Free Yourself from Calories!

I remember being over 200 pounds and desperate. I had tried everything and nothing was working. So one day feeling very low I humbly joined a weight loss club. I was so excited! I remember buying all of the books, weighing in at the meetings and joining my group members weekly to discuss our weight loss issues. My instructor often brought us free “weight loss club” snacks that were very low in calories but very delicious. I signed the dotted line and thought I had found my people! It was comforting to be able to discuss my late night binges, or the really BAD weekends of throwing caution to the wind; those people understood. There was an unsaid “Eating-fat -while-trying-to-be-skinny” mentality that existed in my club. Weekly we shared our low calories food finds. For example; “ABC Company makes this delicious dessert that is only 10 calories” or “XYZ brands makes this yummy cheese spread that is only 15 calories.” I remember one night eating 5 of those 100 calories snack pack cookies and thinking; this can’t be healthy, but at least it was only 500 calories. I finally came to the end of my 6 month weight loss club membership only having lost 7 pounds; I knew then there had to be a better way.

The problem was the weight loss club’s reasoning for my future weight loss success was based on a math equation (factoring in no variables). They told me I could still eat the horrible bad food that got me overweight BUT they were just going to replace it with a lower calorie, chemically altered, extra processed replacement; instead of teaching me how to reprogram my relationship with unhealthy food. Yes for some this works for a while. We eat the lower calorie cookie instead of the really bad cookie or we eat the extra thin pizza instead of the doughy pizza; thinking all the while this will last. Well the process is doomed from the start. The focus is on what we can’t have instead of what we can. We are constantly reminded of the really good versions of the stuff that makes us obese, and before long we are back to buying the same foods that made us overweight in the first place. It is a vicious cycle.

But there is a better way! The process I went through to lose weight was all about retraining my taste buds and focusing nutrition. Most yummy horrible foods today are packed with flavor but low on nutrition; this is why you can still feel hungry after eating a big Mac with fries. I used to go into a deep depression after eating 3 slices of pizza and still having room for dessert, but it was all about the nutrition. I learned to like highly nutritious foods. The process of learning I went through was juice fasting (My juicing video), during this time my body was flushed of all toxins and my cravings for bad foods disappeared. While I fasted I researched nutritious foods that I planned on eating like: Kale, lentils, quinoa, squash and many more. The cool thing about fasting is it also makes you appreciate food, and so when I began eating healthy it was easy!

I encourage you to free yourself from calorie counting! Don’t get caught up in hype of calories in and calories out. While it is important to watch portions; the real focus should be on the nutritional content of the food you eat. Retrain your taste buds, get rid of the junk and become the healthy person you always wanted to be!

How was your experience in a weight loss club? How have you learned to eat healthy? Share your thoughts comments and questions below. 

Weight Loss: Don't Listen to Your Friends

Everyone has an opinion on how YOU should be losing weight. I remember when I got serious about losing weight, I got plenty of advice from all sorts of people some solicited and some not. Some advice was really helpful and others (usually the unsolicited) missed the mark. In MY personal journey I had to figure out what would work for me. Often, the problem with advice from others is that they don’t really know you. They don’t know that you are prone to ordering a whole pizza and devouring it in one sitting; they don’t know that you could eat a roll of cookie dough if left unmonitored and they don’t know that you’d rather drown yourself than run 1 mile around the corner.

Be careful who you invite on your weight loss journey. Most people have issues with their own body. People will project their own negative perceptions of themselves onto you when they see progress. It’s enough to battle the temptations, unmotivated moments and frustrations that go along with losing weight, then to add dealing with the psychological warfare your friends and family.  Trust, it is a full out war. When you do finally come close to your goal people will say “You look to thin you need to eat” or “Your always working out you should rest.” Don’t allow these negative perceptions to invade your psyche. Be strong.

It takes hard work to get in shape and stay in shape. You should be proud of reaching that point where fitness and healthy nutrition is no longer a chore. Yes, it is great to reward yourself but don’t let the words of others influence your choice.

 This past weekend I was on a family vacation. I have lost about 10 pounds since I started training for an upcoming marathon. One of my family members kept harping on my weight and said I was too thin. Meanwhile, I thought I looked great, and other family members told me how toned and fantastic I looked. However, this one family member kept encouraging me to eat and I did.  Before you know it I come home 7 pounds heavier. Instead of listening to myself I allowed the insecurities of another influence my choice. It was funny because the same family member who was saying I was too thing called me the day after we got back and asked for help losing weight.

You know yourself better than anyone else. Ask God for guidance on your decisions regarding your weight and getting healthy. He will steer you in the right path, put the right literature in front of you and send positive people your way.

Are there negative influencers in your life? Are you getting push back from family members about being healthy? Share your thoughts and experience. 

Your Body Is A Symphony Not A Soloist

I watched a great documentary, that I recommend many of you check out called Forks Over Knives. It explores the health benefits of eating a plant based diet to reverse disease. It was quite fascinating learning more about the links to nutrition and major disease in our society.

Personally, I have participated in heated discussions with people who argue that even people who are in shape still get cancer. My response is: What is your definition of healthy? Yes on the outside many of these “healthy” people look great and can perform athletically, however their diets are often rich in animal products and chemical toxins which lead to disease. We see a fit body and mistake that for optimal health.

