As I began to move through my weight loss journey, I learned how crucial nutrition is not only to be healthy but also to help melt the pounds off. I was consuming mostly boxed and processed foods on a daily basis and was never even taking a glance at how many calories or grams of fat I was consuming. I have never been a huge eater, but I was not paying attention to what I was putting in my mouth. As I was conducting research, I found some amazing and helpful sites that helped me transform my pantry and transition into a much healthier lifestyle.
The first thing I started to learn is how to read food labels. I was clueless on not only how to read the labels but also to know what to look for to avoid. The How to Read a Food Label was super helpful to me. It tells not only what the labels mean but also what you should be consuming and what your daily requirements should be.
Then I moved on to what types of foods I should be eating and provided the most beneficial impact to my body. I spent hours and hours on the computer reading articles and there was one specified diet that was repeatedly mentioned, the Mediterranean Diet. As I dug deeper into this diet, I realized that there were so many scientifically proven test results that individuals who consumed mostly foods consisting of the Mediterranean Diet had a longer life expectancy and less heart disease related illnesses. I bought a couple cookbooks and started experimenting with the recipes and I have to say I’m hooked. The diet consists of all natural foods that you cook in season. This diet reinforces the concept of clean eating as the majority of the recipes I found consisted of cooking with fresh fruits and vegetables. There are two sites that I found most beneficial and that were my personal favorites. What is the Mediterranean Diet by Old Way and Mediterranean Diet: The World’s Healthiest Diet? by Eating Well. These two sites are jam packed with information to get you started on converting your pantry staples, recipes, and information on the diet. There are numerous good reliable sites available that contain information so if these two sites are not to your liking then by all means find one you prefer.
The last area I would like to discuss is portion sizes. The portion sizes we consume now have gotten way out of hand, both in our homes and in restaurants. The correct portion size rule is that each serving be no larger than the palm of your hand. If you are filling your plate with more than that, you are consuming too much food. When you go to restaurants, I would suggest you only eat half of what is on your plate and ask for a to-go box to take home with you. You definitely are getting your money’s worth when you eat out, but you are paying for it in your waistline! Also, a lot of restaurants are adding healthy low calorie options to their menus. If you do not see this option at the restaurant you are at, ask the wait staff what would be their healthiest option.
I hope you have found this post beneficial to you and you continue to pursue your journey in living a healthy lifestyle. My next post will be on finding the motivation to get off the couch and music that will help to get you pumped up! Until next time…Live STRONG. Live HEALTHY.
Angel Bodies Fitness for Women 
Really great post thank you!!
Thank you! My next blog post will be on motivation and suggestions on workout music…I hope you enjoy! 🙂
Yes!! 🙂
Completley agree and that diet you are utilising sounds very interesting! I found portion size the hardest when I started losing weight but it only takes a few weeks to get into routine of as your body will essentially get used to eating the amount of food it needs rather than what it is used to. Good for you regarding the labels, being able to quickly calorie and kilojoule convert will ensure success. Your blog posts are interesting for my transformation too!! 🙂
Thank you so much for your comments! Yes portion sizes definitely was an issue for me. It is all about changing your habits and then those habits become a lifestyle. I wish you the best of luck on your continued journey in health and fitness 🙂
Hello, I think your post has some good information. I find this information really useful! Perhaps some formatting might make your blog a little easier to read? I found the dark background with the light font color to be difficult and the picture of the shrimp [yum!] dark. Looking forward to more posts & I am now ‘following’ your blog!
Thank you so much for your suggestions! I appreciate your feedback and definitely think I am going to be changing the formatting so it is easier to read.
Hi Crystal,
You hit the nail on the head when you said that our greatest enemies are processed foods and, most importantly, our portion sizes. We switched to whole foods a few years ago and it made all the difference. I’ve also found that our grocery bill is much lower since we stopped purchasing the boxed foods. There is a fruit and flower market down the road from our house that sells US Grown produce year round. Some of the produce they offer is out of season in my area but not from the southern states that they have it imported from. Thanks to this little market, I can purchase 5 bags of produce (we’re mostly vegetarian) for under $50!
Have you found that you have more energy now that you’ve changed your diet?
Melissa
Hi Melissa!
Yes I have noticed a big change in energy since I started eating a cleaner diet. Now if I eat takeout or processed foods I really pay for it and actually get an upset stomach. My body definitely talks to me! I too have started shopping around at produce markets and trying to expand the types of foods I am eating. It definitely makes it fun trying to find healthy recipes. 🙂
Crystal
Great blog! I’d definitely be interested in learning more. I like the template but I too struggled a little with the light green font on the dark grey background. The picture was a nice touch too but I think the grey background blended in with it, which might’ve made the picture darker than its true color.
Angelina,
Yes I was hoping to have a fitness-like page format..but this is the second format I have chosen and it really is no beter than the first. I guess I will just have to change it to a white background with black lettering. Thank you for your suggestions! I truly appreciate it!!
Crystal