*disclaimer – I am not a medical expert. do your research!*
Yesterday I stepped out of my comfort zone a bit more and decided to be even more transparent about my health journey. I know, there are some of you thinking “this woman will share about everything from what toilet paper brand she uses to the actual color she uses on her hair, how could she be any more transparent???”, but rest assured there is so much about me you don’t know and I won’t share.
I did a Facebook Live while sporting my favorite hat to cover the bed head, and no makeup. And I talked about the fact that I had gained back 12 pounds of the 38 I had lost. It is NOT because the plan doesn’t work, once off if one opts to maintain healthy choices for eating they will continue to keep those pounds off and feel great. I made some very unhealthy choices, nearly every day for 2 weeks. Opting to eat something unhealthy is not cheating, this is not a diet. It is a choice. I make that choice on a day that was highly stressful and emotional at work, to grab for the cookie in the break room. That led to another cookie, and another. Later it was a bunch of something else and I started playing old tapes in my head of “I blew it today I’ll get back on the healthy tomorrow”. But then it was something else that triggered a poor choice. Old habits came in blowing party favors and tossing confetti.
I wanted to kick myself the morning I got on the scale and saw those very unhealthy pounds had returned. I did this to myself. See, once you are rocking health you can make an unhealthy choice to eat that cookie or drink that iced coffee packing 500+ calories.
You will regret that choice.
You will feel like crap afterward because your body has been free of the junk, but then the cravings start. Sugar is ADDICTIVE! Yes and it has similar effects on our brains to street drugs and is every bit as enslaving. Then you start eating poorly and it mentally it feels good. But guilt is there too. So to feel better the brain wants more sugary stuff. And it is everywhere, disguised as many words like corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, and a host of others. That added sugar is believed to be even MORE ADDICTING than cocaine. I’m here to tell you that is my experience. One bad choice and I start craving foods that seem okay but are really loaded with added sugar. The buns on your hamburger, saltine crackers…start reading labels! High fructose corn syrup (which is now also going by a host of other names) can only be metabolized in the liver, where it is turned into triglycerides and becomes FAT in the body. And your body craves more! Welcome to your bad habit, your addiction you cannot seem to overcome. Get away from it! I teach my clients how to eat again and do away with these addictive substances found in processed foods.
I immediately got off my scale that day and got back on the healthy eating plan and 3 days later 6 pounds were gone. I started logging my water intake and noticed I was dehydrated as well as packing on unwanted baggage. My energy level is returning as my body is back to being a fat burning machine. This is why I love being a health coach, I know what my clients are going through, having tried and failed at every “diet” known to man. They only work, if they work, as long as you continue to follow that diet. Afterward the weight comes back and multiplies. You HAVE to change your unhealthy habits over to healthy ones. Break the addiction and then incorporate healthy choices and a healthy mindset and you are set. And if you do something unwise and introduce that addiction back into your life, well my clients have the tools, like me, to kick it to the curb and cleanse their bodies.
But it isn’t about the weight, it is about the health. Poor choices have side effects too, negative ones. My blood pressure goes up with my weight. My foot starts hurting again, my knees ache, and I feel like a sloth. For years I didn’t know I felt ‘sick’ because my body couldn’t recall what it felt like to be healthy. Now I can FEEL that difference and I do not like it. Give me my energy, great sleep, stamina and along with the side effect of losing excess weight. I LIKE feeling great! Healthy feels amazing.
On that note, here is my dinner for tonight. Lean, green and YUMMY!
Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Makes 2 servings
Per serving
1 Leaner protein
1 fat
3 vegetables
2 1/4 condiments
2 medium zucchini – total weight one pound
2 tsp. olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
10 ounces lean ground turkey
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/8 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup Rotel diced tomatoes
3 ounces 2% reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Just brown the meat and add the ingredients. Cut zucchini in half, brush lightly with the olive oil and bake, then fill with the meat and sprinkle the cheese over it and you have dinner!
If you want information about becoming one of my clients, just reach out to me. 20 minutes on the phone and we can get you started on the road to a healthier you!
Marti Gardner 