Tips on Fighting the Urge of Sweets and Carbs

Hey Loves!

I was going to do a typical "Grain free check in" but I thought I would share tips on how I fight the urge of what everyone loves- sugars and carbs!

I have only been grain free for a month so I am not at all an expert- in fact I am still very much learning. But in the month, I have lost 8.5 lbs and have seen healing in so many things including my skin, my sleep, my attitude, etc!

The first thing people typically ask me when I tell them I am making grain free a lifestyle is "How did you stay away from sugars, breads and other carbs? I don't know if I could do it, I love carbs too much!"

Well, I will be the first to say it wasn't easy- especially the first week. But I learned some valuable tips that have helped me stay away from sugars and carbs without hating the grain free lifestyle.

1. Start off the day with a lot of protein. When I first started grain free, I would start my day with greek yogurt and fruit, but because I would get hungry again by lunch and crave sugars, I decided to try something different and start with having eggs first thing in the morning before I left for work. When I did this, I felt full until about 10:30, which is when I ate my yogurt and fruit. That way by lunch, I was not starving so I ate my packed lunch and didn't crave any sugars or carbs.

2. Don't be shy with eating fats! You heard that right. That is one of the first things I learned from a nutritionist when I wanted to make a lifestyle change. We have been tricked into thinking fat free is better but did you know our bodies need fat to properly run and process food and information? I learned a fun fact recently: our brain is made up of 70% fat! So why are we depriving our fat brain of fat when it needs it to run at it's full potential? When I started eating fat (like full fat greek yogurt and more nuts), I realized I stayed full longer, I didn't feel bloated and I wouldn't crave those bad carbs.

3. Drink a lot of water. I know you probably have heard it a million times, but it is no myth. Drinking water has so many benefits from helping your body detox, to giving you energy, and keeping you full, longer. We all know our bodies are made up of a ridiculous amount of water, so once again, why deprive it of something it needs to run at its full potential!?

4. Always have a snack nearby. One thing I have heard a lot is "It's hard to get on a diet like that because I am always on the go". Well, something that has really helped me is to always have a snack nearby. For example, I pack celery and carrots everyday as well as almonds. & in case I am super duper craving sweets, I have a super small stash of 85% cocoa chocolate at my desk. But to be honest, I haven't needed to touch it because I always grab my other snacks first!

5. Find Substitutions. There are so many alternatives now-a-days of eating the foods you love (like pizza and spaghetti) without including the sugars and grains. For example, one substitute I have found is using zucchini as noodles (using a spiralizer) and then making my own homemade sauce (to guarantee no hidden sugars) or buy organic, no sugar added sauce (which you can get at whole foods). It is delicious and guilt free. Go ahead, try it!

Hopefully these are easy tips on how you can take that next step towards a healthier you! The best advice, take one step at a time... there is no need to rush! (Do you know that song? HA!)

Have a great day!

The Healing Power of Food

Happy Friday Loves!! 

I hope everyone had a great week. This week was tough for me because we unfortunately had massive layoffs at my work. Thankfully, I am still employed but it's hard to feel joyous when your friends and colleagues said their goodbyes. But either way, God has a plan for each and every person and the best is yet to come for them... I know it!

So I posted this picture on instagram this morning and I am so excited to share more with you about what this picture represents. 

As a lot of you know, I have started doing grain free. I decided at the start of this year that this year would be the year of fasting for me. So one goal of mine with that was to take out certain things in my diet to really learn how my body reacts to certain foods.

Well, I prayed about what I should fast on and the first thing I fasted on was sugars. Each fast being 21 days, I focused on how my body responded to getting rid of sugars. It responded very well. I was less bloated, my skin got better, I was less groggy. So as I prayed to God for my next fast and also to help me lose weight, I felt in my spirit that I was to start eating what He had created, not what was "man-made". Then shortly after, my good friend randomly talked to me about grain free and overall just eating all natural, non processed foods. It's almost like a light bulb switched on in my mind like "Duh- makes total sense- I need to stop eating preservatives and other things my body wasn't meant to process."

