Thursday I have to take my kids (I work at a middle school) on a field trip. This means I have to bring my lunch!! There will be no microwave or anything so whatever I bring needs to be able to just be eaten how it is. Do you guys have any healthy suggestions on what I should bring?
Enjoying some turkey, brown rice, and broccoli for dinner :)
…or a motivator.
Someone that can help keep me on my A game. Someone that would say to me, “Samantha, wtf are you doing?!” and give me a slap in the face! (jk)
I am extremely good at pushing myself and disciplining myself, but its gotten very difficult with the ending of the semester. All I need is a little umph! Just a big push.
I am the only one that is responsible for myself, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to have a little encouragement!
Any Encouragement :P?
Easter is coming up quick, which means lots of chocolate and marshmallow bunnies! Before you dive into your easter basket, here are a few things to consider:
1.) The positive effects of refined sugar are very temporary. Indulging in refined sugar provides short-lived joy. Yes, the taste is delicious, and it even gives you a little energy boost and emotional high. However, these effects wear off fast. Once your insulin spikes and your blood sugar plummets, you will feel terrible (see next point)
2.) Refined sugar does not facilitate your best. You’ll be a less fabulous version of yourself once the physical and mental side effects of the sugar crash begin to surface. For example, headaches, mood swings, depression and guilt, to name a few, are common side effects of indulging in sweet treats.
3.) “A little” can easily become “a lot,” “A little” refined sugar is rarely enough. A taste of it seems to awaken an inner beast that demands MORE. This inner beast is, again, a result of the blood sugar drop that I described earlier, which keeps your body in a cycle of sugar cravings.
4.) For the same calories, you can eat a lot more nutritionally dense food. Candy is high in calories and not very nutritionally dense; thus, it does little to feed and satiate your body. When considering eating some kind of refined sugar junk, I try to think of its opportunity cost. In other words, “What could I eat that would cost the same calorically?” For example, I could eat ½ cup of oats, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and ½ of a scoop of protein powder or I could eat two Cadbury Eggs (my favorite Easter candy) for the same calories. Not only would I feel more full, healthy and satisfied eating the oats, PB and protein, that choice is also working toward my goal for improved health and a lean physique rather than against it.
5.) Sugar is not a “beauty” food. In David Wolfe’s “Eating for Beauty,” he discusses how sugar damages the skin by disrupting the function of collagen and depleting one’s B vitamins, which can cause chapped lips and wrinkles. Also, sugar is widely known to cause inflammation in the body, which leads to water retention and puffiness.
6.) You can feel good that you did not give into the marketing geniuses. As a marketing gal, I get pleasure in knowing that I resisted the seduction of the candy pimps
If after considering all these points, you choose to do a little indulging this Easter (I get it…we all need a treat from time to time), do it smart: (1) Eat the sugary treat(s) with a balanced meal to slow down the digestion of the sugar, which will help minimize the extreme rise and fall of your blood sugar and insulin, and (2) Pre-determine a limit on how much you will consume, so you do not mindlessly and unknowingly eating thousands of sugar calories throughout the day.
Happy Easter!!
All you peanut butter and jelly lovers out there… I’ve got the all natural peanut butter covered, and I have been using sugar free jelly.. but is there another healthier alternative to jelly?
Love me some fitspo!! Gets me so motivated to keep working hard!
I’ve been thinking about taking CLA supplements. Does anyone take CLA? If so, have you noticed a difference after taking them?
whats the best organic/natural/healthy peanut butter out there (gimme name brands!)?
