Healthy Tips & Trix

I have noticed HUGE changes with my body, energy, cravings, etc. by sticking to these beautifully simple tips. I live by these things and they really do make the biggest difference if you A) Stick to them and B) Are patient and give them time.

Tips and Trix!! ~

1. Substitute! 

Check out my "Substitutions" page for a bunch of ideas on how to do this! IT GETS SO FUN!! Substituting is the best because I will go to a store or restaurant and realize that I can make food that tastes the exact same but with a THOUSAND times less calories (not a mathematically proven statistic).

EXAMPLE: I LOVE the upside-down honey oat bran muffins at "Mimi's Cafe". One day I tried to recreate it and absolutely NAILED IT!! (No joke) (Will post recipe soon!) Here's the thing: I substituted country crock for real butter; honey/maple syrup/coconut sugar for real sugar; wheat flour/coconut flour/almond flour for white flour... and more! REPLACE THOSE BAD CALS BABY!

2. Listen to your body

But forreals. If you are craving chocolate, eat it. If you have eaten a huge, delicious salad and are still hungry for a granola bar, eat it. HERE'S THE THING: Many of us eat when we are bored. (C'mon It's fun). This takes some serious practice so don't get frustrated or drill yourself when mess-ups happen, but often your mind will try to convince you that you are hungry when your BODY is actually not. Very often I have ended up consuming 50+lbs of dark chocolate at midnight along with a peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter toast, banana bread, a granola bar and occasionally some frozen fruit snacks too. So listen to your body... but REALLY listen to it.

3. Know what you are eating

I always try to know all of ingredients in the things I eat. Many processed foods (meaning frozen meals, eating out, microwave meals etc.) are what I try to limit. I'll admit, I don't know half of the listed ingredients on many the foods I have - BUT I know I am doing good things for my bod if I do recognize healthy, very simple, whole wheats, and "good for you" ingredients. 

EXAMPLE: I was given a "Pineapple Upside-down cake" LaraBar to try for my very first time and the ONLY ingredients were Dates, Almonds and Dried Pineapple... SO GOOD for you! 

4. Shop on the "outskirts" of the store (Paleo-based diet)

Try to base your diet on foods you would eat if you lived in Paleolithic times. Eat the delicious, fresh, "paleolithic", non-processed foods. Most of this food is found on the outskirts and refrigerated sections of the store i.e. fresh meats, fruits and veggies, milks, eggs etc. etc. 

5. Exercise when you can :)

Take the stairs, go on a fun walk, get a gym pass, park farther away... exedra! 

Whenever my family goes on a cruise, (all-you-can-eat food baby!!) we ALWAYS avoid the elevators. Even if we have to hike a few sets of stairs to get to our rooms, we try to keep our bodies moving and take the stairs no matter how tired we are after our fun excursions!!