MEET ERINN, YOUR WHOLE30 CERTIFIED COACH

Hi friends! My name is Erinn. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona where I currently live with my husband, Tyler, and our two-year-old son, Jack. I am a certified Whole30 coach pursuing the healthiest and happiest life I can imagine, but that wasn't always the case!

A little over a year ago I was starting back at work again as a First grade teacher, still nursing my son and pumping at work, and basically just in survival mode in every area of my life. I still had 15 pounds of baby weight to lose and I was exhausted all the time. I put absolutely no thought or effort into what I was feeding my body, or my mind, and the real-life consequences of that hard truth were beginning to wear on me. I didn't look or feel my best; I had acne, inconsistent or non existent energy, constant bloating, and regular stomach aches, among other things. At the time I honestly just thought all of this was kind of normal.

Then one day in September I was driving to work and decided to listen to an episode of Jen Hatmaker's For The Love podcast. On that particular episode she was interviewing Melissa Hartwig, co-creator of The Whole30. I listened to that interview in total awe. I was so intrigued by the idea of an elimination diet; a whole body reset. But let's get one thing straight, I was in no way interested in the idea for myself...I knew that I personally could never possibly commit to, let alone finish, something like the Whole30.  No freakin way! I had a few friends in mind though who I thought would like it...so I promptly forwarded them the link to the podcast and went about my day.

I thought I was off the hook and could go on my merry way, pretending that I didn't know that the food I was eating was most likely the culprit for how badly I felt. Who wants to admit that having a giant glass of milk and eating an entire row of Oreos on a nightly basis (not even an exaggeration) is a bad thing?! Surely it had to be some genetic issue or something far outside of my control, right? 

Fortunately, despite my best attempts at sticking my head in the sand and pretending I didn't know what the first step to feeling better was (food!), I couldn't shake the hope that the Whole30 program offered. My son had his first birthday on October 1st. I stopped nursing him that day, we had a party and I ate a bunch of pizza and cake that made me feel crappy, and then I found myself driving to the grocery store that evening feeling completely desperate for change. My baby wasn't a baby anymore. I had no lame excuse for why I still had weight to lose or how I didn't have enough time to prep and cook. The reality of where I was at hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew there had to be a better way. I didn't want to live like this, or feel like this, forever.

That's when The Whole30 came to mind again. In that split second I had a burst of confidence and momentum (much like you are probably experiencing right now) and I decided to commit to it right then and there! Mostly because I knew that if I didn't act on that inspiration and motivation right that second, I would lose it, talk myself out of it, or make up yet another excuse for why this wasn't the right time. I sat in the parking lot of Sprouts, looked up the Whole30 rules and made a meal plan and grocery list, and then fumbled through the longest shopping trip ever... reading every single label in great detail to be sure it was all compliant!

The next 30 days were everything you can imagine. Intense cravings, great days, bad days, lonely days (since I didn't have a coach or community to support me) and the realization that I had had a really unhealthy relationship with food up until that point. I did it though. I made it 30 days with absolutely zero cheating and the program positively changed.my.life. Sure, I lost weight and looked better than I ever had...but more importantly than that, I proved that I could keep a commitment to myself. I changed the food that I put on my plate, and that changed everything.

Upon completing my first round of Whole30, I quickly discovered I had a passion for sharing the program with friends and family, so I decided to pursue certification. 4 rounds and an extensive certification process later,  and I have now left my job as an Elementary School teacher and am coaching full time! I am passionate about teaching people just like you how to do a successful 30 day reset. I love facilitating Whole30 groups, holding a space for my clients to be accountable and feel fully supported, and providing all of the resources and encouragement you could possibly need to take this first step toward the life and health you deserve.