So it’s been a week since I’ve been able to post and I am so sorry!  Life takes over sometimes and we are continually thrown curve balls.  It’s in these times it would be easy to get off track and forget about eating healthy and just grab the most convenient or cheapest fattening food and just keep going.  Have you noticed that the healthier food is more expensive?  A lot of people use the high cost of eating healthy as an excuse not to make a healthier life style change.  I look at it as an investment in my health and pretty sure I will have fewer trips to the doctor in the long run since I’m nourishing my body properly.  Eating those cheap, fattening, greasy foods may be more convenient and more readily accessible but you definitely pay for it in the long run.  I can think of a few side effects to eating an unhealthy diet, such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease just to name a few.

When my Dad was first diagnosed with heart disease they had us sit in on a class at the hospital that gave some practical instruction on how to make some changes to get him back on track.  First off, eat fresh veggies if possible and I don’t mean fresh fried veggies. (lol)  Steamed or raw vegetables are best but if you can’t afford fresh then before cooking canned veggies pour out the water that’s in the can and rinse them before cooking.  By doing this you will decrease your sodium intake.  Be sure to change from vegetable oils to olive oil. Olive Oil is a healthier choice and is a bit more expensive but it doesn’t take much when you’re sauteing veggies and not deep frying.  Grill or bake your meats and season to taste just don’t over do the salt.  Another change you can make is cut out as much sugar in your diet as possible. There are some healthy alternatives to sugar out there like Stevia or Monk Fruit.  I use Stevia everyday in my tea, coffee and sometimes in my smoothie if I want a touch of sweetness.

So I guess what I’m saying here is if your health is important to you, you will be willing to make some compromises and go that extra mile and make the healthier choice.  So when life throws you that curve ball, knock it out of the park!!!  😉  Have a great day Friends!

*Please note that I am not a medical professional and that I am sharing my story and what worked for me.

It can be overwhelming once you’ve decided to be a healthier you with so much information out there these days, who wouldn’t be?!?!  As I’ve mentioned before, making small changes may be your best bet to success.  If you aren’t physically able to get out and exercise then start with your diet first.  Start out by eliminating as much processed foods as possible and keep it fresh and simple.  For instance, for lunch you may want a turkey, veggie wrap.  I would suggest a whole wheat wrap, with a sensible portion of turkey and then pile on the veggies.  Instead of mayo use avocado so it’s not so dry.  Avocado has fat in it but it’s a good fat that is beneficial to your body where mayo is just bad all the way around.  Dinner could be a grilled chicken breast, asparagus sauteed in olive oil and maybe a small salad with a vinegarette dressing.  Also, skip the bread and crackers for now.

Before eating anything ask yourself, “Is this healthy for me and what nutritional value does it have”?  If the answer is that is contains no nutritional value then don’t eat it.  A properly nourished body will begin to function in the manner God intended if we eat what is good for us.  A rare treat is absolutely okay, ’cause let’s face it we are human and we like sweets and all the fattening ooey gooey desserts .  I try to save my treats for special days like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday, etc… because I know I will want to try something and not feel like I’m being cheated.

So if you’re not ready for a full blown diet change then start small with the advise I’ve just shared and remove processed foods.  Begin to only eat whole foods that have nutritional value and not concentrate so much on portion control at this point and just see how much better your body feels and begins to function.

*Please Note:  I am not a medical professional.  This is my story and what worked for me.