Getting Healthy

     We all want that fit, sexy figure. Whether our end goal is to look like a Victoria's Secret model or an IFBB Fitness competitor (I'm channeling my inner Dana Linn Bailey and Felicia Romero with a smidgen of Adriana Lima), the likelihood of our success is founded on what we bring into our bodies. Our diets. Yeah, I said it. 

     The foods that we eat can make or break our fitness goals. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. If we're eating greasy, salty, sugary junk foods then we'll never really make any progress, even if we are working out. All of those calories that we burn will be spent working off whatever naughty food we've eaten. But, if we eat clean, healthy foods then we will not only see results faster but we will also improve our overall health! Because, honestly, we don't just want that amazing figure, we want the longevity to enjoy all of that hard work!

     So, do we just add more fruits and veggies to our diets? No, that would be like putting a band-aid on a burn. The best way to achieve optimum results is to revamp our diets completely. This is what I did:

1.      I itemized all of the food items in my kitchen (daunting, but definitely worth it). Growing up, I was that kid that actually liked eating her vegetables, so when I saw how few veggies we had in relation to all of the junk food I was shocked.
2.     The next step is to get rid of your "go-to" snacks. For me that was chips and sodas. I donated everything that I could and threw away the rest; they were my diet crutch. Whatever holds you back from a healthy diet, get rid of it. You don't need that kind of temptation when you're first starting out because this is the time that you are most vulnerable.
3.      Now that you've gotten rid of the temptation, set dietary goals. I no longer had chips and soda so I replaced them with healthy items: apple slices and baby carrots with all natural peanut butter and flavored water. It's all about taking out the bad and replacing it with good.

     It's really hard at first, I'm not going to sugar coat it, but if you truly want to be healthier and fitter then you will stick with it. For me, it took two weeks of clean eating to get adjusted to it. The first two to three days I had headaches and felt like I had less energy than before. THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL!!!! On DAY 4, I began to balance out. Throughout the next week the cravings really hit me. I REALLY wanted to go grab a Vanilla Coke and a bag of Cheetos, BUT I DIDN'T!!!! I chose to rough it out because I genuinely wanted to be healthier. By the end of the second week, the cravings were so slight that they really didn't even bother me. 

     If you really want to lead a healthier life, this is definitely where you will want to start. Make it fun, experiment with different foods (I used to HATE asparagus, but now I love it!), include your family (they will hold you accountable and might even jump on the wagon with you!), and don't be discouraged when you slip up. It's okay, just last week I had nachos and chili-dogs, and I'm several months into my lifestyle change. The funny thing is that it didn't taste nearly as good as it used to. So, your taste buds adjusts with your new lifestyle as much as your body and overall health does. 

     If you really want this then you've got it, believe me, if I can then anyone can! I will be posting pictures and recipes on my blog as I go. I LOVE to cook and I find it fun and challenging to find ways to make old favorites healthy! If you are just starting out, do what I did: RESEARCH!!!! You can never know too much when it concerns your health. Educate yourself and it truly will make achieving your goals easier! Good luck!!!!