I’ve been very naughty in June and July, eating delicious, but unhealthy food throughout the month and avoiding the gym. I made the decision over the weekend as I exited my ‘safe zone’ weight and realized I needed to change! I’ve been trying to keep up the deliciousness of the food and not going too boring (does anyone actually like eating plain carrot sticks?)
I thought I would show you what I have changed my diet from and to (and maybe get a bit of motivation to keep on going!) I am by no means an expert and this food diary is more for bridging the gap and slowly getting better with foods.
Breakfast
I used to be all about the Up & Go’s, especially in Choc Ice - delicious! Until I actually read the back and noticed the nutritional information… In a 350mL box (1 serving) contains 26.6g of sugar!! WHAT! That’s almost as bad as having a can of Coca-Cola for breakfast!
I’ve swapped my easy breakfast for one that isn’t quite as easy, but it certainly fills me up more and I am not sniffing around the snack drawer at 9:30am! I have 1/2 cup Traditional Oats, with Skim Milk and a bit of honey. I’ve also added some fruit in the morning, either a banana or strawberries. I don’t have a coffee in the mornings now (SHOCKING I KNOW) and have a green tea with mint instead.
Lunch
I am still trying to find a good balance with lunches, as salads just seem so unwelcoming in the Winter time! Over the last few days I’ve been having sushi, tuna, chicken and vegetables, etc. It’s not a perfectly healthy meal, but I was literally eating take out for every single lunch, or a huge pub lunch serving. Not ideal for the waistline!
Top that with having a 600mL coke (either regular or zero - in the end it doesn’t even matter!) and I was having a kJ packed lunch with not many nutrients to feed my body. To curb my soda cravings I’ve developed a taste for soda water, sometimes with a lime wedge squeezed in for some flavour.
Dinner
Dinner has been a lot easier for me to manage because my lovely partner Shannon and I share the cooking (one day on, one day off) and he is as much into the healthy eating as I am (although his kJ intake has to be a lot higher for gaining muscles). We’ve been researching Paleo Foods for dinner (to cut down on carbs and increase our protein) and it’s been really fun experimenting in the kitchen. We didn’t really eat bad dinners before hand, always had vegetables and protein, but adding a lot of cheese and cream and bigger portions leads to higher kJ intake.
Snacks
You will be horrified to hear that I snacked on everything and anything I could get my hands on. Working a new job (with a vending machine) has been a learning curve! I was eating chocolates, chips, lollies, anything delicious and innutritious. I’ve now swapped for fruit and nuts during the day, sometimes with a bit of hummus and vegie sticks, and at night I have some dark chocolate and tea after dinner.
I have also completely cut out the sugar additions to my tea and coffees (when I do have them) and replaced with stevia. I’ve also been making protein balls which are lots of fun to make and a great way to get creative with recipes!
I’ve also been using My Fitness Pal as a way of tracking my progress along. If you are on there too, be sure to join me - it’s free!
What are your healthy swaps? Are you on a fitness journey like me? Let me know in the comments below!