Beauty From Within: My Journey Through Whole30®
Because true beauty starts with how we nourish ourselves—inside and out.
Me In July of 2013 one year prior to my photo with Izzy on the beach when I worked at Katana in Winchester.
Where It Began
When we consciously invest in our external appearance, it’s easy to overlook what truly fuels our beauty from within.
The strength of our hair, the clarity of our skin, and the way we carry our energy—all reflect how we care for ourselves on the inside.
My journey with Whole30® began during a difficult season, when I was managing a herniated disc and struggling to feel like myself. I wanted control, clarity, and healing. Clean eating became the tool that helped me rebuild.
The effort was immense, but the results were transformative. I regained energy, reduced inflammation, and broke free from medications. That experience changed my relationship with food—and with myself.
One Month before I had my daughter in August of 2014
Food, Reflection, and Growth
I grew up living to eat, not eating to live. Facing that truth was uncomfortable, but necessary.
My approach to food shifted when I realized it wasn’t about restriction—it was about respect.
During pregnancy at 41, I stayed mostly paleo and credit that lifestyle for a healthy, balanced experience. Of course, I wasn’t perfect—there were Wendy’s runs and secret fries—but it was progress, not perfection.
Learning to Thrive
By my third Whole30® reset, I had refined the process: planning, cooking, and budgeting with ease. The hardest part wasn’t the food—it was the discipline.
But with each cycle, I found clarity, energy, and calm. My body stopped craving sugar, and my mind stopped chasing quick fixes.
I don’t view Whole30® as a diet. It’s a mindset—a reminder that I’m in control of how I feel, and that caring for myself is an act of love.
The Book That Started It All
I still have my original Whole30® guide. Its pages are wrinkled and stained from years of meals. My daughter’s doodles mark the recipes I make most.
That book isn’t perfect—but it’s cherished. It represents growth, imperfection, and gratitude.
“The more I care for my body, the more I see that beauty isn’t something I create—it’s something I uncover.”
What It Means Now
These days, balance matters more than rules.
I want to model a healthy relationship with food for my daughter—to show her that discipline and joy can coexist, and that wellness doesn’t have to mean rigidity.
Life happens. It knocks us off our horses, but the important thing is to get back on and ride the best we can.
The Hair Mansion Perspective
The more I care for my body, the more I see that beauty isn’t something I create—it’s something I uncover.
It’s the glow that comes from clarity, confidence, and nourishment.
From behind the chair to the kitchen counter, it’s all the same intention: to live beautifully, inside and out.