I met up with a friend on the beach recently and we spent a couple of hours just getting caught up with what’s been happening in each other’s lives. The conversation eventually turned to how dissatisfied we were with our beach bodies. We both complained of that annoying belly fat! We lamented that everything we had been doing to whip ourselves into shape has not worked. Eventually, we made a pact to work out each weekday morning.
This morning I lay in bed idly staring up at the ceiling fan thinking about our conversation. I realized that we had been so preoccupied with what was wrong with our bodies that we totally ignored what was right! My friend is younger than I am and while she is on the plump side after two babies, she is by no means obese. About 5’-8” with a perfectly white smile, even-toned dark skin, and a full head of natural locks, she is naturally pretty. Yet not once did I hear her say “I love my full breasts and firm thighs” both of which she is blessed with! It made me wonder – how often do we ignore our blessings?
Count your blessings
Think about those who struggle to live normal lives minus major organs and body parts. That annoying belly fat is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, don’t you agree? Most of us bitch and complain about how we look, yet we rarely stick to the plan – the plan to eat healthily. Some of us are eating when we are not hungry or eating foods that are not good for us. Unfortunately, although we are aware that eating processed foods makes us overweight and also makes us sick! we still indulge. This knowledge should give us the impetus to cut out the junk and choose healthy, nutrient-dense foods instead!
Eat well and feel better!
I am in my early fifties and over the past year I gained 15lbs which makes me 20lbs overweight – far from the slender figure I prefer. Recently I started eating a lot more healthier than I did in the past 2 years. I reduced my carbohydrate intake and increased my intake of green leafy vegetables, fruit, and protein. I also started taking a probiotic supplement for gut health. Within a month I began to see improvement in my joint pains, swollen ankles, and blood pressure spikes. In short, I feel better! Although I still get occasional joint pains, I am not experiencing excruciating pain in my knees and ankles each morning. I haven’t lost much weight but I am less bloated and now I think about it, I’m much happier with how I look!
Prior to changing my diet and taking the supplement, I saw doctors who ordered numerous blood tests but could not diagnose me with any specific condition. I say all this to say that, while changing your diet may not help you lose that annoying belly fat immediately, it will certainly help you feel better! I also recommend the probiotic supplement which really helped me with water retention and bloating.
Try changing your diet a little at a time – for example, don’t abruptly stop eating baked goods. Instead, begin by eating those only at weekend or as a special treat. Maybe you love muffins and pancakes, so have 1 muffin on Saturday and 1 pancake on Sunday! Reduce your sugar intake by adding half of what you normally add to your coffee or beverage of choice. Drink lemon water instead of fruit juice or soda. Eventually, you will be able to eliminate some or all of the foods you want to avoid entirely.
Buy only what you need
The best way to avoid the temptation to eat certain foods is to omit them from your shopping list. For example, I eat yogurt or oats and fruit each morning, a protein-rich salad at lunchtime, and soup or something light at night. My shopping list has no cookies, ice cream, or bread because those are the items I want to avoid.
Use a day in the weekend to prepare your meals for the week. Each weekend I make salads, salad dressings, and a pot of hearty soup. I pack everything into bowls and put them in the refrigerator so that I can grab one each day. On Saturdays, I treat myself to a big lunch and on Sundays, I enjoy a cooked breakfast. When I eat out I choose grilled fish or meat with vegetables AND a decadent dessert! I encourage you to try this and remember that it won’t hurt to increase your physical activity as well!
