

Hi there! My name is Tammy and I recently took the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge.
So far I’ve lost 24 pounds and I have 10 more to go. I recognize the importance of celebrating every step of the way rather than waiting until I’m at the finish line to acknowledge how hard I’ve worked ๐
I first discovered CleanFoodCrush when I found a recipe on Pinterest when my gym was encouraging Eating Clean.
I followed recipes from Rachel for about 2 years before I actually signed up for the challenge. I went really slowly instead of jumping head first and that’s what felt best for me.
In January I was feeling terrible and decided I was ready to jump in and make the commitment. I was experiencing a lot of inflammation my doctor couldnโt find anything wrong, but I didnโt feel good. So I decided cleaning up my diet would help.
Itโs a lot easier to eat clean than to diet. I donโt think of this as a diet, itโs a lifestyle and I really like Rachelโs idea of the 80/20 mindset.
You donโt have to be perfect, nothing in life is perfect. If I have a meal thatโs not super clean when Iโm out, I donโt feel like Iโm cheating. To me, this is a way healthier mindset and allows me to live my life while staying committed to eating and feeling well.
When my kids were little I wanted them to eat healthy so it wasnโt a huge shock to the family when I started making more changes. We were pretty much a meat and potato and veggie family, so everyone has been pretty on board.
We eat as a family and enjoy the same meals without complaints! If my husband really wants mashed potatoes, he makes them and weย throw in a few sweet potatoes.
My mom did the challenge with me and she has been learning slowly to detox from sugar and bread. She’s slowly seeing some weight come off, and everything is coming into balance.
I donโt get enough exercise because I work from home and have shoulder pain, so I need to eat clean to lose weight. I’veย lost 24 pounds since the first challenge and I lost the first 10 pounds in 6 weeks. Here are my results:
- ย My sleep is so much better, I donโt snore anymore
- Inflammation is much better and I can tell now when I eat junk that itโs impacting me, especially really salty food
- My cravings are way lower, Iโm happy with my portions
- I lost a total of 24 pounds total and my goal is to lose another 10
Iโve done different programs in the past, so at first, my husband was like โhere we go againโ but this one is different and heโs been really happy with the investment. He is eating and feeling better too as a result!
Itโs been a slow process for me, but also a steady process. My next goal was to get under 160 and when I finally did that last week I was celebrating so hard!!
Iโm 55 and itโs not realistic to want to weight what I did when I was 45, but Iโm looking to feel good, be strong and be healthy.
I appreciated so much about the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge. The community is really helpful! Everyone shares recipes and tips, and you can post photos of what you’re making. Itโs really fun to learn how to prepare new meals with a group of people who can give you feedback on how to make it better. Iโm eating foods I didnโt eat before and Iโm using new tools that make prep a whole lot easier.
Weโve been trying tons of different recipes and new flavors and thatโs been really fun. I love all of the dressings! Itโs so nice to have foods and recipes that are healthy and taste amazing.
Here’s my advice to newcomers: Donโt be afraid of week 1! And try new things. As you work through things the first month your taste buds DO change.
A good example of that, is Iโm eating things like sweet potato and tomato – foods I didnโt like before! Iโm learning new things and enjoying all sorts of foods I never thought I would.
Donโt be afraid to try something new. Be open-minded – itโs good to jump in 100%, but you can also take small steps to get to that place if thatโs what works for you.
This is not an all or nothing challenge. The first week is difficult, but then it gets easier and it becomes flexible. The wisdom here is to not be afraid of change.