So I talked a little bit (okay, a lot) the other day about cutting sugar out of your diet.  That was really the first, and hardest step for me.  One of the big reasons I started trying to do this was mainly to try and eliminate the extreme sugar cravings that I had all the time.  It has worked, I still get cravings but not as severe or as often and I’m much better equipped at handling them now.  Jackie’s diet plan is pretty clean but I still wasn’t feeling the energy that I was hoping for and as I was feeling healthier I kept wanting to cut more and more crap out.  I started eating cleaner and cleaner minus a cheat meal (or three) on the weekends.  But then I noticed that the cheat meals almost made it harder for me to get back on track, plus my motivation to workout was dwindling a bit.  I was beyond bored with running, and the running hadn’t changed my body at all.  I couldn’t understand how I could be eating 10 times better than I was for the past 30 years and working out 10 times more but still wasn’t really seeing any results (other than the 10 lbs. I lost a year prior).

Let me be clear: I do NOT think I’m fat, I am NOT trying to lose weight, I am NOT on a diet.  I simply wanted (and still do) to be healthier, and more fit.  After all, fit is the new skinny…haven’t you heard?  So, while my diet was better, it must not have been good enough.  I started making the transition to clean eating.  There is no entry for “clean eating” in the dictionary and everyone’s definition may vary; but, I define it as a diet consisting completely of whole, “clean” foods in their natural (or as close to natural as possible) state.  No additives, no chemicals, no preservatives, no dyes, no garbage. 

I used the word transition intentionally because I feel that clean eating is a big commitment, a process.  You need to decide to make the change.  You need to go through your fridge and pantry and clean house.  You need to get to the store and basically buy all new staples.  You need to find new recipes or figure out how to “clean up” the old ones.  It’s also a bit of an investment in the beginning, but one that is well worth it. 

I’ve found eating clean to be very rewarding and am constantly learning new things, new recipes, and found new foods that I never liked before.  I am so glad that I have made the switch and feel really good about everything that I’m putting into my body. 

I could go on for hours about my new favorite subject, but I promised I’d try to be quicker.  If you have any questions please leave your comments and I will do my best to help!  If you’re enjoying this blog, please “Join this site” on the right hand side…and tell your friends…Have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading,
k