Anyway, these past few months, during my stay Martinique, I have been FORCED to make changes in my diet. Basically my stomach stopped digesting the shitty foods I ate, if it wasn't greens I was eating, the food wouldn't digest for hours, I would get terrible cramps, bloating, pain. It got so bad once, I had to make myself throw up, to get relief, and anybody who's had to throw up knows how horrible that feels, worse feeling in the world. (Ps. Who knew the acid in your stomach could be so intense? I literally burnt my throat.)That night I decided it was enough. Even as the situation was getting worse, I was still being stubborn, and was toying with my diet where I'd attempt to eat a little healthy, but end up eating my sweets and giving up into my "bad" food cravings and when things would take a turn for the worse I'd look into pharmacy medication but NOTHING worked.
Funny enough, when I got back to basics (aka Nature's works and goodies) my stomach and overall well being started regaining peace.
I knew EXACTLY what I had to do too, why? Well this isn't the first time I've tried to diet or make changes (for a better looking body mostly), so I've read a lot about the subject. It's kind of like this situation where you hear and read all of that stuff, but you don't apply it because deep down you don't really believe it makes an impact, since it takes awhile to see and feel the results.
This time was different, because my body was literally FORCING me to eat better, there was no way out, no medication, and no supplement that would help me get better, and sleep nice at night with no tummy ache. With the help of the trauma that the other unhealthy foods gave me, (because really, you have no idea how stubborn I am, I had been sick for months and I was STILL giving into the "bad foods" it literally took me being traumatized for me to really commit to change, not gonna lie here, otherwise I'd still be putting all this rubbish into my body)
Like I was saying, with the help of the trauma that these foods caused me, I started taking my road to better eating seriously. This is what I started doing:
- I started by drinking a TALL glass of hot green tea, NO SUGAR and a zest of lemon every morning. I've grown to like tea, but it was hard for me at first, because I like to just start out by eating in the morning, also it takes time and patience to sit there and wait for the tea to cool down, and although I really haven't had anywhere to go in a hurry, I have a bad habit of wanting to ingest foods and liquids fast, haha. ALSO, I wasn't too big on the taste, first thing in the morning. *TIP, when drinking tea it helps on taste to add lemon zest to it, I down it better that way.
- *TIP number TWO, NOT ALL GREEN TEAS taste the same, at all, find A GREEN TEA YOU LIKE.
- *TIP number THREE, it doesn't HAVE to be green tea, I find green tea to be the best detox, but there's also black tea, oolong tea, and other good detoxifying teas, (just do your research online!) I think it's good to switch teas every once in a while, so you don't get fed up , personally, I've found a great tasting black and green tea that I love, so I'm sticking to that one.
- After that for breakfast, I usually have a fruit, my favorite are mangoes, because they are sweet and juicy, but I eat other fruits too. That usually holds me, but when having stomach problems OATMEAL is great too. Now it takes some time to get used to oatmeal if you're not used to it. Personally it's growing on me, but it's never been one of my favorite because it's slimy, and hot and takes time to eat. To spice my oatmeal up I cook it with milk, add in some cinnamon, lemon zest, sometimes I add chocolate yummm. Today I found it to be a great substitute for my cream pastry craving, hit the spot ! I'm always happy to find healthy substitutes for my cravings, because I know it'll be gentle on my stomach.
- For LUNCH, I make sure I ALWAYS eat my greens, I alternate between, broccoli, spinach, green beans, brussel sprouts, asparagus, carrots (not green I know haha). Trying to find more green stuff so I don't get bored, but I swear to you (and I'm talking from experience) if I don't eat something green during my meals, best believe my stomach will start acting up, haha (no but seriously). On the side I add one lean protein, like chicken or steak, or turkey meat or fish. And I always make sure I add in a whole grain feculent like brown rice, couscous, sweet potatoes, plantain, brown pasta. Otherwise I won't feel full. I basically eat the same for dinner
- As for hydration I cut off ALL sodas and juices, why because they put WAY too much sugar in that stuff, and it makes a BIG difference I swear. I still allow myself to drink juice once in a while, but I don't see the point in soda, it's literally sugar, artificial flavor, water and bubbles. If you're looking for that bubbly feeling just get alka seltzer water (does the trick) you'll get used to the taste, if you don't get the flavored no sugar ones, or add a bit of lemon juice in it. *TIP for those who don't enjoy drinking water, I've found this mint/green tea that diffuses in cold water. It taste great, makes it easier to down the water AND it has detoxifying and weight loss properties.
