Clean Eating Is For Everyone

Hi friends! 

So today let's chat about clean eating. 

Clean eating is often the part of health and fitness that people feel the most lost in. But it doesn't have to be complicated and is a lot easier than you think. 

So for starters.... 

- You want to eat 5 to 6 meals every single day. That means you should be eating every 2 to 3 hours. 

- Breakfast should be eaten within 1 hour of waking up. It truly is the most important meal of the day! Your body has been fasting for hours and needs some good nutrients to get it started and ready for your day. 

- If your food contains ingredients you cannot pronounce, you should NOT be eating it. 

- You need to familiarize yourself with sugar and its sneaky names. Sugar is hidden in foods you wouldn't imagine and has lots of names. The article below gives you an idea of how many names there are for sugar. 

http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/health_blog/other_names_for_sugar

Now down to the nitty gritty.... 

- You should be eating a mix of lean proteins and complex carbs. They work together to keep you full until your next meal. They also help your body get the fiber it needs and helps improve your digestion. Complex carbs are things such as whole grains, fruits, and veggies. Lean proteins are going to be things like eggs, fish, turkey, chicken, nuts, and seeds. 

- You need a couple servings of healthy fats every single day. I know, I know! Most of us hear fat and want to run the other way. But, our bodies need healthy fats to give us energy, help our body absorb certain vitamins like Vitamins A, D, and E, and it actually helps your body build healthy cells. Healthy fats are things like avocados, nut butters, and olive oil. 

- Fresh, fresh, fresh!!! You want to be eating a couple cups of veggies and fruit every single day. Fresh produce helps get your body fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They literally help prevent diseases, help lower blood pressure, and give key nutrients your body needs to work properly to name just a few benefits. So eat up!! :)

A few other key things....

- Stick to the outside aisles of the grocery store. The aisles are where you are going to get the processed foods that you want to steer clear of. Stick to fresh and real food. 

- You should be drinking half your body weight in ounces of water every single day. Your body NEEDS water! The article below is amazing at explaining why you need water. 

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/clark2.htm

- You can make so many options of your favorite processed foods with real ingredients. For instance, you can make your own granola bars. Raw oats, nuts, natural peanut butter, raw honey, and some dried fruit is all you need to make delicious ones! 

Remember....

It is a lifestyle you are creating and you are going to mess up and have set backs. Consistency is the key. Even if you have an awful day, you get back up and keep going. 

You can do it and if you need some extra help, I would love to work with you and help you get started today. 

Have a great day friends!

We All Start Somewhere

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Stefani and I am on a journey.

My journey started October of 2014.
I had been sick and dealing with health issues for over seven years. I would catch every bug and could not eat ANYTHING without becoming sick and being in the worst pain. Up to that point, I had been to more doctors than I could count and had more tests done than I even knew existed. For seven years I had doctors who thought I was making it all up, call me crazy, and treat me like a nuisance. I had tried every diet, tried removing gluten, and even had allergy testing done. At one point, I was even put on a month long diet of just liquids per doctors orders. By October of 2014, I was simply DONE. I was done with doctors and done being the girl that everyone only knew was always sick.

But October 2014 was the month my health started to change. I joined a challenge group with Beachbody and started to drink Shakeology every day. It honestly was my last ditch effort and I was very skeptical it was going to work. Within two weeks, I was shocked! I could eat food and it didn't make me sick. I was able to go all day without pain of any kind in my body. Not only was I feeling more amazing but I started to realize that I hadn't loved myself in a very long time. To be able to look in the mirror and not hate what I saw was something I hadn't been able to do in a very long time. As the weeks went on, I went through a lot of healing, inside my physical body and in my mind.

It wasn't just the nutrition and fitness that did it though. It was the community I became a part of that was there on my ugly days and my awesome days. It was the ladies that encouraged me in the moments I wanted to give up and was frustrated. It was the accountability I was given through my coach and the other challengers. It was life to me when I was ready to give up on my health for good. I am starting this blog because I know that I am not the only one who has struggled or is struggling with health issues. I know I am not alone in the fact that I still struggle some days to love myself and my image. 

So I want to invite you to join me.

Join me as I continue on my journey to being the best version of me I can be.

Join me by sharing your story. Your struggles, victories, and lessons learned along the way.

Join me so that you don't have to do it alone.

 Are you ready?