I have been getting quite a few questions about diet lately and also about how to kick starting a healthy eating plan. I have to admit, I also need to reset a little. Between December 22nd and January 22nd – we celebrated 3 birthdays, Christmas, New Years, and an Anniversary. Talk about a lot of special meals and just this once desserts!!
About a year ago, I shared with you a cleanse that I have found both helpful and doable. To be honest, I don’t really like to call it a cleanse because it does not involve living on juice or avoiding solid food, etc. like many cleanses do. How about we refer to this as a healthy eating kick start!
Here’s how it works:
You pick your time frame – anywhere from 1 week to 1 month (I usually shoot for 10 days and may decide to extend)
As you are picking your timeframe think about what you have coming up. Is your supper club in 2 days? Will you be able to participate and be selective about what you eat? The kick start works best if you don’t ‘cheat’ so you may want to delay your start or accept that you will say no to dessert!
What not to eat:
- Dairy – milk, cheese, yogurt, lattes
- Gluten – wheat, flout, bread, cereal, pasta
- Alcohol – margaritas and wine are out for a bit!
- Sugars- candies, sweets (this does not include natural sugars such as berries and fruit)
- Artificial sweeteners- buh-bye diet coke!
- Soy – soy milk, soy found in sauces and salad dressing
- Peanuts- peanut butter
Before you get discouraged and think “What’s left???” Take a look at what’s on the what to eat list:
- Fruit- berries, bananas, oranges, apples, etc.
- Nuts – walnuts, almonds, almond butter
- Vegetables – they are all good so load up on spinach, broccoli, roasted root vegetables, squash, brussels sprouts, eggplant and more
- Lean meats- shrimp, chicken, turkey, red meat, etc.
- Smoothies – made with protein powder and almond milk for example
- Almond milk
- Salads – without creamy or soy dressings
- Soup – if the ingredients aren’t cream based and on the don’t list.
This is not a diet! It’s a healthy eating plan. As far as serving sizes and meals – this is not about calorie restrictions. Eat healthy portions and 3 real meals. You can have a snack or two as needed. I like to begin each morning with a smoothie made of berries, a banana, walnuts, almond milk and protein powder. I often have a chicken breast and a vegetable for lunch or sometimes a salad or hearty soup. Dinner is a lean protein and more veggies. I snack on bell peppers, radishes, berries, walnuts and almonds.
Folks, this very doable and will reset your body with only healthy foods as your fuel. For me, without restricting calories, I always seem to loose weight when I only fuel my body with the things it likes. My digestion improves and I feel better!
While I may not maintain the full plan forever, each time I try it I make changes that I do carry forward. Here are some of my small changes:
- I’ve switched from dairy milk to almond milk in my smoothies and I think my belly really likes this change!
- I’ve stopped snacking on cheese- another belly pleaser!
- I’ve made fruit a more frequent part of my diet.
I encourage you to give it a try for 10 days or more and see how your body feels! If you have any questions – don’t hesitate to comment or message me.
*Note- I am a certified trainer with a passion for healthy living. I am not a dietician or nutritionist. Those with serious diet concerns or eating disorders should consult their doctor before trying any changes to their diet.
12South Pilates & Personal Training 