When I embarked on a Whole30 Journey a few years ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I mean I kinda understood how what we eat affects how we feel, but I vastly underestimated just how much affect it has. Since finishing My First Whole30 I have done a few resets since, but continued to use what I learned from the first one to shape what is now my "Whole Life" which is a balance between eating good quality food and staying away from sugar-laden products... while still enjoying my chocolate, cheese, and adult beverages. I have kept many of my Whole30 practices though, and absolutely keep a full jar of Whole30 Ranch Dressing on hand at all times, but there are a few kitchen gadgets that I highly recommend to anyone starting Whole30 or even trying to find the balance for your Whole Life. Here are my Top Ten Must Have Whole30 Kitchen Gadgets.

1. Elite Cuisine Maxi-Matic Egg Poacher & Egg Cooker with 7 Egg Capacity

This little thing is a total game changer. You have probably seen my struggle with boiling eggs, but this little thing has made all of that a thing of the past. This egg cooker perfectly "boils" seven eggs at a time. Perfect for egg salad, tuna salad, and more. It even comes with a little poaching and omelet tray! Throw in your favorite veggies and voila! Your Whole30 Breakfast is done! 

2. Power Air Fryer XL

I have never been a huge fan of fried foods... but there is something about being told you "can't" have something that makes you suddenly want it. The Power Fryer XL helps you alleviate that by giving you the ability to "fry" with just the power of hot air! Want french fries? No problem. Fried chicken - with almond flour of course - Easy peasy. But my absolute must have in this is my Garlic Balsamic Brussels Sprouts which cook in just 15 minutes - and will absolutely change the way you think about Brussels Sprouts!

3. Nesco Food Dehydrator

One of my favorite things to snack on was always dried fruit... but when you buy it already prepared it is just laden with added sugars. The Nesco Food Dehydrator lets you easily dry out your own fruits, vegetables, and meats - all while controlling just exactly what goes into it!

4. Magic Bullet

While Whole30 recommends you eat your meals and do not drink them, I found some days I wasn't hungry enough for a full meal, and a smoothie would do the trick. The Magic Bullet is the perfect sized portion for your Whole30 Smoothies.

5. Elite Platinum 3-Tier Food Steamer

If I had to give one bit of advice to someone doing whole30 it would be to not overcomplicate it. The beauty of food is that it tastes amazing...all on its own! Once you have broken free from the sugar dragon you will start to discover some of the wonderful flavors you didn't even know existed! This three-tiered food steamer was a life saver for me to get dinner on the table quickly and easily - and everyone loved it. Load up the steamer with your favorite veggies and let it do its thing while you cook up your favorite protein! Voila!

6. Power Pressure Cooker XL

Even with the best-laid plans... I still would have to make full meals in a hurry some days. That is when I relied on my Power Pressure Cooker XL that could get a pot roast from the market to my dinner table in about an hour. You can't beat that. What makes this guy even more amazing is that it can also be used as a slow cooker or for canning!

7. 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer

When Mike and the girls gave me this little gadget as a birthday gift, it was quite possibly the best gift ever. Why? Because to me, I took it as support in my new found healthy lifestyle and an understanding of my love for avocados! Since I literally eat an avocado or homemade guacamole pretty much daily, this baby has gotten a lot of use - and still cuts just as well as it did the very first day. Sure you can use a knife, but this cuts, seeds and slices your avocado all in the twist of a wrist!

8. Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer

Pasta was my weakness way more so than sweets, so when I discovered Zoodles - "noodles" made fro zucchini and other favorite veggies - I knew they were going to become a staple. I admit, it took some time to perfect the cooking of these little things - but this Spiralizer makes it a piece of cake (errr, squash?!) to get them ready!

9. Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender

You may have seen my Whole30 Mayo Recipe with a video that shows just exactly how I made that delicious creaminess that you almost want to eat with a spoon... and I did that method for a long time. Until a friend of mine introduced me to the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender... which takes about ¼ of the time and ½ the mess! This little thing is a must have for any Whole30 Kitchen!

