The Food Challenge

The first thing people struggle with when it comes to changing their lives & becoming healthier from the inside out is FOOD. The way people eat is always grab and go. Sitting down at the table with the family has become almost extinct everywhere and its very depressing. Failing to pay attention to the things you put in your body is like forgetting to take in oxygen.

Our bodies were not created to process artificial and processed foods. We were created to absorb natural ingredients, vitamins and minerals so that we could live long healthy lives. The lifestyle this world has created before us has become too convenient for those of us who are constantly on the go. The fast food restaurants, vending machines in our working environments and schools, chain restaurants, coffee shops and "juice bars" have all contributed to the obesity rate in which people have just gone completely out of control and are now at the heaviest they've ever been in their life. This is outrageous and it truly needs to stop. But it won't. No matter how much we try to stop what I call the "Push of a button lifestyle," its always going to exist because these food places and coffee shops aren't going to disappear. 

In order to take control of our eating habits, we need to first be self disciplined in controlling what we eat and have a reason behind it to keep us going. Working out requires that you put the correct fuel into your body at the correct plate portions. We have to maintain a balance between the good, the bad and the ugly. What I mean by that is there has to be a definite distinction in your brain between the difference in good, bad and ugly proteins, carbohydrates and fats. These nutrients are essential to our health. If they are GOOD, such as vegetables without the butter loaded on top, lean cuts of meat, fruits and water, you are on the right track to being healthy & achieving your fitness goals. But if they are BAD nutrients like soda, candy and grease infested french fires, the results are UGLY. You will not succeed in attaining the results you want for your body; and inside, you'll be killing yourself. The foods we eat have a very impactful effect on our bodies an can either work in our favor to keep us healthy or break us down into very ill, unhealthy individuals. 

When I first started working out, I already knew my eating habits would have to change. I would have to discipline myself, change what I consumed, how much of it I consumed and when. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that it wasn't gonna be easy. I knew my whole life that in order to get what you want or need in life, there is usually a sacrifice you have to make to get it. I took control of what I know I needed for me and my results are the proof in the decision I made.

Food is fuel. That's it. Its JUST FUEL. If we didn't need fuel, food wouldn't exist. Could you imagine that? Not having to fuel your body every single day to keep it running correctly so we don't crash. That is the very first thing I started to discipline myself with. In understanding what food is really here for, I had to first figure out that its only fuel to recharge my body with energy, keep my metabolism going & help me get through intense workouts everyday. In my decision to change my eating habits and help me not eat bad foods, I changed my shopping habits. I knew if I bought it, I would be tempted to eat it. So my grocery list started to dramatically change. When I went to the store I had a list of vegetables, fruits, non-processed, clean & lean cuts of meat, high fiber, no sugar cereals, water, tea and much more. I made it a point to only buy the things my body actually needed. I was on a mission to succeed and that was just the beginning.

I also had to learn that I wasn't going to gain weight by eating 5-6 small meals a day. By doing that, you are actually keeping your metabolism going and burning fat all day long because you constantly fuel your body with the PROPER nutrition at the RIGHT times. I set an alarm daily for every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. When that alarm goes off, I had better have something with me or be able to get somewhere before my body goes into "starvation mode. 

What happens to your body in starvation mode is your body knows its not being taken care of so it creates a hormone called Cortisol. That hormone is produced by the body to protect itself from starvation and your body will cling to the accessable fat you have. In the ChaLEAN Extreme Motivational DvD, Chalene puts it like this: "If you wanna look like a Sumo wrestler, then train like one." What she means is part of a Sumo wrestlers routine is to SKIP breakfast. That way when they go to eat lunch, they have been in starvation mode and they are producing the fat they need to participate in Sumo wrestling. In order to be a Sumo wrestler, most people are aware that you have to be BIG. Not big from muscle, but big from fat. I don't find that very attractive. Not one bit. I find it looks extremely hard to breathe, move, talk or function in normal daily activity and the insides of their bodies without a doubt in my mind look horrific!

Here are a couple tips to take with you before you finish reading this blog. These are tips that have helped me and many others on the journey to becoming healthy starting from the inside out. What you do for your body inside, creates the outside physical physique you and others see.

1. Change what you buy at the grocery store. If it isn't good for you, don't buy it. An indulgence every now and again is ok, just don't make it a daily habit.

2. Alcohol slows down the rate of fat loss. Having 1 or 2 drinks a month won't kill you, but none of it will help your goals you have set up for yourself to lose the weight and get toned.

3. Set an alarm. On your phone, your watch, your HR monitor, whatever, NEVER EVER go more than 3 hours without eating. If you are busy, PLAN AHEAD AND PACK STUFF FOR THE NEXT DAY. Weigh out an ounce of almonds, make some protein bars, take some fruit or yogurt. Grab something that will aide in your weight loss goals.

4. Customize anything at a restaurant. You don't have to eat the bread before dinner. Get a side salad with Olive Oil and Vinegar. Olive Oil is a great healthy fat. When you order your main course, ask for grilled lean meats like chicken and fish, steamed vegetables with no butter or condiments and have hot tea or water to drink with your meal. Do you ever notice that the Japanese/Chinese cultures are always generally thin and pretty healthy? One of the reasons is because they drink hot tea with their meals. It helps flush any unnecessary oils out of your arteries and keeps your insides flushed of toxins.

5. Don't give in to temptation. If you are doing REALLY good and you have a goal, don't let your friends talk you into doing something YOU KNOW will ruin your success. Chances are, they aren't on your journey, and some of them may need to be, so taking advice from people who have NO IDEA what you are going through to change yourself isn't beneficial. They will ALWAYS try to lead you astray fro your main focus. DO NOT lose that focus. Stay on track.

6. Mindless eating. Its a killer.If something stresses you out, makes you angry or sad, you usually result to food. DON'T DO IT. Resort to a workout, a walk, play with your kids, the dogs or whatever. Leave your house if you have to. Don't let mindless eating ruin your progress!!

Now, here is where I am going to introduce SHAKEOLOGY to everyone. Those of you who know about it and use it, already know how beneficial this stuff is, what it has done for hundreds of people & what it will continue to do for anyone taking it. 

Whether you are overweight, thin, healthy, diabetic or anything else, this product is LITERALLY changing lives. It was introduced to Beachbody Coaches in March of 2009 and ever since that time, I have not been without it. Not for one minute, unless of course the UPS man didn't deliver due to a weekend which put me and the people used to taking SHAKEOLOGY every day on a man hunt. About 3 weeks ago I received a phone call from a friend of mine who told me she may have diabetes, cholesterol and blood sugar issues and she had to go in for a doctors appointment in a couple weeks to be tested again. As I was writing this blog, she was leaving a message on my voicemail THANKING ME SOOOOO MUCH, telling me she loves me for introducing her to SHAKEOLOGY and letting me know she just had her doctor's appointment and her results turned out phenomenal. He doctor told her that she is "free of diabetes, her blood sugar and her cholesterol are where they are supposed to be" and her doctor "wishes that all of his patients had her results and were where she is now" because of SHAKEOLOGY. 

I am TELLING you, this product is not a joke. With 70 NATURAL, HEALTHY ingredients, all of your vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, amino acids, digestive enzymes and so much more, it is the only product in the world to help you get all of the nutrition your body needs on a daily basis. It is fighting disease and reversing the horrible things we take in every single day. It has helped me become energized, helped me lose weight and so much more and I now get to share that with others. My website for SHAKEOLOGY is below. Please feel free to check it out when you are done reading. I Thank You for your time and I am here to answer any questions you have.

www.myshakeology.com/tjash2009