comes with a couple of pops in the afternoon. I usually take a couple La Croix with me and that can be just as satisfying for me 🤤 Add in being surrounded by the beauty of the golf course and that’s a recipe for good times! I like a hit or two of the Pennifer, or Penjamin if you’d rather, with my La Croix. There is a slightly higher chance of losing a ball in a pond or the woods, but we’re all about being responsible. Staying hydrated is super important, and we know our limits to make sure everyone has a safe and awesome time. But that little bubbly treat? It just adds to the relaxed, celebratory feel of our rounds.

In the end, it’ all about tearing down those walls that might keep other women from trying golf. It’s about showing you don’t need to be a golf pro (or even consistently hit the fairway!) to have a blast. It’s about embracing the learning curve, laughing at our less-than-perfect shots, and genuinely celebrating the tiny victories – or big, like that one time I chipped it onto the green and it rolled into the hole! That’s huge in my book.

The best part of this laid-back approach? It takes all the pressure off. Suddenly, the focus isn’t just on nailing the lowest score. It shifts to enjoying your friends, soaking in the gorgeous scenery, and just moving your body outdoors. We’ve actually found that this chill atmosphere makes learning way more relaxing, as long as nobody is waiting to tee off behind you 😅 Less tension, more laughs, and a whole lot of cheering each other on as we navigate the crazy ups and downs of golf together.

So, if you’ve been curious about golf but felt a little nervous, we’re here to tell you: grab a friend (or three!), maybe pack a few of your fave snacks and beverages (where it’s cool to do so!), and head to the course. Don’t sweat your swing; just focus on having a good time and soaking up the experience. You might just surprise yourself with how much you fall in love with it! Cheers to good times and even better company on the green! 🥂⛳️

We’d love to hear about your favorite courses! Pink Tee Society loves The Tanglewood Golf Club in Chagrin Falls, OH 💚

Pink.Tee.Society is new on Instagram! Be one of our first 100 followers 🌟

P.S. Ready to Power Up Your Swing? Are you a woman golfer looking to add more strength, flexibility, and control to your game? I’m exploring creating a tailored strength and mobility program specifically for golfers like us! This program would focus on movements that directly impact your swing, help prevent injuries, and boost your confidence on the course.

If you’re interested in being one of the first to know more, or if you have specific areas you’d want to focus on (like more power, better rotation, or banishing that pesky back pain!), drop a comment below! Let us know what you’d love to see in a golf fitness program. Your feedback helps build something amazing just for you! ⛳️💪

Hey I’m Kate 👋

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It’s been a while since I’ve introduced myself, and what better time than at the start of a new season and energetic new year! It’s officially Spring here in the Midwest, USA and I can say without a doubt the sunshine brings a special kind of motivation to my soul. I’ve had this blog for a few years and I have had some others in the past, so in total I’ve been blogging on and off for about 20 years 😅😅 Doesn’t seem real or true to me, but I also don’t feel my age (36) – time is wild!!!

Here we go- I’m Kate Needs (yes, my actual last name by marriage) and to say I NEED fitness is an understatement. Yes we all need it, but there is a part of my heart and soul that is reserved for my connection to movement and being a part of the earth! I see myself (and all) no differently from the animals and plants around us; we as humans were just the fortunate ones who got to evolve to the top (thank goodness). I started working on this blog again because I feel like I have SO MUCH to say about wellness and the related, and other social media outlets feels like posting into the void at times. I know we can connect much better here!

I love to share tips about how I live a healthy lifestyle, without giving up joy or sacrificing anything I love in the process. There is a place for everything, rest and movement; veggies and desserts; motivation or not – there is always a way to find your joy through healthier habits AND living life your way!

Want to feel empowered to make healthy choices and work towards a balanced lifestyle that works for you? You’re in the right place!

The Come Up

I fell ass-backwards into the world of fitness in 2016 when I joined a gym for the first time. Let me back up a little first. Since I was little I have always been curious about exercise and being physically fit, watching from afar because I didn’t know how to get involved; I had no idea where to start. After years of reading fitness blogs and saving a billion pins on Pinterest about fitness, finally in 2016 I said to myself, “I’m going to start one of these programs and actually STICK with it for once in my life to see what happens.”

