January Whole30 Kickoff Event at Pure Barre

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays!

We arrived home this weekend, after a lovely stay in Taos.  The time we spent with family and outdoors was refreshing and relaxing!  For me, one of the highlights of our visit was going skiing after a 20 year hiatus.  After two days of lessons, I fell in love with it again!  I’m certainly a beginner, but I’m determined to improve my skills during each winter visit in the coming months and years.  More on that in an upcoming post…

As I’d mentioned in December, I’m doing the Whole30 this month!  My start date is January 11th.  I chose a later start date because of our travel plans and because I knew I’d need time to get organized and ready!  I like to go into it feeling prepared!  I don’t know about you, but after a vacation it takes about a week for me to get settled into my routine once the kids go back to school and regular activities resume.  So, if you’re still on the fence about trying it, take a deep breath, get prepped this week, and join me!  It’s not too late!

I love starting the new year off right by focusing on healthy habits with the Whole30 and I love having like-minded friends alongside during the challenge.  It helps to have a support system and accountability with others!  Be sure to register for email updates (on the right hand side of my home page) so that you’ll be looped in on events I’ll be hosting this month…

My friend, Britta Noble, owner of Pure Barre Preston Hollow, along with a group of her clients will be doing the Whole30 with me this time around!  Britta has so generously offered a free Pure Barre class for readers (you!) this coming Saturday (1/9) at 9:30 am to kick off the program!  I’ll be around before and after the class to answer any last minute questions you may have about getting started.  (I’m not a Whole30 expert, but I have completed the program several times and enjoy helping others succeed with it!)  Lorna Jane Northpark will also be there with a trunk show from 9am-noon and offering 10% off your purchase.  I’ve linked a few of my favorite pieces from their winter collection below.  

*Email me to reserve your spot at the barre for this special class: andrea@loubiesandlulu.com.

Here’s what you need to do this week to prep for the Whole30 starting 1/11:

• If you haven’t already, purchase The Whole30 book or spend some time browsing their website.  (And, be sure to enter my giveaway for a chance to win a copy of The Whole30 on instagram!)  It isn’t mandatory to buy the book, but it is VERY helpful to have on hand as a resource, plus it contains lots of fantastic recipes to get you through the 30 days.  I also recommend It Starts With Food for more of the science behind how the Whole30 works.  

• Download and print the FREE Whole30 resources and put them in a binder or folder for quick reference during the challenge.  Add some blank sheets of paper or a meal planning notepad (like this one) to have everything organized in one place.

• Clean out your fridge and pantry!  Remove anything that could tempt you to veer off course.  Getting rid of those less healthy foods is helpful, especially during the first week!  For us, we have to make sure we don’t have any of our favorite sweets in the house!  Then, stock up on healthier Whole30 friendly items.  

• Make a solid meal plan for Week One.  Figure out what will work best for you.  I like to plan 5 complete dinners (with plenty for leftovers), and wing lunches with very simple meals made with ingredients on hand and whatever is left over from dinner.  Occasionally I will dine out for lunch.    When I do, I have my go-to places, where I know I can find something that fits the Whole30 guidelines.  Personally, I don’t crave variety in the morning and tend to have almost the same thing for breakfast daily.  Consider your needs and daily routine, and the better prepared you are the first week, the more likely you will stay the course for the 30 days.  You can do it!  

Let me know if there is anything you’d like me to cover during this Whole30!  I’d love your feedback on what would be helpful for you.  (Currently working on a Whole30 friendly restaurant/menu item guide!)  Have a great week, and be on the lookout for more posts this week to assist you in prepping to start your Whole30!

Photography:  Stephanie Drenka

CLICK TO SHOP:  LORNA JANE WINTER FAVORITES