- In between my meals I snack on FRUITS. I'm in Martinique so it's easy access thank god, and the fruits have been blessed by the tropical sun so they're juicy and sweet YUM.
- I've started adding whole wheat/whole grain rice cakes to my snacks, but they make me more hungry. *TIP , because of my fragile stomach I can't eat popcorn anymore. I've found that by sprinkling a little salt on the rice cakes makes for a great substitute, sugar does the trick too.
- Sometimes I eat a yogurt, but I'm still scared because of how sensitive my stomach is. I also treat myself to tiny pieces of dark chocolate when I get really strong cravings. I also treat myself to coconut meat because it's creamy and sweet so it's like eating ice cream or a dessert, but not too much because it has a lot of fatty oils (too much for stomach)
- I'm not sadistic so if I really do get a strong craving for a less than healthy food, I'll treat myself to it once in the week, but I still remain selective and I definitely limit myself. (Because I'm scared of the painful consequences haha)
- Funny thing I've noticed while I've had to make these changes in my eating habits, is that when I eat now I don't really go for seconds. I don't feel the need. Even if what I'm eating is good, i'll be satisfied with one serving. I don't know if this is psychological, or if my stomach's gotten used to the way I eat and my portions, but I feel full after my meals. This is a first breakthrough because back in the day, especially if I was enjoying my meal, I'd keep eating and eating until I was full. I think what definitely helps in this area is balancing your meals and always making sure you have one green portion, one protein portion, and one whole grain or light feculent portion. That's the magic formula for me!
The second breakthrough I have to talk about is the one that inspired me to start writing on this blog again. As I've been changing my eating habits, I felt the urgent need to start working out. It's not necessarily because I wanted to lose weight, because truth be told when it comes to working out or making efforts I used to be LAZY. But because I listen to my body, something was making me feel as if I needed to start getting active.
That something was energy. I hadn't realized it, but the way I had been eating was slowly starting to change my metabolism, and I was feeling more energized. I realized I had more energy when I started working out. In the past when I made the least of efforts I'd be huffing, puffing, and tired within five minutes of starting. After that my whole body would ache, and as a result of that trauma, I wouldn't exercise again for months. This time I was determined. I went back to the workout plan I had concocted last year with the help of youtube videos (SO THANKFUL FOR THOSE) and I started doing them with a friend. I was confused because I was going through the exercises pretty easily, and my friend was the one struggling. I just thought the exercises weren't challenging enough. I finally realized what was happening when I started running.
Running for me isn't something I would have considered enjoyable in the past, in fact it was torture. I could never run for more than 30 secs straight without walking the rest of the time, and after wards I'd feel dizzy, nauseous and EXHAUSTED. This time around I surprised myself, not only was I running longer, I felt light, I felt like I could go on for hours, I wasn't dizzy, or nauseous. I went up and down the hill multiple times and didn't collapse, I went home and even had more energy to give out . To me that was a miracle, that had NEVER EVER happened before. I don't know if it was the fact that I've been eating more fruits and ate a grapefruit before I worked out, or if I've been drinking green tea or eating better, but it's definitely a combination of all of this.
To anyone else this may seem like a small feat, but for me, seeing that I was able to accomplish that alone opened my eyes to so much. First lesson that I got from this experience, IT ALL STARTS IN WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR BODY. Many times, when people want to start getting fit, they start it all at once. Now that may work for some, but personally, because my body was in such bad shape on the INSIDE, that was a plan that failed fast. My metabolism was slow I guess, and the foods I was eating gave me no energy and made me feel full, tired and heavy. It's no wonder when I started working out, it would automatically fail. And because of these factors, I'd hate working out and give up altogether. And I've heard this over and over, but until I went through it myself I never understood. Plain and simple, your body is like an engine. If you put BAD oil in it, you'll only be able to drive so far and so fast, but if you put GOOD oil in it you'll speed off and will go far.
Basically, the two work hand in hand. If you eat what NATURE gives you, you'll be able to workout easier, feel better IN AND OUT and achieve more physically. They repeat this again and again on health blogs and articles, but they never give the tip of starting by eating healthy for at least a month and THEN incorporating small workouts into your schedule. You don't have to go all big all at once, especially if you're just starting out and you're not used to such lifestyle. Everyone's different so it's important to do it step by step, but my trick is to start out by detoxifying your body through better food choices and drinking green tea, then the physical/exercise part will come naturally, but make sure you DETOXIFY FIRST no matter how long it takes, the slowly incorporate little exercises, there's plenty of five, ten min ones one Youtube , you can proceed to the longer ones later on.