I set up a spot in my garage with a couple small hand weights (3-5 lbs) and a resistance band- the kind with handles. I typically would look at workouts from bodybuilding.com, but I’m not sure why I wasn’t using YouTube? Was YouTube the same kind of workout library it is today back in 2016? If so I don’t think I was using it. Anyhow. I was dedicated this time. I was following workouts that I could do with my little dumbbells, even though these workouts were crafted for use in the gym- somewhere I was too afraid to try, but I was doing my best to work all the same muscles with modified moves. I was feeling and seeing the results, and that was motivation to keep going. Fast forward- a friend asked if I wanted to join her gym because we could workout together AND they had childcare where our kiddos could play together. Double Whammy! This is where the fun really begins…

Going into the ‘machine’ area of the gym was scary. A group of us girls would stand nervously, looking into the machine section of the gym, too intimidated to walk in or ask for help. So we joined lots and lots of group classes…until the trainers stopped looking like scary fit people and started looking like normal helpful people!! The probz of introverts. That’s me, I’m the introvert.

Finally, we started trying out machines with the help of the trainers on staff. It wasn’t as bad as it seemed. Here’s the ass-backwards part. I was pretty much brand new to working out in a gym when some of the other gym patrons were entering a bodybuilding competition and asked if I wanted to join too. I blindly said yes and got to work right away. This process forced me to learn how to workout and feed myself to become a new version of myself in just about four months total! I loved every minute, even though it was really hard work.

I won 2nd place in both of the (two) shows I entered, and decided to take a break from there. The break has lasted close to 10 years. The people who compete in those kinds of shows are BEASTS and I applaud their dedication to their craft. I wanted more flexibility in my life, and really disliked that bulking season was during the summer lol! I wanted to show off my stage body during the warm months, but competition season always fell during cold months. Oh well, overall it was a great experience and helped shape me into who I am today!

EDIT: After I posted this I realized I didn’t mention becoming certified in personal training and teaching group fitness for almost five years, most recently teaching Barre Intensity at a local boutique studio. I found a passion for this style of workout set to the beat of fun music! I have a new program coming out in a couple weeks that combines this style with the classic lifting style I’ve known from the beginning! Check back soon for updates, drop date 4.4.25.

What Really Matters

My experience with the competition lifestyle helped me find some kind of balance. I knew I wanted to keep working on myself because it feels AMAZING, inside and out, but that previous part of life was TOO fast paced for me. Everybody is different, but I know a slow, low key, chill lifestyle is for me. (I resonate with all descriptions of a Projector in Human Design). I discovered during the pandemic, especially, that being at home with nowhere to go is my favorite place to be and I strive for that in every day life now as much as possible.

I have a husband and daughter, plus three dogs and a cat, so being home is important to me and knowing they are nourished and cared for is EXTRA important to me and something I love to tackle every day…and I do mean tackle! I don’t magically have the motivation to cook and clean all day long, but when I think about my little fam coming home at the end of a long day to a tidy(-ish), calm space I know I can sleep soundly at night. When we are all nourished and cared for, we can take on the world!! This is what keeps me going.

What’s to Come

Previously, I posted a lot about my experience with food sensitivity elimination programs, like Whole30 and Gut Protocol, because I’ve had major success in my health and wellness journey after following these programs. A great idea for anyone dealing with autoimmune or different kinds of body issues because these kinds of programs help reduce inflammation, a likely reason for your issues. I still have a ton of that info here for your to read through, feel free to click through old posts and menu options.

Going forward, I want to touch on all of the things that make me feel like I’m living my best, healthiest life! Because my ultimate goal, while once upon a time was simply to “have abs” has progressed into a want – no NEED *wink – to live to my fullest for as long as I can! Living to 100+ is no longer out of reach, and I hope to get there while staying mobile, flexible, and strong! I don’t believe the lie that we’re going to slow wayy way down as we age, I believe it’s (mostly) a choice!

I post most Mondays, I say as I post this on a Wednesday🤷 but as you may have gathered from this post, I’m a chill kind of gal – a Capricorn. To quote Janelle Monáe, “I come in peace, but mean business.” 💯💯 I fly by the seat of my pants, and I don’t plan on changing anytime soon!

I’m me, times three

Aside from obsessing over personal wellness, I also enjoy thrifting and secondhand shopping – yard/garage sale, estate sales, etc. It all counts. I love knowing I’m not contributing to the over-consumption problem we have here in the states, and I love knowing I have unique pieces too! Spending a morning sifting through random potential treasures perhaps with a to-go matcha in hand. Yes. Please. Sign me up.

In the day to day you might also find me shuffling tarot cards, playing The Sims on PS5, gardening (in either form), or heading to a tee time with friends! I may post about any and all of these things over time because they make me who I am and contribute to my personal overall wellness; something I want you to find in your life.

