She is Free Spotlight: Jorie

In January, I promised myself to get back to blogging regularly. It's an outlet for me, and I feel like I can work through a lot of emotions by writing.

However, today's emotion isn't hard....it's easy. And it's happy!

This year, I really want to take some time to spotlight the ladies that are working hard in the She is Free Studio. They have decided to make the investment in their health and have experienced inside-out transformation. God is really working in the lives of these women, and I'm excited to share their stories with you.

This month, I want to introduce you to Jorie. She took on the workout program that has 100 workouts in it, called Morning Meltdown 100. I asked her a few questions, and I want to allow you to listen in on our conversation.

Before you started working out with Beachbody On Demand, what were your hesitations and how were you feeling?

Jorie: Honestly, I hated working out. I hated the feeling of getting out of breath (still not really a fan of that! Haha!) and it just seemed daunting. Like it would take forever to see or feel any changes. I’ve started other workout stuff before but never finished....I’d miss a few days or it’d be the same thing over & over and I would just lose all momentum so I’d give up. But I felt “blah”. I wasn’t happy at all with how I felt, lack of energy, strength, endurance, etc. I was tired constantly and never felt

like playing with my kids if it took a lot of energy.

What made you want to do Morning Meltdown 100?

Jorie: I really liked that it was a variation of workouts. If it’s the same exact thing every single day, I get bored and quit. And to be honest, I needed something “big” to kick myself into action. I’ve never done anything close to 100 workouts...[I like to remind Beth that when I joined BOD, I asked her for basically the easiest program there was]....and I really wanted to challenge myself. I was tired of being tired. I wanted a change.

What kept you going?

Jorie: Part of what kept me going is that I’m stubborn. Once I started, I wanted to prove to myself I could actually do it! But also, I was amazed at how quickly I started to feel better and stronger and just more energy all around, so I wanted to keep at it for sure! Really though, the biggest motivation was the accountability group Beth started for it! There were MANY days I had no motivation to continue but those girls kept showing up and kept ME wanting to show up! I could not have done it without them!

What are you most proud of?

Jorie: The fact that I actually did it! So many days it was a mental fight to push play, but I knew I needed to do it. For myself, for my health, for my family....and some days you just have to do it even when the motivation isn’t there at all!

How do you feel now?

Jorie: I wouldn’t say I absolutely LOVE working out, but I enjoy it so much more than I ever thought I would! It’s become a stress reliever, a place I can clear my head. It makes me rely on God so much more to be my strength, especially on those days I’m not feeling it at all, because without HIM I couldn’t do any of this! I feel stronger than I ever have before in my life, healthier than I ever have before and I have energy and strength to enjoy my kids, have fun with them, play with them and carry them all over the place.

What have been your results?

Jorie: I didn’t lose much weight, and that was a huge mental thing I had to get over. We have become SO trained in this society to care about numbers and only numbers....please know that I’m not discrediting weight loss. Obviously, a healthy weight is extremely important! But I have spent so many years obsessed with that and only that. I would do whatever it took to get those numbers to drop, even extremely unhealthy choices. The weight would drop but I wasn’t healthy. So, this program did more for me mentally than I could’ve ever even imagined. I finally broke those chains of an obsession with numbers. I was losing inches and gaining strength. I KNEW I was getting healthier even if the scale didn’t drop. I knew I was building muscle!

I dropped a total of 7 inches ~ 4 of those inches were my waist! My clothes fit better and more comfortable and they fit in a HEALTHY way for the first time in my life and that motivates me more than anything else to keep going! I want my kids to see a model of healthy. True health, not what society says is health. I want my daughter to see that strong IS healthy. Strong IS beautiful. And strong and healthy is honoring to God as we learn to take care of the bodies He has blessed us with!

I’ve moved on to a new program now and am excited to see my health journey continue! Thank you, Beth, for being an amazing coach. For helping me, challenging me, encouraging me, motivating me and believing in me! I could NOT have taken that first step without you! Thank you for walking this journey with me!

Coach Note:

I am extremely proud of this girl. She has become such a wonderful friend to me. And to think that we met through Instagram! How crazy is that? To see how the Lord is working in her life--breaking the chains--and to see her walking in that freedom is truly incredible and an answered prayer! I truly cannot wait to see how He keeps transforming her as she walks in His Light!

upLIIFT--July Freedom FitCamp

This summer, I'm doing something a little bit different.  I'm only going to be working out 4 days a week!  Say what?!  Yes, this is a HUGE change for me since I usually workout 5 to 6 days a week.  If you've been following me very long, you know that I've been working on living in my freedom.

What does that mean exactly?

First of all, Jesus set me free from my sin so that I may one day live with Him.  But He didn't just set me free, He has called me to live in that freedom.  For so many years, I've been enslaved by my thoughts and mindset.

• You're bad if you eat that.
• You better go work off those treats you had last night. 
• You better be good today...no treats!
• It better be perfect.

No more!  I cannot let my thoughts control my day.  I am still a work-in-progress, but thankfully God loves me anyway. Anyway, the best way to learn something is to work on it every day.  That's what I'm going to be doing. I would love to have you join me.

Enter LIIFT4.

I am excited about this program, simply because it's going to push my idea of freedom again.  Summer is always busy, and I have hardly been home.  So sticking to a strict schedule can be very tough.  What about the idea of fitting a workout program around your life?!

