Keeping Off Those Holiday Pounds And Then Some

I wanted to share with you some of my tips for weight loss and keeping off the holiday pounds.  I completely changed the way I ate about a year ago and it has made such a big difference in my life that I would like to share it with you and it kind of has a vintage twist to it:)   I do want to put in a disclaimer that this may not be for you and to consult a doctor about your health, if you feel the need too.

The vintage twist is to go back to the basics like our historic sisters ate.  I read the book Wheat Belly last year and my eyes kind of opened up and I realized it wasn't the amount of food I was eating (I wasn't a big eater just like most of you ladies who are struggling with those extra pounds) but what I was eating.   Dr. Davis is my hero:)

I had resolved myself to the fact that I'd always have all those extra pounds hanging on to my body as just a part of life and the aging process.   I certainly didn't want to starve but I learned it wasn't about starving yourself.   I don't want to be an infomercial.  I'm here to offer a few tips that I find successful for me.  I feel better now then I did twenty years ago and I wish I would have known how to eat twenty years ago.  I always thought it was about low fat and low calories but it's not.

There is a BIG misconception in "diet" and "weight loss".   It's really not the amount you are eating but what you are eating. Processed foods cause weight gain...even the low fat kind.   Pass by the store bought bread...it's totally processed even "whole wheat".

Here are a few of my favorite foods and ideas for weight loss...they do work...trust me:)  What is the number one thing you need to give up....wheat.  Try it for a couple weeks and see what happens!

I didn't put these into any particular order as they are all great tips that have helped me:


1.  Coconut Oil - this is a staple in our house.  Throw out the vegetable oil.

2.  Wheat - no more wheat it isn't the wheat of our historic sisters, the wheat of today is genetically engineered and our bodies can't digest it.  The wheat of the 50's is not the wheat of today.  Whole wheat is not good for you.  I know this is controversial but in my case it wasn't.  

3.  Dark Chocolate - eat away ladies, this is good for you and I find doesn't pack on the pounds.  Whenever I feel the sugar craving, I reach for the dark chocolate chips:)

4.  Butter - don't be afraid to use it....love it like our historic sisters did.  Not all fats are bad for you!  Get rid of the margarine it's full of chemicals which cause you to gain weight.  Remember it's the processed foods with chemicals that our bodies don't understand that pack the pounds on.

5  Organic Milk - I know this costs extra but it's worth the extra expense.  Regular milk has too many hormones in it.  Try to go organic on whatever you can!

6.  Tinned Coconut Milk - I live by this stuff.   It's thick.  It's creamy. I love it.  I dump it in my coffee with whipped cream and some sugar free syrup and I feel like I am in heaven.  I have this every day:)  It keeps me full and I'm getting some great nutrients from the coconut milk.  Not all fats are bad!!   This is good fat...just look at our historical polynesian women, they were beautiful and feasted on coconuts.   Another good fat is avocado...eat as much as you want!!  It's a big misconception that all fats are bad for you.  Transfats are bad for you....watch out for the store bought peanut butter, read the label.

7.  Almond Flour - If you have a nut allergy, this will most likely not be for you.  This is my substitute for regular flour and it makes the best desserts.  Yes, you can eat cookies, donuts (baked versions), and sweet things if they are made with almond flour but don't use sugar cane!  If you are interested in a great site for baking here's a couple of my favorites:

http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/

http://yourlighterside.com/

8.  Swerve and Just Like Sugar - I use these as a natural alternative to sugar.  But, I do use them sparingly.  Sugar cane is not a good item as it spikes your blood sugar levels causing you to want to eat more.  I also like to mix in a little bit of coconut sugar, it tastes like brown sugar.  I've heard mixed reviews on coconut sugar but I like to use it sparingly as it has a nice vanilla taste to it.

9.  Eggs - I've switched out the bran cereal for eggs in the morning.  I think if you even just do this one tip you will notice a difference.  Eggs do not effect your blood sugar.  You'll find you can go longer in the day without needing to eat. The key to weight loss is to maintain your blood sugar and to try to avoid spikes that happen with eating a lot of carbs.

10.  Meat and Veggies - It's okay to eat protein...eat salmon, meats (if you can grass fed), chicken, etc.  Try to avoid processed meats and go for the basic meats (just like our historical sisters).  Choose this over a big bowl of pasta.  Pasta will add the pounds! Protein help to keep you full and stable in your blood sugar.  I think this was the balance that was off for me.  I was eating way too many carbs and not enough protein and vegetables.  You'll also have to think about loosing the potatoes and maybe eating a salad or veggies instead:)  In today's society, our omega 3/6 balance is off.  We need more 3's and less


I hope some of these tips help you ladies and feel free to email me or comment and I can certainly help point you to some great books and links.   This isn't a "diet" it's a lifestyle change and if you'd like to become more healthy....you can do it:))