WHY?????

...is the most common question people ask me. At least once a day, someone asks me, “Why are you still doing this?” or “Why do you think you need to lose weight?” or “Why are you jumping on the New Year weight loss band wagon?” Though I really do not need to justify my habits to anyone, my answer is simple- to help kick off my healthy eating habits and to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 35.7% of U.S. adults are obese, that is 1/3 of the U.S. adult population. Obesity can lead to health conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, and certain cancers, all of which can rack up pretty intense medical costs. Last year I suffered from some intestinal inflammation that required several hospital visits. The doctors put me on a restricted diet and thus my first introduction to a gluten free life style. I have since then lost quite a bit of weight and found healthy alternatives. I don’t ever want to have to go through that again nor do I want to fall into an unhealthy percentage- help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

My diet before usually consisted of copious amounts of breads, cheeses, cured meats, ice cream and pretty much anything I could eat. So- to help kick off my healthy eating habits- I need to start eating foods that make me feel more healthy and energetic rather than sluggish and heavy. Yes, moderation is always the key; however, if you have little self-control… They say it takes two weeks for something to become a habit and after 30 days it becomes part of your routine.

Kick-start, maintain, routine. 

Success Food for Your Whole30

Here are some recipes that I have been using. Some of them I've found through several sites and Pinterest and some I have created myself. Enjoy and please feel free to post other recipes for me to try out.

*optional ingredient

Coconut Banana Pancakes
1 ripe banana
1 egg
1/8 c coconut flour (give or take)
1/8 c coconut milk (give or take)
pinch of salt
splash of vanilla extract*
Yield 6 small cakes (or two large ones as pictured below)

Mash banana and then add the egg. Add the flour, salt and milk and/or extract. Mix until desired consistency. Medium heat in a nonstick pan and I use coconut oil. Goes really well with steak and eggs!

My favorite guy loves my Sweet Potato Hash
2 sweet potatoes (cubed or hashed)
4 slices grass fed bacon sliced into small strips
1/2 jalapeno
1/4 diced onion
bunch of kale chopped
1 avocado sliced
cilantro

Medium heat in a non stick pan and fry up the bacon, remove and set aside. If you need more oil add some extra virgin olive oil. Add sweet potatoes. When those are cooked add onion, jalapeno and kale. At the end add the bacon. Plate it up and top it off with the avocado and cilantro. Can top off with fresh pico de gallo.

This recipe can of course be altered to suit your needs and wants! We've had it as a dinner has with burgers.

Speaking of burgers...they are my favorite. Particularly cheeseburgers. They're my weakness. So how do I kick these cravings? Lettuce wraps and tons of flavor. Butter lettuce or even kale for that wrap and I've started using lots of different toppings. Sun dried tomatoes, grilled onions and mushrooms, crispy kale, the options are endless. I've also just found a crunchy plantains recipe that you can use as "buns" or taco "shells". I haven't tried it yet but you all will be the first to know the outcome!

My new go to meal is also spaghetti squash with my mom's homemade pesto or some tomato sauce. Easy...cut the squash in half and scoop out seeds, olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in the oven at 400 for 30 minutes. Use a fork to scoop out the "noodles" and serve to your desire!

I would love to see what you have created and to try them out too! Cheers to a successful Whole30!

Keto Flu

One of the down sides to starting a low carb eating style is the "keto flu" also known as the "induction flu". This usually happens during the first few days where your body is adapting to burn ketones (an organic compound that comes from fats that are broken down for energy) instead of glucose. Some of the symptoms are typically headaches, nausea, upset stomach, lack of mental clarity, fatigue- all of which I have been suffering from. Essentially this is the transition period where your body is finding or creating new enzymes to burn the fatty cells instead of the carbs that you had been consuming. You're coming off of an addiction from carbs!

The most important thing that you should be doing every day anyway is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Lots of water intake and once your body starts getting rid of the excess water weight it's important to replenish your electrolytes (sodium, magnesium and potassium). Reading through so many websites and articles I have found so many different ways to speed up the transition and to help with the cravings.

Some suggestions for a happy keto experience that I have found:
- Supplement with 1 teaspoon of salt per day
- Gradually reduce carbs
- Eat chicken or beef broth or soups
- Kick it up on the fat intake
- Take vitamins and supplements
- Eat lots of eggs

On the bright side, I sleep through the night and am really eating better. And if these little tricks help to speed up the transition to kick the flu, then I'll try them! Day 4 down!

The Whole30

A few months ago my friend and colleague, Lauren gave me a book to read to help me kick start my desire to eat more healthy. It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. I will admit I breezed through the first half of the book not really retaining anything and as I thought more about the science of food and how it reacts with our bodies, I realized that this book is packed full of information to help me be more healthy and maintain. And it's all in a language I can understand with examples and facts to support.

To back up, last year I had massive stomach pains and the doctors and specialists could not figure out what was wrong. Instead of undergoing multiple tests and invasive procedures they moved me to a gluten free diet and then a restricted diet hoping that would pin point the problem. After I started feeling better, I attempted to move back to gluten and was I surprised how sick all of my favorite foods made me. Of course everything in moderation but a slice of toast or a beer made my stomach turn. I started to really believe that my body honestly did not really like all the crappy food I was eating. So, I began to look into different changes to my diet.

Today marks the first day of my Whole30 program. No legumes, dairy, processed foods, sugars, alcohol or grains for 30 days. After the 30 days there is a 10 reintroduction of these foods to find out what really effects my system. I have taken my before shots to see how my new eating habits effect my lifestyle.

Take a look what I'll be up to for the next few weeks The Whole30. I have a great support system in place and a pair of people who would like to accomplish this program with me. Get ready for some healthy recipes and restful nights!