How I “Healthy Lifestyle”
I’ve been getting quite a few questions lately about my diet, so I thought I would just do a quick break down. I am using the word diet, but I do not mean diet in terms that I am eating in a way to restrict myself or as a fad. As I had mentioned in my last post, what we put into our bodies is by far more important than how many times a week we work out. Don’t get me wrong, I have lost weight eating these same foods, but most importantly this is my my version of a healthy lifestyle and it is how I maintain a good weight for my body type and lead a healthy lifestyle. I actually prefer to use the word lifestyle over the word diet, because it is truly habitual.
I considered myself a Pescatarian, meaning I eat fish, but I do not eat any other meats. In fact I haven’t ate chicken, pork, or turkey in over two years now. I have had cow on occasion but do not like to do so. It was very difficult to be strictly Pescatarian when I was pregnant as you are supposed to limit your fish intake to one to two times per week, so basically if we went out to eat more than two times a week, I often got stuck eating cow because not many restaurants have vegetarian options.
I am also dairy free. I attempted to go dairy free when I went meat free two years ago but I didn’t quit cold turkey until I found out that my baby had a dairy intolerance. I was also soy free for the first couple of months of her birth as well until I figured out that it was only the dairy that was causing her issues. I am done nursing now, but have chose to continue the dairy free lifestyle.
Overall throughout each day I eat meals that are primary vegetable based. I eat an alarming amount of sweet potato and avocado and I indulge on a chocolate chip protein cookie or protein shake everyday for an afternoon snack. Although I do eat “healthy” 95% I do still allow myself to have a “bad” snack, dessert, appetizer, or side once or twice on the weekends. Allowing myself to have those items helps me to stay balanced and I wouldn’t have my lifestyle any other way.
How You Can “Healthy Lifestyle”
Basically I am writing this post, because I often get asked if I am Vegetarian and have even been told by different followers that they would like to eat less meat but do not really know where to start. I feel that I should also mention that these steps can be applied to any sort of healthy lifestyle or dietary commitment, it does not just have to apply to a meat free lifestyle.
- My suggestion is to first MAKE A COMMITMENT. Whether you are going to only eat meat a few times a week, quit completely, or go dairy free you need to make a commitment to your own healthy lifestyle and stick to it. With this commitment, I would clear out all items in your pantry and refrigerator that do not meet your healthy lifestyle. This is so important because it reduces the temptation to go backwards.
- Second, you have to be willing to try new things! Even if you think you dislike a certain vegetable or ingredient, try it anyway. You may be surprised by how different it tastes when it is prepared in a different way or put with other types of foods than you aren’t used to.
- Third, I would suggest finding and making some new recipes at home. I make a lot of meatless and dairy free recipes and often share them on my Instagram stories. Pinterest is also a great resource to new and diet specific recipes.
- Fourth, I would recruit someone to not only try out this new healthy lifestyle with you, but to hold you accountable. When I first went meat free, my husband who was only my boyfriend at the time did it with me, and I think it made a world of a difference.
- And finally, I would suggest taking a trip to the grocery store and just searching through their frozen section and snack options that pertain to your lifestyle goals. When you are stocked up and trying new things, you are by far less likely to break your commitment. I also share some of my favorite “quick items” and snacks on my Instagram stories that can help if your commitment is to be dairy or meat free.
I really hope this post was helpful and that is motivates you to make your own commitment. I am not a trainer or nutritionist, but these are things that have worked for me and that I have been practicing for around 6 years. Feel free to email me at thelanetofashionblog@gmail.com or comment any questions below.
If you missed my post last week on what workouts I have been doing loving, check it out HERE.