10 Tips and Tricks for Healthy Eating!

As you might have seen, this past weekend, I unabashedly shared my fitness journey with you HERE!

In case you missed it, here is a video I made for the RIPPED 2 FIT challenge.  This video really took me out of my comfort zone... but I did it!  Please don't make fun of my awesome movie making skills, and ignore the darn cricket will you? I  was absolutely astonished when I found out I made it  to the top 10 in this nationwide contest... I would be absolutely THRILLED if you took a minute out to vote for me HERE! Voting goes until June 15th!

Today I want to share with you some tips and tricks on EATING healthy.  Eating has been BY FAR my hardest challenge.  I could exercise until the sun goes down, but it would not make any difference if I am not eating right.  I have heard it said that eating right is 80% of the weight loss equation, and I would have to agree! 

Disclaimer:  I have lost weight the old fashioned way, watching what I eat, and exercising my butt off (quite literally)!  I did not cut any specific foods out of my diet.  I did greatly reduce some foods beverages.  For example, I used to eat white bread quite frequently (I know), now I hardly ever eat any, I have found much better alternatives! These are just some tips that have helped me through this journey, they are not research driven, some of them are no brainers, but I do hope a couple of them might help you out! Stick around because tomorrow I am going to give some examples of healthy meals and snacks!

(VIA RIPPED Facebook Page)

10 TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HEALTHY EATING:


1 WATER WATER WATER: I know you have all heard this a million and one times, and it is still true!  Drink water, it is refreshing and has zero calories, and will help you flush out the bad stuff you eat if you have a bad day!

2 Stabalize your Blood Sugar:  In order for your body to lose weight and feel great, it needs to be taken care of.  You can do this by eating smaller balanced meals throughout the day, and not allowing your blood sugar to spike. On a Perfect day (and they aren't all perfect) I eat around 7:30 (breakfast) 10:00 (snack) 12:30 (lunch); 3:00 (snack) 6:30 a larger dinner. I find that by eating steadily throughout the day, I don't feel hungry and have the energy I need. The RIPPED diet is based off of this principle you can read way more about this HERE.

3 Brush your Teeth with your KIDS:  I know this sounds silly but it helps.  My kids brush their teeth around 8 pm, I brush with them, and then I am not tempted to eat ice cream with my hubby later because my teeth have a clean minty fresh flavor.. OK, it does not always work, but it definitely helps!


4 MAKE A PLAN: One of my favorite lines in Alice and Wonderland is when the Cheshire cat tell Alice,  it does not matter which way you go, if you don't know what you are going... The same is true for food... It doesn't matter what you eat, if you don't know what you are trying to accomplish. This is not to say I  have a perfectly planned out meal plan everyday, because I DON'T.  I do try to keep stocked up on healthy foods for snacks and meals, so I have them available to me.

5 Only Pig Out on Good Food..... then STOP: Before I started on this journey I would mindlessly eat handfulls of something really tasty (*sarcasm*) like frosted mini wheats.  While they are tasty they are not something to pig out on. There are relatively few times during the year that I have really really good food, when they do come around, I PIG OUT.  I do not count points or feel guilty about what I am eating, I just enjoy it... then I STOP.  It is very easy to turn one great meal, into a day of feasting, and then even a  LONG weekend of feasting.  After the meal, I stop, I go back to counting what I eat, if I eat fattening leftovers, I make sure it is in moderation.


6 Know What You are EATING: When I joined Weight Watchers online,  I was stunned to find out how much I was eating... those Frosted Mini Wheats I was eating are a lot of points and more importantly calories, they add up! I try my best now not to mindlessly eat and to track and write down what I eat.  I have used Weight Watchers Online, and have really liked the points system.  It is a bit pricey at $18 a month.  You can also use a My Fitness Pal, which is a free way to track your calories and what you eat.

7 Sneak in the fruits and veggies:  This has not just been a journey for me, it has been a journey for my whole family, I want a healthy lifestyle for all of us. I make an effort to make sure a fruit and/or veggie is present at each meal.  And I most often try to serve them in whole form.  It is amazing what fruits and veggies your kids will love.  Lately we have been enjoying Jicama and Honey Dew Melon.

8 Fattening Dressing and Sauces are of the DEVIL: I went out with my Mom and Sister to lunch, I thought I was being so good, I had the turkey, cranberry, and sunflower salad with a sweet berry vinergerette I had on the side.  When I got home I found out my sister who had a turkey bacon, avocado sandwich had HALF the calories of my salad.  I was mad, I still am (this is why it  made it to the list) Know what you are eating, ask questions, Honey Mustard is usually the least fatening I have found, and don't go for the really fattening sauces!


9 REDUCE don't ELIMINATE certain foods:  So I cried the day I read an article where they made a healthy brownie by making it out of black beans. NO JOKE.  I thought to myself if this is the way it is going to be SHOOT me now!  I LOVE FOOD.  For me it works best if I reduce the amount of what I eat rather then eliminate it, or make it so healthy nobody wants to eat it.  I still make cookies with my kids but probably not as frequently... but I do, and I can do it now without inhaling a half a dozen cookies, and licking the beaters!  It takes will power, I let myself ENJOY a cookie (or whatever) then I stop.  The first bite is as good as the 20th, I promise.

10 NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP: I cried when I saw my before and after picture, when they announced the top ten finalist in the R.I.P.P.E.D. 2 Fit Challenge.  I have lost 31 pounds since Janruary but it has been pretty slow, on average I have lost 1.3 pounds per week.  It took me a LONG time to see a difference and for others to see it as well.  I had not compared my before and after pictures, when I saw that I thought to myself WOW, I have made a change, I can see it, and I can also feel it.  It is so odd to be talking about how to lose weight because I have been on the other side for so long.  Don't give up, there were many times I felt like I couldn't do it.  But now I look back and think it has been six months... if I hadn't been working on losing weight six months still would have gone but nothing would have changed.  Bad days WILL come, it is OK, drink some water, and start again, but do not GIVE UP.  Weight loss is a journey, it may take a while but it is worth it my friend.

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by! I would be absolutely THRILLED if you took a minute out to vote for me HERE! Voting goes until June 15th, wish me luck!

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My Weight Loss Journey