Seriously though, when I first began lifting I just wanted to change my shape. I wanted to get back in to my clothing, be able to wear a bikini again after having my babies and last but not least look good naked for my husband. Little did I know that I was beginning a journey that would change my life forever. A journey that has not only brought me to some of my weakest moments but also my proudest!
My husband purchased a gym membership for me as a requested gift for my birthday. I started going to the gym 3 days a week and using the cardio equipment. After a couple of weeks of doing this, I decided to be brave and sign up for the free training classes that were offered at the gym. Most gyms charge $40 an hour and up to train with a personal trainer. I'm blessed to belong to one that does not charge. You simply sign up and arrive at the designated time. I met with Billy the first time and she showed me the ropes.. After that one meeting, the fire for lifting was re-ignited in me. (On a side note, I lifted during high school but stopped because of some ridicule for how muscular my legs became). Funny how women are so easily swayed away from being muscular!
Fast forward 3 years.. I found myself not happy with the rate that my body was changing. I had definitely built muscle but I wasn't losing fat as I wanted. At least not at the rate that I wanted. I contacted the trainer at my gym and asked about getting on a meal plan. Easy enough right? Whoa. I had no idea how much of my life was about to change.
It took a couple weeks to get myself totally on the meal plan. There were many choices that I thought I was making previously that seemed healthy yet after I saw the numbers on paper I was shocked. Apples are good. Peanut butter is good. The two combined in excess.. Not so much.. Healthy fats are important and so is fruit. However, healthy fats should be eaten in MODERATION. Fruit should be eaten at certain times during the day to ensure that it is metabolized properly.
Sounds confusing huh? Well it was at first. To be the most clear about it, clean eating is basically consuming food in it's most natural state.
(I'll include a beginner's list of clean eating below) This is how my journey to competing began. I was amazed by how quickly my body changed WHEN I began feeding it properly! Truly the changes happened SO fast! I won't lie. At first it was tough. I wanted to go back to my go to snack of pretzels and string cheese and my "healthy" snack of apples with peanut butter and caramel! Ha! Right?! Everyone knows that peanut butter is an addiction that cannot be contained! But seriously, peanut butter isn't bad. Moderation is key! Fast forward 1 year and 6 months, I've competed in 4 bikini competitions, 3 that were NPC sanctioned. I've done decently although I've also been dead last. That's okay to me though. I've gotten better each and every time. When I step on stage next time, I'll be even better. This is a journey to me. A long time coming. I've only discovered a truly healthy relationship with food in the last 4-5 years.
More on that later!
Beginner's food list for clean eating:
Whole wheat bread
Whole wheat tortillas
Whole wheat wraps
Ezekiel Bread
Steel cut Oats or old fashioned oats
Brown rice
Quinoa
Rice Cakes - original size, not mini
Boneless skinless chicken
99% lean ground chicken
99% lean ground turkey
Very lean red meat
Grass fed beef
Tilapia
Cod
Salmon
Greek yogurt
High fiber veggies (Easy to determine, take the carbs in a veggie and compare to the fiber. If the fiber is half or more than half, it is high fiber)
Spinach
Broccoli
Green Romaine
Kale
Cilantro
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Avocado
Strawberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Apples
Bananas
Edamame
Black beans
Navy beans
Garbanzo beans
Almonds
Pistachios
Almond butter
Egg whites
A minimum of one gallon of water a day
I'm sure I've left some items off. I'll add them in once I go through my notes.
Happy clean eating!
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