I recently dyed my hair from my natural blonde to (my preferred color) Rose Pink (by ION at Sally Beauty) and am feeling like we’re opening up a brand new chapter of life and I want to make it the healthiest yet, for all!

Your Turn

I want to hear about your favorite wellness activities, anything that makes you feel good inside and out! Learning tips and tricks from others gives us lots of options and helps us stay consistent on our path.

Subscribe so you don’t miss the next post!

Find me on IG @kateneeds_ (link below)

Of course we want the pancakes!

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Imagine your life without pancakes…WAIT. Don’t do that, doesn’t it sound miserable?! The soft, pillowy center with lightly crisped edges, add velvety butter and a glistening drizzle of sweet and luscious maple syrup…DROOL!!! If you’re working towards wellness goals, you may have been told in the past you have to give up carbs or some other food group to reach your goals, but in reality you could eat pancakes EVERY DAY and still reach your goals if you wanted to!! It’s all about the balance of nutrients throughout the day.

The same is true for eating out. Sure, some restaurants have healthier options than others – but giving up those options that we love so much is not realistic! And sometimes when we say we can’t have something, that only makes our brains want that thing even more! So how do we find balance? Knowing how your body feels when it’s getting the right nutrients is helpful. It’s like starting from zero. We’ve been eating the same kinds of foods our whole entire lives, but how often do you pay attention to the nutrients your body will get? The most you’ve probably thought of is the carbs involved…which we need by the way!

Once you know how your body reacts to certain kinds of foods, it’s much easier to continue to fuel with whole foods options and save the fun or special restaurants and take out for when you REALLY want it – not when it’s for convenience. When you’re celebrating an occasion or are really craving your favorite take out dish – that’s part of life! But feeling really good every day – that’s important too. If you can balance nutrients with your take out orders you can even get take out every day. Essential nutrients are ESSENTIAL. That’s the key to it all.

Here’s my guide to eating out and sticking with your goals, plus my favorite take out/restaurant orders:

1 Take Out GuideDownload

2 My Favorite OrdersDownload

Did you learn something new? Will you try one of my favorite orders?? Let me know in the comments!

If you want to learn more about balancing nutrients check out my Healthy Habits page for the exact plan I use that helps me figure out what nutrients I (we) need and how to fit them into every day life.

Ready to reset your body and get into the down and dirty of nutrient balancing? Click here.

The Key to Wellness

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What is the key to unlocking a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life? It’s no woo-woo it’s real: Mindset work + Meditation. Okay call it woo-woo if you must, but here are some reasons you should give these a try:

  1. Cultivate a Positive Mindset:

Mindset work involves consciously reshaping our thoughts and beliefs. By practicing positive affirmations, that is- saying nice things to yourself – and challenging negative self-talk, individuals can foster a growth-oriented mindset. A positive outlook helps cope with challenges, and encourages resilience, promoting a healthier response to stress and setbacks.

  1. Reduce Stress and Anxiety:

Meditation, a centuries-old practice, has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Regular meditation sessions allow individuals to enter a state of deep relaxation, calming the mind and reducing the production of stress hormones. Practitioners experience increased emotional stability and a greater ability to deal with the pressures of daily life.

  1. Enhance Self-Awareness:

Both mindset work and meditation encourage self-reflection and self-awareness. Through meditation, individuals learn to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment, gaining valuable insights into their OWN inner world. This heightened self-awareness aids in identifying self-limiting beliefs and thought patterns that hinder personal growth.

  1. Boost Focus and Concentration:

In today’s age of constant distractions, maintaining focus can be challenging. Mindfulness meditation, a specific form of meditation, trains the mind to stay present and attentive. This enhanced focus carries over to daily tasks, improving productivity and efficiency.

  1. Promote Emotional Regulation:

Mindset work and meditation are powerful tools for emotional regulation. By becoming aware of their emotions through meditation and addressing limiting beliefs during mindset work, individuals can develop healthier emotional responses. This leads to improved relationships and increased emotional intelligence.

Incorporating mindset work and meditation into our daily lives can be a game-changer in the pursuit of holistic wellness. The combination of a positive mindset, nurtured through conscious effort, and a calm, focused mind, developed through meditation, empowers individuals to lead more fulfilling lives. By reducing stress, improving emotional regulation, and fostering self-awareness, these practices lay the groundwork for personal growth and transformation. Embrace the transformative duo of mindset work and meditation, and witness the impact they can have on your well-being. Take that first step on the path to a healthier, happier you!