This flawed thought process is rooted in the fact that we compartmentalize our bodies. We don’t realize that our body's functions work together. Yes, an all protein diet will give us ripped abs like Janet Jackson but it will also increase the cholesterol in our bodies giving us a heart attack like Dick Cheney.

We compartmentalize our bodies in terms of exercise. I get numerous emails from people asking how they can get a flat stomach; well I hate to break the news but there is not one solo thing you can do to get a flat stomach. You can do crunches till you pass out but if you’re not doing cardio you will never see those abs; more importantly if you diet is rich in sugar and lacks in fiber you will certainly never see those abs.

We even compartmentalize our nutrition. Those savvy food companies realize that if they put high in fiber, low in fat or high in protein on the packaging we will buy. We never consider the fact that we may be ingesting chemical fiber, high sugar that replaces the fat or synthetic protein that is a mutation of many animals all of which lead to disease.

I have been a victim of compartmentalizing for years but I broke free. You can too! First educate yourself, that documentary is a good start. Read and research about your body; it is the only one you have! Begin to eat and think whole, understand your body is a symphony of many parts working together to produce one sound. Eat cleaner foods that are as close to their natural state as possible and strive for optimal health on the inside.

What do you think? Can we just focus on one aspect of our bodies to achieve health? What is your definition of health? Share your thoughts and comments.

What is in your fridge?

From Left to Right: asparagus, scallions, eggs, mango, avocado, mint, line, chopped pineapple, tomato, orange, kale, mustard greens, pickles, grapes, celery, carrots, seltzer water, mustard, soy sauce, vegan butter

I am the nosey refrigerator lady. I always found it to be the most interesting part of MTV Cribs when they showed a celebrity’s refrigerator. So, in an effort to help people be healthier I decided to take a snap shot of my fridge. Conveniently the bar of dark chocolate and goat cheese are gone from last week but for the most part this is my fridge.

Tips to stocking your fridge:

Always have something healthy ready to eat: This was my pitfall for so many years. I would come home STARVING and start snaking on the first thing that I could grab and eat (while I was making dinner). I was gorging out on poor snacks like chips, crackers and granola fully knowing I was about to eat a full dinner. Now I am proactive. I keep some grapes, pineapple or carrots washed cut up and ready to eat so I don’t sabotage my night.

Protein is power. I try to make protein apart of all of my meals. This week I have some fresh local eggs next week it could be tofu but having a hearty source of protein on deck is a good way to make sure that you are eating leaner. Studies also show that protein with each meal helps you feel more fulfilled.

Don’t crowd your fridge. I have seen refrigerators that have layers upon layers of items to a point where you can’t see anything. We are simple creatures, so if we can’t see it we won’t eat it.  Don’t buy so much that you can’t see what you have purchased. I go as far as to not put anything in my drawers. Save your money and buy fresh. Line your items up so that you can see them! 

The fresher the better: If something can last in your fridge for weeks and weeks you probably don’t want to eat it because chances are it will last in your body for much longer. The more you are actively buying fresh produce the more you are actively making the choice to eat healthier. Furthermore produce doesn’t have to be expensive. I shop at my local Asian market and the prices are tremendously cheaper, also check out co-ops, farmer’s markets and food chains like Aldi’s.

Eat Life: If you eat something that was once growing you will feel more alive! All the chlorophyll, vitamins, photons will go right into your blood stream and be used for good. So knock yourself out eat a plant and feel alive.

What is in your fridge? What are some tips you have to eating healthier? Please share!

Can You Maintain this Diet Forever?

Often people reach out to me and ask “How Can I lose weight?” They tell me their stories of struggling with weight for years and attempting to lose those last stubborn pounds. I know the story all to well myself. I had been trying to lose the same 30 pounds since leaving high school. I tried everything on the planet to lose weight some healthy and some not. The only way I was able to succeed and maintain was by drastically changing my eating habits to a diet that is mostly natural and veggie based. This works for me because I love to cook and I really enjoy eating food that I know is going to be great for my body in the long term. I look at it as my “retirement plan” because I am investing in taking care of my body now so that it will be good later. More importantly above any of the benefits, I am happy.

BUT...that is ME. Everyone is unique. We each have our own body issues, likes and dislikes. The first question you should think about when attempting a new diet or way of life is this: “Can I do this for the rest of my life?” If the answer is no, then don't do it.

The best example of this is my own personal journey to health. When I was obese I used to envy people who I deemed as “Health Nuts.” I wanted so desperately to be active and to eat well. From personal experience I knew that my trigger foods were anything with white flour and chicken. I always gained weight after a spaghetti dinner or a trip to the Olive Garden. Eventually, my desire to be healthy and fit outweighed my desire for pasta and chicken. However, if I were to follow a diet where I could never drink wine again it probably wouldn't work.

My hope is that you will find my journey inspiring. When it comes to losing weight and getting healthy I encourage you to take knowledge from various sources and forge your own path. You know yourself better then anyone on the planet and deep down and inside you know what you have to do.

Share your thought and questions. What is something you could never give up in your diet? Have you had any diet pitfalls? Was it due to these reason?