So I started on my journey of grain-free. I always felt bloated after eating grains, sugars and preservative packed foods... and not only that, but my skin never reacted well. I have always suffered from having terrible acne, to the point of having to go on heavy meds to maintain it. It has gotten better over the years, but it never completely went away.

I have almost hit my 21 day mark of grain free. As I mentioned in my post on Monday, I have lost 7 lbs, and feel SO much better. A bonus? My skin has completely cleared up. The picture above was taken 2 nights ago when I got out of the shower, face clean- & clear! I was so pumped.

I am on no meds or treatments anymore. I sometimes have skipped washing my face at night even! & no breakouts. I am learning more and more how there is such healing power in FOOD! Food that God created for us to enjoy. :)

Some natural things I am doing to help?

1. Bentonite. It's a detoxing clay that absorbs toxins in your body. It sometimes clogs me up but just I just have to be diligent about drink a lot of water (which is great for you anyway!)

2. Coconut Oil. I have started using it with everything. On my body, face, food, etc. It has become my secret weapon. It moisturizes my body, it's a great oil to cook with, and it doesn't cause my skin to be more oily! Better yet, my friend just informed me of "oil pulling" with coconut oil which is when you swish the oil around your mouth for 20 minutes and it removes toxins and gunk. So cool! I have yet to try that but  I definitely am going to start.

3. If I am craving sweets, I will allow myself 85-90% cocoa chocolate (like 1 square) and team it up with fresh berries. I try not to do that on a daily, but for you ladies that go through that time of the month, you know what I am talking about with cravings! 

All in all, I have stopped eating foods with ingredients I cannot pronounce. I have started eating all natural foods with no preservatives and eliminated all grains. & I honestly have not felt better. It started being another fast, and now I WANT to make it a lifestyle. I do not think I have ever said that about any type of diet change. 

Grain Free Week 2 Check In

Hi Everyone!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! 

Mine was oh so busy, but what's new? I feel like I say that every Monday.

This weekend I celebrated life with friends on a party bus, celebrated my bestie's birthday on Saturday and today I was able to catch up on grocery shopping and food- prepping for this coming week!

Well, I have great news- week 2 on this grain free lifestyle has put my weightloss down over 6 pounds! Another 3.5 pounds this week!

Wins:

- I feel way more energized. 

- My skin is cleared up! It's amazing!

- I sleep so much better. I literally didn't wake up once when I fell asleep.

I have been doing more and more research on what I am putting in my body and how it effects what. It's amazing to learn how many chemicals/ "not-natural" food I have been putting in my body for far too long!

My body is definitely still in detox mode. I am finding I get slightly moody when I am craving the "bad stuff" like grains and sugars. Letting go of sugars has been the hardest thing because I am obsessed with chocolate! But I have discovered a great thing called stevia that I will drink with a little tea to help me get rid of the craving. Also, fruit helps. 

I had a tiny bit of frozen yogurt on Thursday to "treat" myself and that little bit put me over the edge! I am happy about it because that shows that my body is rejecting the processed sugars! Yay! Ha ha!

I have also been adding some supplements in my diet to help with the change in lifestyle:

1. I added a probiotic to help with my digestive system. I take it on an empty stomach when I wake up in the am.

2. I started taking Physillium Husks twice daily. This is a natural fiber supplement that helps with digestion. Its a great natural detox!

3. I just started taking bentonite clay that is a natural healing clay that helps the body absorb toxins.  I will be taking this once to twice daily with meals. We will see if it helps!

Overall, I am still in full throttle for grain free. I haven't seen this big of a change in me in a long time. I know i said I was going to exercise everyday this week, but it ended up only being about 3 times (zumba/cardio, more cardio, and yoga) and I still was seeing weightloss. 

What supplements have helped you stay on track with your lifestyle change? Any tips for a newbie like me??

Have a good Monday!

Aisha