Slim People in Progress

Got a High Crap Diet?

Did you catch that question? I admit, that occasionally I succumb to eating crappy fast food. Cheeseburgers and Mexican food are my weakness.  Following is an article from my colleague and health coach I'm working with, Lynette Patterson. I personally know four people who have lost 75+ pounds each working with Lynette. So she's the real deal.

Got a High Crap Diet?

In today’s full-on, fast-paced, non-stop world, more and more people are relying heavily on processed foods to feed not only themselves, but their families as well. When asked, most people note convenience as a major factor in choosing “fast food,” whether it comes from a drive-thru restaurant or from the grocery store as processed, pre-packaged meals.

It is true, processed food may be convenient, especially for busy families on the run, but just HOW convenient is it, truly? In the moment, processed foods ease time crunches and offer momentary comfort or a quick energy fix. But what about hours later, when you don’t have enough energy to do anything but nap? Or when your focus is broken or the indigestion kicks in. Is processed food convenient then?

Clean Eating: 5 Reasons to Clean Up Your Diet…Like Weight Loss!

I think clean eating is the way to go if you’re serious about losing weight and keeping it off. This isn’t rocket science and the “less is more” theory applies here — less food of a higher quality can help you lose weight more naturally. 

What do I mean by clean eating? It’s a way to approach and embrace food as a lifestyle not a diet. It focuses on whole foods — fruits, vegetables, whole grains, minimally processed meats. And it’s all about ditching all those man made products full of sugar, sodium, and artificial ingredients (case in point -- Lean Cuisines and other frozen meals high in sodium and other less than natural ingredients), which, while convenient, do a number on our bodies, sabotaging weight loss efforts.

So here are 5 reasons to clean up your diet that I think are compelling:

• You will feel a world better when you ditch processed foods. Your natural energy levels will increase and you’ll have more focus to do the things you love
• You will lose weight and keep it off.  We all know diets don’t work, this is about adapting your lifestyle. When you invest the time to do it consistently, you will see a difference
• You will save money! Clean foods (thinks beans, whole grains, etc.) can actually cost a lot less than meat. By creating a weekly plan and choosing foods like whole grains that aren’t expensive but are super nutritious, you can save some major dough.  Meat isn’t cheap and it’s not that healthy either. When you clean things up, you’ll spend less (the key is in the planning). And let me point out that I'm not suggesting that you never eat meat again, just reduce the amount
• You will get to know and appreciate your body. Our bodies really weren’t meant to be garbage cans, yet many of us treat them that way by abusing them with the wrong kind of foods. When you eat clean and start to feel better, it opens up all kinds of possibilities to take better care of yourself
• You will inspire others to  action.  By making healthy changes, increasing your energy and feeling better, others will take note.  What’s better than losing a few pounds and being able to tell your friends and family you did it in a healthy way? Be a weight loss and clean eating role model!

What have you done lately to clean up your eating? How has that helped you lose weight and keep it off? What's your favorite clean eating meal?

Want more ideas to eat clean and lose weight in a healthy way? Stop by http://DontWorryGetHealthy.com to sign up for my blog posts and "10 Tips to Improve Your Health Today!" Wendy Battles, The Clean Eating Coach.

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This is a quickie post not related to diet, fitness or health. I've posted a poll on Build a Better Blog with one question: How do you prefer to subscribe to blogs?I'd like to get a sense of how readers are getting my blog content.

I want a good cross-section of responses so I invite you to take 30 seconds now to vote.

Thanks!

Cooking Tips and Recipes

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. Been a busy summer with a lot of business travel. It's all I can do to stay on top of my business blogs.

Travel of course brings it's own challenges  around eating and fitness. I've never done too well when it comes to eating on the road and when I'm socializing with colleagues and clients. My latest attempt is to bring protein bars and shakes to have in my room for breakfast and for snacks so I don't feel too guilty about having lunches and dinners in restaurants. Seems to be working OK. I'm down about 7 pounds from a couple of months ago.

Anyway, the reason I'm posting is to let you know about a site I found with a lot of recipes and cooking tips and tools. Maintaining one's weight means cooking more and that's not my real interest but when I find good, healthy recipes that are easy, it helps. I can't guarantee all the recipes are low fat or diet friendly but there's some good stuff.

How's your summer weight loss/maintenance program going?

By the way, I am still running 2-3 times per week. Didn't get much in during the 3 weeks in a row I was traveling but did manage a treadmill workout.