{Food For Thought Tuesdays: Raiding My Fridge}

On this journey that I've decided to take to a healthy body and lifestyle, I've learned so much about my body and the food that I decide to put into it. I am still following the Weight Watchers points+ program by counting my daily points, drinking 6+ glasses of water, and getting in lots of exercise, but in my quest to become more educated about this healthy lifestyle, I've decided to change things up a little. I have eliminated processed food from my diet, and have decreased my sugar and carb intake - I now fill up on fish, chicken, fruits, veggies, and what they call super foods. 

Over the weekend I went grocery shopping and my refrigerator {below} is looking quite colorful and…. really full. 6 months ago, it looked nothing like this and my pantry and freezer were chugged full of processed meals. While processed meals can be made in minutes and usually are light on the wallet {ie. 5 frozen 'lean' meals for $10} - they are notorious for being absent of fiber. I mean, there is little to no fiber in processed foods at all. What is fiber? It’s a substance in our food that your system is unable to digest, but it serves a very important purpose. Because the digestive system is unable to do anything with it, it basically serves the purpose of cleaning out your digestive tract and pushing the food out of your intestines into your colon… eventually leaving your system. Yes, that means it helps you poop. {click here for a list of foods that are high in fiber}

Think about it – all the food you take in, how much actually comes out? How much of it is still sitting in your intestines? Yuck. Take a look at where your digestive system sits - right in that area that us women obsess about - the stomach.

In my refrigerator I've decided to stick with those types of foods that will give me the appropriate amount of fiber and nutrients needed and are foods that are going to keep me full and satisfied longer throughout the day. My ultimate goal is to mainly intake foods with only one ingredient - think about it...

1. Shrimp | 2. Salmon | 3. Bacon {we'll talk about bacon vs. turkey bacon in the coming weeks} | 4. Blueberries | 5. Onion | 6. Strawberries | 7. Red pepper | 8. Avocado | 9. Garlic | 10. Cabbage | 11. Eggs | 12. Greek yogurt | 13. Pears | 14. Kiwi | 15. Babybel light cheese | 16. Goat cheese crumbles | 17. Hummus | 18. Shredded cheddar cheese | 19. Mushrooms | 20. Blood oranges | 21. Ephemere beer {we all have to splurge every once in a while, and this is my fave} | 22. Mich Ultra {I said we have to splurge every once in a while, lol} | 23. Brussel sprouts | 24. Sweet potatoes | 25. Kale | 26. Broccoli | 27. Apples | 28. Lentils | 29. Arugula | 30. Asparagus

Once you have plenty of fresh foods at home, set a time to cook and prepare your meals. This day for me is usually on Sundays where I prepare 2 - 3 meals at a time, utilizing my freezer to separate appropriate portions and store the overages. By planning your meals and making time to purchase the right types of foods, you too can eat healthier and lose weight. 

{Weight Loss Journey: Transitioning Your Wardrobe}

I received an email from a reader earlier this week that is also trying to shed some lbs. She asked if I could do a post that would help her as her body is transitioning to her goal weight. As you know, I'm also going through this problem and I've found the solution to this issue: skirts and dresses. Unfortunately (well fortunately because that means the scale and the measuring tape are going in the right direction) none of my pants fit. While I would love to buy all new ones, I'm no where near my goal weight and I would have to end up buying all new clothes all over again. So I put together several pieces (and tips) that can help during this transition period:

[To shop these items - click here]

Tips:

Get a great belt, you may find that belting over the top of your shirts/dresses to define your newly emerging waist will get you a few extra months from some of your shirts and tops that are now too big for you. Additionally, belts can keep up your pants and skirts as they get loser around the waist. Plus moving your belt to the next hole is always a boost!

Focus on accessories, wearing a scarf or great necklace or earrings to draw attention up to your face and to dress up your basic clothes and create lots of different looks.

Check the sales racks first, look for stretch fabrics which will accommodate you more as you become slimmer. Buy only basics that are easy to mix and match so that nobody notices you’re wearing the same clothes over and over.

Get some alterations on your existing wardrobe. Taking in a waistband can make a garment wearable for another few months and is a much cheaper alternative than buying new all the time.

Check out thrift shops, consignment stores and ebay for well priced clothing items to get you through your transition.

Resell your larger clothes on ebay. If they’re not in your closet then you won’t be tempted to ever put back on the weight!