Happy New Year! I recently heard an obvious fact.....getting fit (a.k.a. loosing weight), is the number one New Year's resolution. No surprise given the parties, treats, and endless-libations in December. I certainly got off track this year. I was extremely busy and food and wine were abundant. I'm going back to my five tried and true tricks and habits. I love the feeling of being in tip top shape and feeling fit.
Here they are. I hope this helps you too!
1. Cut out dairy.
We all know cutting out sugar is good but cutting out dairy can be a game changer. When I cut it out I noticed how much less bloated I felt and my tummy was more steady. I also felt more satisfied with almond milk in my coffee than I did with cows milk. It's easy to find substitutes for recipes.
Cutting out dairy doesn't mean you have to cut out foods like pizza. It's easy to have your favorite foods sans cheese. I was surprised at how much I liked things without sour cream, cheese and so on. it was hard at first but with one trip to the grocery store knowing it was off limits, I was easily able to find multiple options to take it's place.
2. Eat when you aren't hungry.
Yes, you read this correctly. Sometimes if I know I'll be eating late, going to a party or around food that's hard to resist I eat something healthy so I'm not famished and ready to devour anything in site later on.
3. Drink mock-tails instead of alcohol.
Most nights I love a really good glass of wine to relax. What I don't like about wine besides the calories is the sugar rush it gives me. Instead I like to have a glass of sparkling water with lemon or a splash of pomegranate juice and drink it in a cocktail glass. It feels like I'm sipping something naughty without the same amount of sugar and side effects.
4. Convince yourself you don't like foods you really like.
This may sound crazy but it works. Back in college I would eat cookie dough...who didn't? I would often wash it down with a mocha, warm or iced....with whip cream. Those days are long gone for multiple reasons. I still enjoy my coffee but with unsweetened almond or coconut milk. It isn't about deprivation it's about choices. I also am painfully aware of how unhealthy it is to eat raw dough despite how tempting it is. Still, my health trumps my taste buds and I've even developed a slight aversion to it after brainwashing myself about how yucky it is.
There is also the sore subject of meats. While I'm not a vegetarian and I love a good steak, I'm leaning towards a vegan lifestyle for humane and health reasons. I've seen too many things on social media to ignore what happens to animals, and I'm aware of how easy it is to get nutrition elsewhere.
5.
Never eat any food with preservatives.
This is simple and I think the most effective way to eat healthy. It's not as hard as it sounds. Once preservatives are off limits the world of fresh food is your only option. It instantly increases your chances of eating food your body can easily digest and use as fuel instead of storing it on your hips. Plus, food at Whole Foods and Trader Joes makes this easy because they sell nothing with preservatives. If you can't read the ingredients on the label with out feeling like you are speaking a foreign language, then it probably didn't grow in nature...therefore it doesn't belong in your body.
If there is one rule you adopt from this list please let it be #5!
