kiss it goodbye

some of you may already know or have an idea of what clean eating is, but for those who are unsure, let me clarify.

clean eating is a change in lifestyle. it’s not a diet, nor will you feel hungry and deprived while eating clean. in fact, you should eat every 2 – 3 hours to keep your body working at it’s peak. and when you eat, your plate will be filled with fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and lean meats.

when eating, make choices for fresh food as close to how nature intended as possible. clean means staying away from man-made food that has been processed, which strips it of its nutrients and ends up packed with additives, chemicals, and hormones. one of the great things about natural food is that it is packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, so there’s no reason to add anything! a wonderful way to buy food and ensure it’s freshness is to shop local farmers markets. if you only have access to a grocery store then stay on the outside perimeter and avoid the aisles as much as possible… that’s where most of the processed food is! one food to avoid, that is tough at first but gets easier, is refined sugar. i swear, you can do this! i’ve done it and i used to have a huge bowl of ice cream every night before bed! what ive learned is when you’re looking, it’s easy to find replacements such as agave nectar, sucunat, stevia, or even honey. the key to start making little changes, one at a time.

it takes a little time to change the way you think about food and connect it to how it positively or negatively affects your body. take it from me, i can definitely tell when i’ve been eating unclean food because i feel crappy and lethargic. my boyfriend joe, the man who wants “half a cow” on his plate, can even noticed the changes to his body when we have a “cheat” meal! i didn’t come to this enlightenment right away, it took me a couple of horrible meals and the gross feeling that came with them, to put two and two together.

many athletes and nutritionists say there are 3 key pieces to looking your best and being healthy. nutrition makes up 80% of the total with exercise and genetics equally making up the remaining 20%. if you are not at your ideal weight, either overweight or underweight, clean eating helps the body adjust. it’s been noted that people have maintained a healthy weight by eating clean when they were unable to exercise, some due to injury or sickness! it’s crazy how such a huge part of getting and staying in shape gets overlooked or pushed aside. i say it’s time to give nutrition the respect it deserves!

it’s time to kiss it goodbye to your unhealthy lifestyle, and hello to fresh, delicious foods and a better you!

chrystal