10. Three Compartment Meal Prep Containers

Preparation is the key to success with any lifestyle - but especially Whole30. These Meal Prep containers let you divide the perfect portions of your favorite meals so that they are always ready - giving you zero excuses for "cheating" on your Whole30 because "nothing is prepared." Even though I worked from home, there were days when I got so busy, it would have been easier to run grab something in a drive through. Having these containers and getting in the habit of meal prepping every Sunday was one of the key factors to my Success On Whole30.

There is nothing about whole30 that is necessarily "easy" but these tools can help you make it easier. In the words of Melissa Hartwig - the creator of Whole30: “It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Quitting heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard.” If you want it badly enough - you can do it. These gadgets will help.

What tools have helped you with Whole30?

I have a confession. I have fallen way off the whole30 wagon. I am not sure exactly how or where it happened. A little bit of milk in my coffee here... a bite of chocolate after dinner there... It was like I looked at my plate one day and thought "what am I doing?" Crazy thing is that I was compliant during the holidays, had no problem staying away from the treats, didn't even go out drinking on New Years. None of those were my triggers. My "trigger"... was that I plateaued.

No matter what I have eaten since the end of my first whole30 round - compliant or not - I have not changed weight. No matter if I have exercised or not - I have not changed weight. Since August 7th of 2014 I have been within 1.5 pounds of the exact same weight up or down. No matter what.

And it seriously pisses me off.

I've started obsessing over the scale again - a habit 1 deposit casino canada.com I had broken with my whole30 round. I've begun thinking about food all the time again - eating stuff I know is not compliant, but what does it matter? I 'm not gaining or losing - so why not eat it? I started the negative self talk and beating myself up for my choices all over again. I even got to the point of "just eat the cake" because I am just miserable in this process - almost like post-whole30 blues. But it doesn't feel good.

I have "restarted" a couple whole30 rounds since August - however I have yet to complete one since my first. I always find a reason to fall off, a reason to quit, or I cave to the pressure of family and friends that have the "oh come on" attitude. And all the while I keep thinking "what does it matter... the scale isn't moving anyway."

But... it does matter.

I felt better on whole30. I looked better on whole30. I was happier on whole30.

For a few weeks now I have been talking about restarting another whole30, after my Girlfriends Getaway this week in Orlando. In fact, I have already begun eating mostly compliant, but I will not go 100% until I return on Monday. Part of me wanted to go ahead and start - why put off feeling/looking better - but I know that is a set up, and I am unwilling to give up on myself and fail another round again. I will eat mostly compliant while I am there - thankfully my bestie and fellow Whole30'er Joy is going with me - but I am not going to stress about it. I will begin the day I get home. And I will finish on April 30th. Yes. A Whole45. And... I will decide then if I will quit or not.

I am actually looking forward to this round more than I have the others. I have some great people on board with me, Angie from RunsWithCoffee will be joining in, and my friend Liz who I will be doing the POUNDFit Instructor Training with is jumping in as well, plus I have my amazing We Are Whole30 group on Facebook that I can turn to any time. My plan is to keep it simple - the way I did my very first round - and not over stress or over analyze, and just trust the process. I am also excited about some warmer temperatures and a chance to get outside. Call it an excuse if you want, but I hate being cold to the point of turning into a raging beast... trust me when I say it is better for everyone if I just hibernate.

And... watermelon will be back in season soon.

Unlike the times before, my goal is simply to finish a full 30 (well...45) days. No weight goal this time - its all about completion. Anything I gain or lose will simply be bonus. This is a test in finishing what I started after several times of stopping. Yes, I am going to document it. Yes, I am going to share it. Yes, I am going to be "that girl" with no apologies. Yes, I would like your support anyway. In fact, if you want to join me, I would love to do it together.

Hopefully I will break through this plateau. Hopefully I will again break the old, bad, self deprecating habits. Hopefully I will find that same happiness I had the day I completed my first whole30. No question, I will celebrate that I completed what I set out to do, regardless of the results.

This is me... getting back on the whole30 wagon.