Why I Choose an 80/20 DF/GF/EF Lifestyle
After nearly a decade of chronic bloating and gut issues, I felt hopeless and disconnected from my own body. I hated how I looked, how I felt, and constantly bounced between two thoughts: “I need to do something about this” and “Maybe I’ll just be like this forever.”
But one thing about me, when I want change, I’m all in.
I wanted to stop feeling like crap. I wanted to wear clothes that made me feel confident, to make it through a day without a nap, to stop the itching and mucus in my throat, and to finally wake up with energy.
After countless hours with doctors, self-guided elimination diets, and spending thousands on tests, I finally found something that gave me hope: a food sensitivity test by Meridian Labs that analyzed my blood against 200 common foods.
What I discovered blew my mind.
Foods I thought were healthy: eggs, black beans, bananas, Greek yogurt, whey protein, were actually inflaming my body. Basically, the exact foods you find in every “high-protein healthy” recipe on Pinterest.
When my naturopathic doctor reviewed the results with me, she put me on a 6–8 week gut reset. That meant completely cutting out the foods that caused high reactivity and starting a supplement protocol to reduce inflammation and rebalance my microbiome.
As she said, “Everything starts with your gut.”
And she was right.
What Happened During My Gut Reset
For 8 weeks, I ate a mostly paleo diet, clean, simple, no dairy, gluten, or eggs.
The results were almost immediate.
My skin cleared up. I stopped needing naps in the middle of the day. My digestion improved, my thinking felt sharper, and I started to recognize myself again.
I remember turning to my fiancé and saying, “Look! I’m not bloated anymore!”
It sounds small, but when you’ve lived with constant bloat and discomfort, that moment feels huge!
I finally felt alive again, energetic, clear-headed, and confident in my body.
💡 Curious how I discovered my food sensitivities? Read next: What I Learned After Spending Thousands on a Naturopathic Doctor.
When Real Life Happened
Of course, life didn’t stop.
There were birthdays, festivals, dinners with friends and suddenly, sticking to a strict DF/GF/EG diet outside of my kitchen felt really hard.
The cravings were real too: a slice of cake, a buttery croissant, an In-N-Out burger.
I didn’t want to be the person who always said “no” or who brought her own food everywhere. I also didn’t want to give up cultural foods that connect me to my family and my roots.
When I shared this with my naturopath, she explained something that completely changed how I approach food:
When you eat a food you’re sensitive to, those reactions can linger in your body for 3–4 days.
So eating them occasionally is okay, but eating them daily keeps inflammation chronic.
That’s when it clicked.
My bloating, mucus, itchiness, and fatigue weren’t caused by eating those foods once in a while — they were caused by eating them every day.
How I Found My 80/20 Balance
Instead of cutting everything out forever, I started spacing things out and getting intentional.
That meant:
Enjoying a buttery croissant once a week instead of four times.
Having eggs once or twice a week instead of daily.
Saving gluten and dairy for special occasions, not everyday meals.
At home, where I control what’s in my fridge, I eat clean, anti-inflammatory foods.
When I’m out, at birthdays, dinners, or traveling, I give myself permission to enjoy the moment.
That’s how I found my 80/20 split:
80% of the time, I eat in a way that supports my gut health.
20% of the time, I eat freely with no guilt, no shame.
At first, it was more like 50/50, but over time, as I learned how to order better at restaurants, recognize emotional cravings, and feel how good “bloat-free” feels - the balance naturally shifted to 80/20.
What This Lifestyle Has Given Me
This lifestyle has given me something I never thought I’d have again, control without obsession.
I’ve maintained my gut health while still enjoying the foods that bring people (and cultures) together.
It’s sustainable, freeing, and realistic.
My goal isn’t perfection. It’s peace.
Because food is more than fuel, it’s comfort, connection, and culture. The best conversations happen over shared meals, and I never want to miss those moments.
So, if you take anything from my story, let it be this:
Listen to your body, find your version of balance, and remember that healing doesn’t mean restriction, it means awareness.
💊 Curious what supplements helped me manage bloating, boost my energy, and support my gut after my naturopathic test results? In my next post, I share exactly what I take (and why) as part of my 80/20 lifestyle.
→ Read: The Gut Health Supplement Stack That Actually Worked for Me (coming soon)