(I'll include my workout routine in another post. )
Although my stomach is in recovery, I am BEYOND thankful that my body forced me to eat better. I feel lucky because most people are able to ingest any type of food that comes there way, good or bad and not feel the consequences right away, but they are still there.
Honestly, if I wasn't feeling the bad outcome of the bad foods I was putting in my body right away, I would have never been motivated to make this change, or notice the benefits.
It's VERY important to listen to your body. If your stomach hurts more often than not, if you feel breathless after you walk/run, or if you feel like anything else isn't working as it should be working, you have to start curing yourself THROUGH your ALIMENTATION. Don't let man made pharmacies and medication trick you into thinking that their stuff will cure you, because it won't. At most it'll alleviate the symptoms but the problems will still be there, which can lead to cancer, obesity etc...
Remember NATURE CURES, the results aren't immediate, but I promise after two weeks of steady healthy eating you will FEEL the changes.
More Helpful tips and things to remember:
- When eating your LUNCH and DINNER remember to balance your GREENS, WHOLE GRAINS, and PROTEIN. You will feel full, not heavy, you will have more energy.
- REMEMBER FOOD IS YOUR FUEL, the more BAD foods you eat, the LESS you will want to workout. Because the food is BAD it will make you FAT and you won't even have the energy to BURN IT OFF. However if you eat a BALANCED meal, yes it will have calories, but it will ALSO give you the energy you need to BURN OFF these calories, so it's a WIN-WIN.
- For Balanced meals ideas, definitely go on instagram. Later on I will post the names and pictures of the insta's that I follow which inspire me everyday to make better cooking/eating choices. Don't worry, take it from someone who DOESN'T like or understand how to cook, the meals are EASY, FAST and DELICIOUS. And there are some great alternatives out there to your favorite fatty comfort foods.
- Take it one step at a time, start by eating better THEN include exercise, once your body functions better on the inside, it will function better on the outside, naturally.
- Start small with the exercises, walk for an hour a day at first, or do short routines at home, or go to the gym for an hour and walk on the treadmill, you can always go bigger when you feel more comfortable. (We live in the era of the internet so don't beat yourself up start at home, watch some exercises videos on youtube, it's FREE, TAKE IT)
- TREAT yourself once in a while, but don't over do it. Remember which days you "cheated" so you don't excess.
- DON'T feel bad for excess eating your "cheat", "comfort foods", just pick back up on your healthy habits the next day.
- GREEN TEA with NO sugar is GREAT in the morning for energy (just drink a tall glass of it in the morning, it helps fill your portion of hydration for the day. Also try and drink tea throughout the day hot/cold.
- STAY HYDRATED, there's plenty of healthy yummy options out there, just look on the internet. I will post some later on.
- Limit your alcohol intake, there's some "low calorie" cocktail options out there, I will post.
- Stay CONSISTENT, don't give up. Brain wash yourself and get inspired by following health blogs, workout blogs, healthy eating blogs, or people that are going through the same path. STAY INSPIRED.
- This is NOT a diet, just a change in bad eating habits, diets don't last and often fail, but making small these changes will give big rewards in the long run and less visits to the doctor.
- Change takes time, maybe you won't see any changes to your outer shell right way, but best believe your insides will be thanking you.
- Don't necessarily do it to lose weight, but do it so YOU FEEL BETTER.
- DON'T push yourself too hard, some of the people you will look up to on these blogs or instagram are professionals, they've been doing it for a long time, these results didn't come over night be patient and enjoy the ride. Also everybody is different.
- Don't obsess with weighing yourself everyday, there's no need, you'll see results over a period of time, you'll notice, people will notice. You can do it once or twice a month to monitor, but it's really un-important.
- Don't torture yourself looking at every detail in the mirror.
- If you fall off your routine, it's okay, take a break, start from scratch. Take it from experience, its possible you fall down many times, but it's important you get up each time, and start over even if it takes a while.
But most importantly, YOU CAN DO IT!
*Just a disclaimer, that I am not a professional, I didn't take any courses, nor do I have a degree on this, I'm just speaking from experience, and writing as a reminder for MYSELF(kind of like a personal diary and tracking of my progress thing) But if I can help others in the process that's great too ^^
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