So, I said I was going to use this “off-time” to indulge and relax a bit….well, it has definitely gotten out of hand! I’ve eaten junk food like Garfield scarfs down lasagna—it’s quite impressive, if I do say so myself. However, I now feel A-W-F-U-L. It’s been over a month of eating/drinking whatever I want and I can feel it. I’m sluggish, sleepy, bloated, and a tad porky these days. I may not weigh THAT much, but I no longer have abs, a skinny face, and my jeans are a bit snug.
I’ve been saying it for a while now, but I have to detox. I’m starting from square one—like any other person (maybe with worse nutritional habits than the average human!)—how do I start this “detox” process? Pills?….nope. Magical supplements?...nope. A juice cleanse?...nope. Forcing myself to eat like a rabbit until I can’t take it anymore and pig out on sweets again?...nope.
It’s rather simple, really. Start by making one small change to my diet or the foods I eat. Here’s a practical example so you get the idea…(I’ll use the example I shared with my friend and awesome hairstylist, Claire):
I asked her, what is your vice? She immediately said, “I put too much sugar/creamer in my coffee”. (She said something like 4 or 5 little Splenda packets.) My advice to her was simple…start small. Try having your coffee with only 4 Splenda’s instead of 5. (Do this consecutively for a few days). After a few days, try reducing the number of Splenda packages to 3 or even 2, if you’re feeling frisky! Keep up this trend until you’re down to 1 or even none, if you can drink your coffee black. Other healthier options you can try (if you still need the sweetness) include: honey or agave nectar.
**FYI, you’re better off using real sugar in your coffee instead of sugar substitutes, as you’re basically putting toxins in your body when you consume them. They are made of manufactured chemicals that can cause awful effects on the body, including skin rashes, headaches, and stomach pain. And, if that wasn’t enough to convince you, according to studies by Purdue University, artificial sweeteners can actually increase your appetite. YIKES! (That won’t help the waist-line!)
Let me get back to my point…My solution isn’t earth-shattering or revolutionary, but that’s what makes it actually DOABLE. It’s not a drastic, overnight change. We need to slowly wean ourselves off of the artificial sweeteners, sugars, junk foods (and drinks), and toxins that we put in our bodies on a daily basis! We need to slowly break our bad habits and replace them with healthier alternatives. It’s definitely a big challenge but, when done in small doses, it’s doable!
So, to get this party started, I’ve decided that my first step towards a healthier diet and "detox" is this:
Before I can have ANY dessert, I first have to make sure I’ve consumed a meal which includes protein and essential nutrients (veggies, anyone???) to get my body through the intense practices and beatings it takes on a daily basis. It’s a big task, but I know I can do it…I HAVE to do it! Otherwise, I’m not going to be able to get through work and judo practice! :)
Just keep in mind, if you try making small changes to your diet, it doesn't have to be anything as drastic as I'm doing. Try snacking on fruit to curb your sweet-tooth instead of a candy bar. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Try consuming carbonated, flavored water instead of soda. Fill your plate with a few extra veggies and a little less of the refined starches (like pasta, white bread, white rice, biscuits, etc.). Start small! And remember this proverb:
I’ve been saying it for a while now, but I have to detox. I’m starting from square one—like any other person (maybe with worse nutritional habits than the average human!)—how do I start this “detox” process? Pills?….nope. Magical supplements?...nope. A juice cleanse?...nope. Forcing myself to eat like a rabbit until I can’t take it anymore and pig out on sweets again?...nope.
It’s rather simple, really. Start by making one small change to my diet or the foods I eat. Here’s a practical example so you get the idea…(I’ll use the example I shared with my friend and awesome hairstylist, Claire):
I asked her, what is your vice? She immediately said, “I put too much sugar/creamer in my coffee”. (She said something like 4 or 5 little Splenda packets.) My advice to her was simple…start small. Try having your coffee with only 4 Splenda’s instead of 5. (Do this consecutively for a few days). After a few days, try reducing the number of Splenda packages to 3 or even 2, if you’re feeling frisky! Keep up this trend until you’re down to 1 or even none, if you can drink your coffee black. Other healthier options you can try (if you still need the sweetness) include: honey or agave nectar.
**FYI, you’re better off using real sugar in your coffee instead of sugar substitutes, as you’re basically putting toxins in your body when you consume them. They are made of manufactured chemicals that can cause awful effects on the body, including skin rashes, headaches, and stomach pain. And, if that wasn’t enough to convince you, according to studies by Purdue University, artificial sweeteners can actually increase your appetite. YIKES! (That won’t help the waist-line!)
Let me get back to my point…My solution isn’t earth-shattering or revolutionary, but that’s what makes it actually DOABLE. It’s not a drastic, overnight change. We need to slowly wean ourselves off of the artificial sweeteners, sugars, junk foods (and drinks), and toxins that we put in our bodies on a daily basis! We need to slowly break our bad habits and replace them with healthier alternatives. It’s definitely a big challenge but, when done in small doses, it’s doable!
So, to get this party started, I’ve decided that my first step towards a healthier diet and "detox" is this:
Before I can have ANY dessert, I first have to make sure I’ve consumed a meal which includes protein and essential nutrients (veggies, anyone???) to get my body through the intense practices and beatings it takes on a daily basis. It’s a big task, but I know I can do it…I HAVE to do it! Otherwise, I’m not going to be able to get through work and judo practice! :)
Just keep in mind, if you try making small changes to your diet, it doesn't have to be anything as drastic as I'm doing. Try snacking on fruit to curb your sweet-tooth instead of a candy bar. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Try consuming carbonated, flavored water instead of soda. Fill your plate with a few extra veggies and a little less of the refined starches (like pasta, white bread, white rice, biscuits, etc.). Start small! And remember this proverb:
It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward.