BElieve in YOUrself.

.::be you::.

I enjoy doing my reading and my research about being healthy, and eating good foods. I really do find out so much information. Like I said before, I’m a science and math nerd, so I like looking into things to find out “Why?”. I also enjoy reading people’s testimonials about them losing weight and how they achieved goals, or even reading about people with certain diseases that figured out how to cure themselves, or at least make things more bearable. Our bodies are a science project, and there’s lots of different formulas to achieve different things…so experiment. See what makes you feel good and confident.

What’s my formula for losing weight? I eat healthy, don’t drink beer, don’t eat fast food, and work out (not very often). I live life to the fullest, love life, and surround myself with amazing individuals that I’m lucky enough to call friends. Oh, and calorie counting? Ha! What’s that? My diet is mainly low carb and high protein. I know what you may be thinking…I’m crazy and this is one of those off-the-rocker diets…it’s not. Let me first ask you, when’s the last time you went to a fast food restaurant? …I rest my case. You may be one of those lucky few who maintains the metabolism of a 4 year old…and you can eat all the fast food you want…and never gain a pound. If that’s the case, I commend you. For me, eating the way I’ve been eating has made me thinner, made my skin look better, made my hair look healthier, lessened my anxiety by a landslide, and has given me significantly more energy. Juss sayin’.

I no longer eat grains…and I don’t miss them or the way they made me feel, one bit. Grains are made of carbohydrates. These carbs are turned into glucose in our system. Yes, we need this for energy and some functionality, but when you eat too much, then you have some left over, and any glucose left over that isn’t used as energy, is stored as fat! #truestory Less carbs + less glucose = fat burning machine! Grains contain gluten and lectins anyway, neither of which we are beneficial or good for us (See: Lectins, Lecithins, and GMOs…oh my!).

I make sure that I get all the nutrients I need. I take my vitamins everyday. I just started taking krill oil, and I read that one of the things it helps with is menstrual cramps…that’s awesome! I’ll give it a few weeks to get into my system before I judge…and then I’ll blog about it. Krill oil has a lot of other benefits too. It improves circulation, helps with the inflammation of arthritis, improves brain function, and helps make your skin look healthier! Okay, so my way of living consists of eating things that my body actually knows how to process and use. I now live by the rule that if I read the ingredients and there’s something I can’t pronounce, I won’t eat it (which cuts out almost everything on supermarket shelves). I’m okay with this. It’s only fair to my body that I treat it with respect. I wouldn’t put a Calculus book in front of a 10 year old and say…answer all the questions in the book and you better get them right. It’s not fair, it’s not something they can handle. It’s the same thing with the chemistry of our bodies. For all my religious friends, Luke 6:31 – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Make sense?

I was stressed about where I was getting calcium from since I don’t drink milk anymore (milk makes baby cows, big cows…think about it), and I looked up some stuff and found out that we get a substantial amount from some of the food we eat (assuming we eat healthy; grass fed beef, spinach, etc.). This goes for other nutrients as well. Now tell me where you get nutrients in Big Mac’s and McNuggets? I’m not saying you should NEVER eat these things, but don’t be so quick to judge my grass fed beef until you check out your own food journal (which is also a good thing to do to keep track). I’m not bashing your “diet”, or the way you live. Whatever works for you, works for you. If you’re happy, then awesome, be happy, but it’s not fair to judge others based on something you may or may not understand. I personally enjoy knowing exactly what I’m eating, that’s all. I don’t eat processed foods, and a lot of the foods I eat are rich in potassium. Hey, quick fact, did you know that if you cut out processed foods you’ll lower your sodium intake? This, paired with a good amount of potassium is a good formula for vascular health and low blood pressure. Speaking of systolic over diastolic, I’ve checked my blood pressure recently, and it’s the best it’s ever been in my whole life. It was always on the higher end (but still in the safe range); now, it’s just awesome! 117/70 with a pulse of 68. My pulse at rest used to be almost 90 (I thought I was a “healthy” 20-something year old, too).

My diet has been so varied. I don’t think I’ve eaten a repeat meal since August 9, seriously. Maybe once or twice, something really phenomenal. I’ve really liked everything I’ve made, not to mention…I didn’t even know how to turn on the oven before this…let alone cook a meal! So it’s been a really exciting adventure…and I’m never bored! I haven’t even needed or wanted to have a “cheat” day, although I have thought intently about how a slice of pizza would taste. I’ve also been able to keep my body in balance, and the amount of energy I have has helped me be way more productive.

I’ve also managed to break my habit of “eating all the freakin’ time”. I eat very nutritious food, so it keeps me from overeating. Foods that are high in protein, combined with the right carbs will keep you feeling fuller, longer. I haven’t felt that euphoria before the crash in a very long time (you all know what I’m talking about). I even do intermittent fasting. Sometimes I go from dinner to lunch without eating (not as a punishment or anything, but because my body is so well nourished that I don’t NEED to eat), and I’m not ravenous when it is time to eat. I have only done that fast a couple times. Basically, I eat when I’m hungry now, and it’s as simple as that. Stress-free…my kinda living.

There will always be critics, but until you’re in someone else’s shoes, perhaps you won’t know how good they truly feel. Perhaps the critics should stop using anecdotal evidence, and start looking at hard facts. If you want to know about it, just ask, and people will share their stories and give you all the information they have.

A little vanity goes a long way. When you look good, you feel good…you are confident, you are strong. Be that person. (We all have it in us.)