Melissa Hartwig (@melissa_hartwig) is a four-time New York Times bestselling author and co-creator of the original Whole30 program. She's a Certified Sports Nutritionist who specializes in helping people change their relationship with food and create life-long, healthy habits.

Melissa enjoys kettlebell training, yoga, hiking, solo traveling, and riding her motorcycle. She lives in Salt Lake City, UT.

In this episode, we discuss:

Escaping from her life with drugs
The gym kinda saved Melissa's life
Blogging... the early years
Whole30's origin story
Using food like a drug
Do you have an emotional relationship with food?
What makes Whole30 different from other dietary approaches?
Not combining Whole30 approved ingredients to make hyperpalatable foods
The organic growth of the Whole30 community
The most important part of Melissa's job
Having a vision from the very beginning
Foods to avoid on Whole30
Whole30 teaches you what foods work for you... on an individual basis
The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) vs. Whole30
Melissa hikes more than anybody she knows
Are you "paying yourself" first?
Don't get stuck on the saddest ferris wheel, of all time
Teaming up to do Whole30 with family or other groups
Are you hanging out with the right people?
How to make new connections as a grown up

Show sponsors:

Thrive Market <== Get your membership for as low as $5 a month & receive $20 in shopping credit with a 1 year membership (US only)

Raw Elements <== 10% off all Raw Elements products - Apply the code TUHP at checkout (free shipping over $100)

Perfect Keto <== 20% off all Perfect Keto products and they ship worldwide (free shipping in the US)

Sunwarrior <== 20% off all Sunwarrior products & free shipping over $50 (US only)

Related links:

Melissa Hartwig & Dallas Hartwig - The Whole30 (book)

Melissa Hartwig & Dallas Hartwig - It Starts With Food (book)

Melissa Hartwig - Food Freedom Forever (book)

Melissa Hartwig - The Whole30 Cookbook

Melissa Hartwig - The Whole30 Fast & Easy Cookbook

Melissa Hartwig - The Whole30 Day by Day (book)

Whole30 website

Follow Melissa on Instagram

The 44-year-old co-founder of cult diet Whole30 was once a drug addict — here's how she found huge success (CNBC blog post)

Listen to Gretchen Rubin previously on TUHP (episode #207 & #37)

CrossFit

Listen to Robb Wolf previously on TUHP (episode #145)

Related episodes:

319: Eric Zimmer – Overcoming Addiction, Maintaining Community, Broadening Your Perspective

317: Dr. Will Cole – The Inflammation Spectrum, Managing Anxiety, Homeschooling

285: Dr. Izabella Wentz – Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology • Thyroid Testing • Stress, Trauma & Autoimmune Conditions

259: Dr. Gabor Maté – Trauma, Addiction, & The Use Of Psychedelics

178: Mark Sisson – Ketosis Curbs Hunger • The Healthiest Oil • Reboot Your Metabolism

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229: Melissa Hartwig - The Whole30 Origin Story

The Jesse Chappus Show