I want to share some of the basic guidelines that I follow
for healthy eating. This list is full of
things that I JUST learned this year...yeah, about time right? After quitting and re-starting a certain
weight loss program numerous times over the years, I realized that I had no clue how to eat healthy. Now I'm not saying that I don't break my own rules from time to time with food (because I totally do -you need a cheat meal every now and then), but following these guidelines has helped me get to where I am today. It's hard to know what to eat after all of the commercials you see on tv and all the crazy stuff you read about diets and magic pills these days!!
Here's the Truth: When it comes to eating healthy in order to burn fat, it’s really NOT that complicated. You can make it that
way if you want, but I like to keep it simple!
So, here's my list of guidelines to follow when it comes to eating healthy:
- NO Processed Foods!
- If it comes in a package, take caution! I’m talking cereal, potato chips, bread, whole wheat pasta, frozen “healthy” dinners, protein bars, all that stuff. It’s all full of empty calories. Do your best to eat fresh natural foods. If you can't find it fresh, get it frozen. If you can't find it frozen, get it canned. Remember that you want to eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.
- Eat 5-6 Meals a Day
- You need to be eating 5-6 small meals a day. For me, that consists of breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, supper, and a post-workout shake. If you skip a meal or don’t eat every 2-3 hours...you will probably get really hungry and most likely overeat at the next meal.
- Drink Lots of Water
- Shoot for a gallon a day. Drinking water keeps you hydrated and helps lessen fluid retention. Stay away from Dr. Pepper, Diet Cokes, Coke Zeros, and Sweet Tea. Plain ole water is your new best friend.
- Remember your Macronutrients!
- These are your Proteins, Carbs, and Fats. If you want to burn fat - stick to 40% carbs, 40% protein, and 20% fat on a daily basis.
- Eat your Protein
- You need to be eating lean healthy protein at every meal. My favorite healthy protein sources are: tilapia, chicken breast, egg whites, lean beef, nonfat plain greek yogurt, and protein powder. If you skip out on your protein, you won’t be able to build muscle as fast, and you will be hungrier between meals.
- Eat Healthy Carbs
- Yes, I said eat carbs! :) And no, I don’t mean french fries! My favorite healthy carb sources are: green veggies, sweet potatoes, oats, quinoa, and brown rice. Stick to carbs that are low-glycemic, full of fiber, and slow-digesting.
- Eat Healthy Fats
- My favorite fat sources are almonds and olive oil.
- Eat Veggies
- Try to buy green veggies. My favorites are broccoli, brussels sprouts, and baby spinach.
- Cut out as much Sugar as possible
- Sugar turns into FAT...and where does fat go? For me, it’s my butt and legs, and I definitely don’t want more junk in my trunk! If you want to sweeten something up, use Stevia (it’s all natural and doesn’t contain aspartame or any of that other artificial stuff).
- NO ALCOHOL
- Alcohol just turns into sugar, then turns into fat...and we all know what that does. The way your body processes alcohol will also put you into fat-STORING mode instead of fat-BURNING mode. It's okay to allow yourself a drink every now and then, but if you don't watch it - you will grow yourself a gut real fast!
So, there you have it! I tried not to go into too much detail to keep things simple, so if you want to know more details - feel free to shoot me an email! I know that when I was just starting to learn about food, I didn't know what the heck macronutrients were and the thought of having to eat a % of this or that was overwhelming and confusing! If you want to take the guesswork out and get a custom meal plan, just ask me how and I will point you in the right direction.
**Bottom Line: If you want to burn fat, you have to learn how to be successful in the kitchen. You can't "outwork" a bad diet. What you eat is a HUGE part of what determines your success when getting healthy!!!!**
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