Ready to jump in? Join my favorite wellness platform that includes both mindset and meditation classes, workouts, individualized nutrition, and a support system to keep you going HERE.

Not sure yet? Let’s chat! Click here

What *should* you be eating?

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Who’s ready to treat themselves? 🍦✨ I don’t know who needs to hear this, but YOU deserve to indulge in the little things that make you happy. Craving a sweet treat? Freaking ENJOY IT!! 🙌😋

What’s the point of life if not to do the things that really truly make you happy?? The hard part is finding the sweet spot between restriction and overindulgence…but what does that look like? Well, it’s different for everybody. And there’s no *should* foods involved.

First of all, who likes missing out on that elegant and delicious looking wedding cake at their best friends wedding reception, because they’re “watching what they eat”? Nobody. But on the same note, who likes feeling bloated, tired, brain fogged, and like they always have to poop? Again, nobody. So what can we do? Wouldn’t it be amazing to let go of that never-ending stress of knowing what you “should” eat and finally feel HAPPY and CONFIDENT about the choices you’re making every day?

What I’m getting at is, when you pay attention to what you’re eating – not just from a place of weight loss – but so you can feel actual JOY when you’re making food choices when you’re out in the real world, with events and special occasions around every corner.

Ready to feel your very best, without giving up those special moments that ALWAYS involve food? Tap the link at the top of the page that says Healthy Habits for a Do-It-Yourself Wellness Plan that will help you LOVE food and life again.

Just eat the candy bar

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“Just eat the Snickers restriction isn’t the key,” is the Instagram comment left on a recipe for a healthier version of a Snickers candy bar. I understand the sentiment, but I want to break it down. I tried to keep scrolling, but things like that get stuck in my brain and I think of all the ways I want to respond, but never will because I don’t do that. I could also complain to my husband about it, but that doesn’t help anyone because he’ll just nod and agree, just to move on to a different topic. So here it goes.

I will always believe, for the foreseeable future, in the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of the time you stick to eating plants, twenty percent of the time you have fun with food, whatever that means to you. I believe in enjoying special events and occasions completely, meaning enjoying the cake and fun foods that come with a celebration! YOLO is my actual motto; if I have a limited time on this Earth I want to enjoy whatever I want!! BUT – I also want to feel my very best while I’m here.

Yes, you can eat the candy bar and maybe you find joy from that, but how does it actually make your insides feel? Maybe you eat it because you’re super hungry and just need something. But does it actually help? Sure, it helps settle your hungry tummy a little, but what comes next? For me, I’d get bloated and then DAYS later I would have an acne breakout. It’s easy to overlook these symptoms and blame them on other factors, and since every person is different there are a number of things that can cause these things to happen. The one single thing that changed my acne breakouts from frequent to rare – changing my diet.

I struggled with acne starting in FOURTH grade. Looking back, I was probably dealing with gut health and food sensitivity issues, but at that time who even knew that was a thing?? Certainly not me as a ten year old. It wasn’t until I was in my late twenties that I finally made the connection between what I was eating and the breakouts I had constantly, and the way I felt on the inside!

So all of this to say, YES you can eat the real Snickers bar without any guilt because you should enjoy life…but it’s also possible to take control of how you feel, every day, for life!!

Want the healthier Snickers bar recipe? Leave a 🍫 in the comments!

Ready to feel your very best through what you eat, without giving up desserts? Tap Nutrition Coaching at the top of the page!

Eat the Fat

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How do you feel about the word “fat,” in regards to food? Were you ever told to consume a low fat diet to lose weight? It’s almost as common as hearing a low carb diet is good for weight loss. Sure weight loss may happen, but it’s not easy to stick with, and you’re actually depriving your body of essential nutrients, leading to other issues!

When it comes to maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet, we often tend to associate the word “fat” with negative connotations. However, not all fats are created equal. In fact, incorporating healthy fats into our daily meals can provide numerous benefits for our overall health and well-being. From sustained energy levels and improved nutrient absorption to heart health, cognitive function, and skin radiance, healthy fats are a powerhouse of essential nutrients and compounds. So, don’t shy away from avocados, nuts, seeds, oils, and nut butters! Instead, embrace these delicious and nutritious sources of healthy fats to fuel your body and reap the countless benefits they offer.

To learn more, click here.

