The first time we mentioned ‘clean eating’ and hosted the first ever seminar with 28toLife, we had 7 people show up…two of which were coaches.  A year later we launched the inaugural ‘Whole Damn Thing’ clean eating challenge and had 95 participants.  The community has steadily grown here in Charlottesville and in Charleston over the last two years.

We’ve developed some amazing relationships, including with some awesome ‘clean’ partners in our efforts including our long-time friends at THE GOOD KITCHEN, formerly MODpaleo, who have just re-branded and improved their already amazing meals/meal plans.

If you haven’t checked them out yet – do it immediately.  They provide clean (in all aspects) paleo/whole30 compliant meals that ship overnight in amazingly packaged shipments for the best on-the-go, or just simply delicious (or ‘GOOD’) meals you could imagine – and now also meal plans.

PSA: the last two years I’ve actually ordered their Thanksgiving meals for my own family holiday celebrations, and I now stock pile their paleo stuffing, green bean casserole, and mashed sweet potatoes with mushroom gravy because it’s better than anything I’ve ever had before, paleo or not.

We’ll be sharing tons of resources over the next few days to help everyone get started with the best possible foundation, but don’t forget (if you haven’t already) to join the Whole Damn Thing Facebook group for community support, sharing, questions, answers, and usually some pretty good humor – you will not regret it, and geography does not matter.

As we prepare to kick off the 2017 edition it really brought my attention back to my own…well, lack of attention.  This blog was my motivation for so long, an outlet for things so far and distant from my day-hustle, and sometimes the easiest mode of communication with these amazing communities when the days seem to slip by too quickly, or when weekend fuel + sweat inspirations get buried too far under the stress-laden rubble of, say, a Monday.

As we march hard into 2017 (there’s no turning back now), I’m re-committing myself to the vulnerability, connectivity, and ever-loving-catharsis of sharing the resources, lessons, inspiration and strength that I try and fail with in my life. Even just for the benefits of going through the process I’m excited to get back to the structure and motivation that comes along with commitment — passionate commitment.

Here’s to a stronger, healthier, and all around amazing year of kicking ass.