whole30 egg casserole

10 Honest Tips for Surviving Whole30

*Hi there! Super excited to have a guest post~ here on Ampersand. Just like how I love sharing cool new things with you, I love when people share awesome ideas/tips/events with me! Meet my cousin Bethany–carb enthusiast (ironic for this post) & fan of Ampersand. Y’all can follow her her here on Instagram.

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Bethany is a recent graduate of Liberty University. In her spare time, she loves hanging with her family, reading a good book & going down the shore (#jerseygirl)

Diets are tricky. They change constantly, they’re IMPOSSIBLE to follow and they can be so expensive sometimes. So I was hesitant to try a new diet. I had never had any luck sticking to them in the past. Then I found Whole30. Now don’t get me wrong, Whole30 is NOT a walk in the park, but it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. If you want to learn more about it or try it for yourself, click here. Or pick up a copy of It Starts with Food by Melissa and Dan Hartwig. The gist of the diet is cleaning out your body and resetting your metabolism by cutting out 5 major types of food: Sugar, Legumes, Dairy, Grains, and Alcohol. While it looks hard on the surface, dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a rewarding experience and a healthier you!

Here are some tips from my experience on Whole30 (which turned into the Whole90+ for me!) 

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crisp fall day

Dreary Fall Day, featuring L.L. Bean Boots & Apple Cider

My mom & I have an autumn tradition. Ever since I was little, every October we’d go to this tiny cider mill called Hacklebarney Farm. Once a year, I get to savor an afternoon full of crisp fall weather, apple cider everything & spending time with the fam. This annual Hacklebarney trip has become so ingrained in my year that ever since I moved out, I pick an October weekend to celebrate my bday at home…and go to Hacklebarney.

This year was no different. My mom and I picked last weekend as the annual Hacklebarney trip, and I actually counted the days until it arrived. When Hurricane Matthew threatened to bring rain up the east coast, my mom and I were a tad worried about our outdoor outing, but damnit, we were going to go to Hacklebarney no matter what.

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Likes & Favorites: Summer Staples

I’m a sunset lover, sangria drinker, country-song singer & self-proclaimed s’mores enthusiast. Long weekends down the shore give me life again and there really isn’t anything better than the sound of the ocean on a perfect sunny day. Basically, summer is 100% the best time of the year & I’m liking/favoriting every bit of it–especially these summer staples.

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