Husky Puppies

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Damian
Debo

Well, this was a surprise! Matt and I have always talked about getting a husky puppy, but had no plans of getting one – let alone two!- until way off in the future. Then again, our pets always seem to find us, we don’t go out actively searching for them! An explanation:

In his early twenties, Matt adopted a dog that he had for about two weeks before he came home from work to a litter of puppies in his new dog’s kennel. Of the group, he kept one pup who had unique eyes – one blue, one half blue – half brown. A year after Ziggy was born is when Matt and I started dating, and a few years later got married, and Ziggy lived 15 long years!

Coco is our second dog, who came to us when Ziggy was about ten years old. After some crazy things happened in life we needed something to get us into a more positive mind frame, so Coco couldn’t have come at a better time (divine timing obvs). Matt’s sister has a friend who saw a Facebook post about a cute little puppy who was going to be taken to a pound if he couldn’t find a home, so in order to prevent that she took him so she could take the time needed to find him a proper home. Long story short, we were asked and said yes, even though at the time we didn’t know what breed he was! We knew very little about him, but it just felt right. Coco is almost six and now we know he is a Husky + German Shepherd mix; and his personality is a perfect mix too!

Next up, our little kitten Brownie who has the best story of them all. Matt is a landscaper for commercial and residential properties and has seen and found many things over the years from money, coyote, home decor, and Brownie. While finishing up his work day at a bank in Summer 2020, using a blower to clear the grass clippings and such, a teeny tiny baby kitten got blown out from under a pine tree, no other cats or kittens in sight. Matt scooped her up and kept her in his truck while he finished the job, and hurried home with Brownie in tow. After the initial surprise, I went into panic mode because she was so small I knew she was probably only a couple weeks old. I bought soft cat food from the store for her, but she had zero interest. She was so young (3 weeks I’d later learn from the vet) she had to be bottle fed for the first few weeks we had her AND I had to help her learn how to pee 🥲 Three years later and she is a happy and healthy cat! But when the puppies showed up, it rocked her world a little!!

So far, Brownie does not like the puppies, but I think it’s because they are so bonkers and she is not used to that at all AND they are all similar sizes at this point, so she probably feels a little (okay maybe a lot) nervous! I hope as the pups get bigger she will get used to them since she’s been around Coco, who weighs about 75 pounds, for her whole life. As of now, I have a room divider separating the front and back of the house so she gets one half and the dogs get the other half.

We’re about a month into the pups joining our home and it is going so well, it brings a little tear to my eye. No, they aren’t potty trained yet, but I know that will come! Thankfully we have all tile floors in their half of the house so clean up is pretty easy…just super annoying every day!! They definitely are backwards right now, my fault, because they pee inside then go outside. They’ll figure it all out, it feels just like having a toddler!! It feels overwhelming at times, but is also one of the coolest experiences ever – watching this little creature grow bigger, and form their own individual personalities! It’s one of my favorite parts of life.

So now that you’ve heard all about my pets, tell me about yours! How did you decide they were the one? Or were they a surprise too! I’d love to hear about it!!

Improving My Skin Part 2

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When you’re going through food sensitivity struggles, it can feel like every little thing will be an issue. It can be intimidating to even try new foods because you don’t know how it will affect you after. But once you know your trigger food(s) you can start healing your gut and know that you will be able to eat the things you want to in the future. I was throwing things against the wall to see what would help me, but I felt like I was stuck going in circles without any real solutions. Between 2018 and 2022 I felt like things were never going to change, and because psoriasis is an autoimmune issue, I thought there was nothing I could do.

Fast forward to 2022, a new program came out, The 4 Week Gut Protocol. Just like Whole30, the Gut Protocol program calls to eliminate the most common food allergens from your diet for four weeks, then reintroduce them one by one to see how things make you feel. The only real difference is in the GP you have guidelines to help you calculate how much food you should be eating, where the Whole30 just gives you the foods to avoid. This taught me how good I can feel when I’m getting all the essential nutrients my body needs instead of trying to piece together meals and *hope* I’m getting what I need. Which honestly, I didn’t think about nutrients at all during my first round of W30. Live and learn.

After four weeks of elimination, I felt AMAZING! I used to feel bloated almost all the time, pretty much as soon as I would eat something in the morning – I’d feel bloated all day. But eating whole foods in the right proportions helps the body truly work the way it’s supposed to. The best part – I started noticing a difference in my skin. It was nowhere near clear, but it was different. I didn’t reintroduce any foods right away, except I added ONE of the food categories back in – legumes. I *thought* this one would be fine and as someone who eats vegan + gluten free I wanted a little more variety in what I was eating day to day. Fast forward a week or two and my skin was changing again…but it was going BACK to the way it was before GP! Again, this is the part of the process that’s annoying – testing different foods to see what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes it feels easier to stick with the allergen free, whole foods way of eating instead of trying a food, waiting a few days to see how things go, adding it back in, waiting a few days again. It’s a process, but is so worth it I promise!!

