I changed my diet, and I’m serious this time.

I don’t know of a bigger flip-flopper than me when it comes on to dietary changes and really sticking to a new plan. 

Why?? I like to tell myself that I’m only human, and that there should be no guilt associated with eating the foods you like. Afterall, life is short, right?

Well the above is true, except that some of the foods I like are not necessarily the healthiest. When it comes on to sweets and desserts, I have absolutely no control. There’s no internal signal to say stop, or, “that’s enough gurl.” They give me that “feel good” feeling that I yearn, and who’s going to say no to such euphoric escape? 

The latter part of 2019 has been marked with an absolute binge of all things sweet. Since I have a dairy allergy, I had to find my own way of accessing foods with that forbidden ingredient. With the help of a few boxed mixes, I started baking my own cakes and cupcakes! This gave me unhindered access to the sweets that I dreamt of. I also made a few graham crust pies with different fillings. And I can tell you, it was heavenly.

My waistline wasn’t too thrilled though. I saw changes that I was less than happy about. My epiphany came after Thanksgiving, which was marked by an episode of excessive indulgence in all things sweet. I had to take matter into my own hands, and that is exactly what I did. 

My Method

We can all agree that great bodies are made in the gym (exercise) as well as in the kitchen (diet & nutrition). Thus, in order to regain my smile when I looked in the mirror, I had to make drastic changes. The month of December proved to be a non-sweet turn of events for me, in that I had to say bye to sweets and yes to alternative food choices. Since I’m a constant snacker, I incorporated more almonds into my diet which proved to be very filling, and a great remedy to curb my constant sweet cravings. I also rekindled my love for avocados, and an avocado toast has become my go-to breakfast staple. It was really hard to say good bye to my daily cinnamon raisin bagels. (‘Til we meet again sis, or maybe not). Essentially, I adopted a more wholesome diet: fresh produce, lean meats & seafood, beans, and 100% whole grains.

What about exercise?

I had a gym membership that I barely used so it’s no secret that my workout game was subpar. I went back to basics and started doing daily abdominal exercises at home. It didn’t take long for my waist to be snatched again. But, I have to say that this change has not always been peaches and cream. Perhaps the most difficult part was the will-power. That is, the will-power and mental strength to refrain from indulging in my greatest culinary temptations. 

Let’s make this clear. I’m not saying that anything is wrong with cupcakes, cakes, ice-cream, cookies, and the like. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a treat, or indulging if you choose to. Our bodies are all different, and due to genetic factors like hormones, we respond to and process food differently. For me, I had to go drastic and remove the guilty pleasures entirely. 

What about sugary drinks?

Sugary drinks and juices were not a problem for me, as I do not typically buy these on my shopping runs. Water is my beverage of choice for the most part, as well as coconut water as a post-workout electrolyte. The problem that I have with fruit juices on the market is that they are mostly from concentrate, so I tend to skip on these. Essentially, you’re not truly getting 100% fruit juice. Rather, it is reconstituted juice. Even some of the big-name brands that are seemingly healthy are made from concentrate. To combat this, I simply do my own juicing which provides the tastiness and freshness that I seek. In my last major juicing session, I made a green juice and a carrot-inspired juice. Below are some of the ingredients that I used.

It has been a little over a month since I made this dietary change, and I’m still at it. I’ve been pretty intentional about what I buy, so I typically make a grocery list, and I’m able to stick to it. I am hopeful for what the rest of 2020 brings, and I pray for perseverance and the power not to falter.

As we always say here at CreativeAjay, do it your way. Do what works for you. We wish you success on whatever journey you choose! Consult your nutritionist or medical provider before making any major dietary changes.