Story and photos by Allison Munder Contributor
It’s January. The gym is packed with people who want to stick to their New Year resolutions of staying fit and healthy. Like those people and their brand new gym memberships, I am also trying to change myself for the better, specifically my diet. It's pretty hard to do when you’re a dedicated food entrepreneur and lover like myself.
Blogilates, a YouTube channel run by Cassey Ho, is dedicated to showing viewers healthy habits. The channel created the 28 Day Reset, which is similar to the Whole 30 diet but with less restrictions. For 28 days, you eliminate added sugar, gluten, processed foods, alcohol and dairy - food items known for causing skin irritation, bloating and other discomforts - from your diet. The cleanse is designed to help you reset your body. Once you’re done, you can slowly add those foods back into your diet to figure out what works for you.
At first I thought this was not going to do anything except make me sad. I couldn’t eat my favorite foods like In-N-Out. My cravings were the worst during the first two weeks and there were moments where I felt like I was going to break and drive by McDonalds to swallow a Big Mac with fries.
However, after adhering to this diet, I have a lot more energy throughout the day, my skin has cleared up and I feel a lot more comfortable in my clothes.
The 28 Day Reset requires dedication and time. You could meal prep and follow the cook book designed by Ho, which plans out your three meals and two snacks a day for all 28 days, or you could simply follow the guidelines given and create your own meals. When I had free time, I created my own reset-friendly meals like shrimp fajitas. The recipe is easy, delicious and filling and you can make enough to have leftovers for the next day.
Shrimp Fajitas (under 450 calories):
Ingredients –
6 ounces shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 bell pepper
½ onion, sliced thin
1 fresh jalapeño, sliced (optional)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp of chili powder
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp pepper (adjust for taste)
1.4 tsp salt (adjust for taste)
1 tbsp of olive oil
½ avocado (optional)
Directions:
1.Heat up the olive oil in a medium sized skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot add the shrimp, bell pepper, onion and garlic.
2. Add in all of the seasonings, mix, and cover it for about 12 minutes. Stir every 2 minutes.
3. Serve with avocado slices on top. You could serve it with 1/2 cup of brown rice.
The 28 Day Reset isn’t for everyone. It is important to consult with a doctor or a nutritionist before making any type of a change to your diet. I would recommend the reset to anyone who is trying to make healthy life changes and figure out how their body reacts to different foods.
Would I do it again? Definitely!