Again I went back to the original plan, back to no foods that are on the common allergen list – including legumes – and I decided to continue on with it indefinitely. I wanted to see a difference in my skin again; I was determined! I was loving all the foods I was eating anyway, and my gut was feeling awesome! So it didn’t feel difficult to stick to. Reminder: it took five years of trial and error and winding down different paths trying to get here. It certainly did not happen over night!! Feeling confident about food, especially when you have to relearn every wrong thing you’ve ever been told by any media source, takes time and effort and will feel like a full struggle sometimes.

Fast forward to today, I’m still working on figure it all out, but have seen about 60% improvement in my skin. At one point I saw about 90% improvement – that was when I was eating completely clean with no hiccups in my diet. I have a new mentality about food and life, because, yes I want to feel my very best every day and I know that happens through what I consume. BUT, I’d also like to ENJOY life by eating fun foods that are not necessarily “clean.” For example, France is in my future travel plans and I KNOW I will eat macarons while I’m there – of course, not a vegan or gluten free or allergen friendly food. But would I really fly all that way and not enjoy the best of what they have to offer?? (the answer is no).

I am still following The Gut Protocol so my skin can maybe one day be back to 90% clear (or more), but I am OPEN to what life has to offer, and sometimes if I want to stray from my plan for the real important life moments (like croissants in France, not just pizza because I don’t feel like cooking).

Life is short, I believe we should treat every day as a celebration! You never know when the party is over. Eat the foods you like, but don’t forget we run on essential nutrients. Start with the very basics to help your body work the way it needs to, and add in the fun from there.

Want to see an improvement in your life through gut health, skin, energy, sleep, and more? Click here for the 4 Week Gut Protocol.

This post contains affiliate links.

Improving My Skin Part 1

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I have an entire section on this blog dedicated to my personal experience with the Whole 30 program; thirty days of food elimination to figure out which, if any, foods are causing different reactions in the body. Anything from bloating and gas to skin irritations and mood swings can be the result of food sensitivities! (In the United States alone, 60+ million people suffer from food related issues 😮) Talking to your wellness professional can help you get to the bottom of these issues, but in this country, that’s not always an option (read: our healthcare system is wack). Here are my personal opinions and experiences having completed one round of the Whole30 program, and made an entire lifestyle shift after the Gut Protocol program.

It’s not the easiest process to go through, but if you have a plan in place then it can be pretty simple. If I didn’t make a plan for every single week there definitely would have been a point where I would have slipped up. Without a plan, I would have given up the first time life felt too busy, or overwhelmed with all the tasks that present themselves throughout a normal day with kids and pets. There is a reason that the quote -fail to plan, plan to fail- is so popular. It is so true for most things in life! I’ll be the first to admit sticking to a plan has not always been the easiest for me, even when I am interested in whatever it is I’m trying to stick to.

When I first considered the Whole30 program I asked my husband, Matt, to do it with me for accountability because when he decides to stick to something, anything, that’s it – he does it. So I knew having him with me would help me stay the course. Thirty days later we felt pretty amazing…but we jumped right back into our old habits. This is when I started to feel pretty terrible. Although I had gone through the reintroduction phase and knew how things made me feel, I decided to ignore that, and wouldn’t realize until later on that I was feeling bad because I was still dealing with food sensitivities. I didn’t take what I learned from the Whole30 program and use it to better my life. It was more of a “can I finish this program,” and once I did I felt accomplished – but didn’t realize the true impact until later.

A few months after reintroduction I started to develop psoriasis patches on my skin, something I had never experienced before, but runs in my family. At first I had NO CLUE what it was and went into panic mode. But after a few days of wearing a band-aid over the new patch on my hand, I realized what it had to be, and used Google to confirm. Some might not make the connection between the two, but I think the Universe helped me find that relation. Before Whole30 I was eating the Standard American Diet, then after eating a squeaky clean diet for thirty days, I went right back to that S.A.D diet. In my head it made complete sense that they were related, but I was positive at the time it was only dairy that was contributing to my new skin problems. So I cut out dairy and meat. And still the psoriasis continued to spread. But I thought I just needed more time.

Click for part 2