Are You Eating Right and Not Less?

A lot of you have requested that I post about my daily diet. I say the word "diet" not as in a crazy fad diet, but as the food I consume in a day. Before going into my daily diet it is important understand the importance of a well balanced diet and some of the things we do because that's the hip new "fad" or we see others doing it and think it may work for us. 1. Never completely cut out anything if that is not your norm. By telling yourself, "I will NOT eat fast food anymore." or "I will NEVER eat refined sugar again." These bold statements only make us fixate on what we CANNOT have instead of what we CAN eat. I like to refer to this as reverting back to our 5 year old self. For example, when you tell a child they cannot have something that is all they ask about for the next hour. The same happens with our diet. Instead, eat in moderation and have a TREAT meal, something that won't kill your diet but also gives you a special treat. 2. Carbs are NOT the enemy. You don't have to take all the flour, bread, and potatoes in your house and throw them in a fire. Carbs are good, yet again, in MODERATION. Also, try complex carbs. Instead of white bread, try whole wheat, or even better, whole grain. Switch your pasta to whole grain pasta. Feeling frisky for some fries? Try sweet potato fries! Half the cost and about 1/8th of the cost! 3. Abs are made 80% in the kitchen and 20% in the gym. If your diet is not balanced and on key, all the hard work in the gym won't show. Try eating 5-6 small meals with complex carbs and lots of green veggies and be amazed at the energy you will have and how those results you have been working so hard to achieve seem more achievable. 4. Don't forget the calories in your drinks! Morning coffee? Afternoon pick me ups? Gaterade after the gym? All of these have extra calories and sugars. Drink water, and LOTS of it! Drinking lots of water will help with those few pounds that you fluctuate between and will not make you feel bloated (since your body won't be conserve water as much) 5. Don't eat past 8pm (or at least 2 hours before bed time). As we become tired and switch from on mode to sleep mode our body starts to shut down, a.k.a. slowing our metabolism down. When we late night binge, we are left with food in our stomachs while we sleep and it is unable to digest or what little actually gets digested. Not eating after 8pm will also help anyone who struggles with eating breakfast in the morning, you'll wake up hungry and ready for breakfast, which helps jump start your metabolism.

The key is eating right not less.

So now... A day's diet in the life of Stephanie Bland...

  Breakfast Melon and yogurt 6oz low fat (plain or flavored) yogurt, 3/4 cup cubed cantaloupe, 1tsp of honey (for sweetness, if needed) 1st Snack Banana and 7 walnut halves Lunch Turkey Avocado Wrap 3 slices of turkey, 1 whole wheat tortilla, 1/2 tomato, 1/4 avocado, 3 lettuce leaves, and 1 Tbsp Italian dressing 2nd Snack 1Tbps peanut butter and 2 celery sticks Dinner Honey Dijon chicken with Steamed Garlic-Parmesan Broccoli Chicken- 6oz, dijon mustard, honey, parsley flakes, and salt to taste (coat chicken and grill for about 7 minutes on each side) Broccoli- 1 cup broccoli, 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt to taste (steam broccoli drizzle with EVOO and  sprinkle cheese and garlic salt)   Total Calories: LESS THAN 2,000!   Eat Breakfast Like A King. Eat Lunch Like a Princess. and Eat Dinner Like a Peasant.  For more nutrition help, click here to check out our 14-Day Nutrition Guide & get the most out of your workouts!