LIIFT4 is a brand new program that combines lifting weights and strength training with high-intensity interval training (HIIT).  This program contains 30-40 minute workouts only FOUR days a week. 

It doesn't officially launch until October, but we have the chance to get ahold of the program now!  If you are short on time, tired of walking around a gym without a plan, want to see results in less time, just want a shorter commitment, then take advantage of this program!

There is a simple meal plan that even includes a treat day!  

There are 8 weeks of workouts that are totally different--basically 32 different workouts.

There's a modifier, so it doesn't matter what your fitness level is you'll still be able to get results!

Check this out:

What is LIIFT4?

The program is divided into two parts:  the first six weeks are designed to tone and the last two weeks will burn calories and fat.

The only equipment you will need is a set of light, medium, and heavy dumbbells or resistance bands.

What's included?

You'll get a workout calendar as well as a weight progression tracker.  The program also comes with a nutrition guide just to help you make sure you're eating the right foods and getting the right amount of nutrients.

When can I start?

LIIFT4 launches October 1st, but VIP Early Access is already on sale!  Workouts will begin on July 16th.  If you're interested in learning more about the program, you'll want to complete this contact form so we can connect and start chatting about the best option for you!

I will be hosting a FitCamp starting July 16th, and I will be walking side-by-side with you through this program!  That means I'm going to be a challenger, just like you!  And guess what?!  For the first time EVER, I am inviting you AND your significant other to join in!  That's right...I'm hosting a co-ed group!  My husband made the commitment to join in the program with me.  Exciting, right?!  So grab your partner, and let's do this all together!

Let's chat about the Presale!

You can purchase the program now and you'll receive access to the ENTIRE program on July 16th.  If you order now, you'll also receive access to the B4 LIIFT4 workouts. That includes four workouts that are 20 minutes each.  You'll be able to sample the workouts before we officially get started!  Not only will you get the whole program, but you'll also have access to my FitCamp test group that kicks off on the 16th!

What are the requirements?

They really are simple.  You will need to purchase a Presale Package.  When you fill out the contact form, I will go over the options with you.  I want to make sure that the package you choose will match your financial season that you're in.  You will also want to make sure that I am your coach.  If you're currently working with another coach, please reach out to them to gain access to their group.

What will the Test Group entail?

All of my FitCamp groups are faith based.  No, you do not have to be a Christian to join me, but please know that Jesus is the center of these groups.  We will be talking about the characteristics that we need to be STRONG for life.  We will be upLIIFTing one another.  You can expect encouragement, recipes, support, prayer, and short devotionals.  You can also expect a whole lot of fun!

Ready to Commit?

Fill out this contact form.  I will be in touch with you so that we can talk about your goals, why you want to join in, and what package would be best for you!

I am so excited to get to know you more.  Thank you for trusting me to help you in your journey!

Want to try a sample workout for FREE?! Find it here.

Meal Prepping

It is no secret that I have been meal prepping for the past several months.  I typically post pictures on instagram, so if you follow me on there, you've probably seen them.

I've had several people ask how to go about meal prepping, so I thought I'd share my process.

I meal plan on the weekends.  I plan my breakfasts, lunches, and suppers.  I write out exactly what I plan on eating and then make my grocery list from that plan.

I generally make a list of all of the dishes that I need to cook/bake/prepare for the week and the amount of time it will take me to complete them (from prep to cook).  This helps me use my time wisely so that I'm not in the kitchen all day long.

I pretty much use my whole counter space when I'm prepping and cooking.

After the food is cooked, I split it all up into containers for the week.  I use my meal calendar to tell me how many containers of each food I need for the week.  

I am not a morning person at all.  So this helps me in a couple of ways:  

• I can pack my lunch box at night and just grab what needs to go in there according to my calendar; OR
• I can just grab it in the morning.

Either way, it's super quick and I don't even have to think about it.  

When I don't meal plan or meal prep, I feel like my week is all out of whack.  This helps me keep on schedule and helps me achieve my goals (both fitness and for the week).

If you try meal prepping, let me know how it goes!!

My First VLog

Here is my first VLog!!  It's kind of weird talking instead of typing, but I wanted to try it out and see what you thought about it!  I may incorporate VLogs to my blog more regularly!

So I may look like a hobo since I just got done working out, but I wanted to stop in and share some exiting news and explain a few things!

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21 Day Fix: Week One

I've been doing this new program called 21 Day Fix.

You've probably seen me talking about it on facebook.

I just completed my first week of it and can I say that I feel great!?

This program is super easy to follow.  

You eat and you workout.

It's that simple.

I am so obsessed with this new program because of a few things:

1.  It comes with color-coded containers and an eating guide.  This isn't a an eating guide that tells you what to eat and when.  It's an eating guide that gives you ideas of what to eat and you choose your menu and when to eat.  It tells you how many times to fill your containers during the day, which is based on a calorie goal.  However you don't count calories or points or anything.  Super easy!

2.  The program comes with workout DVDs.  There is a 30 minute workout for each of the 21 days.  And let me tell you...THEY WORK!!!  I was so sore for the first 3 days!  But it's a good kind of sore, because it lets you know that your body is getting stronger.  And the workout calendar is fab!  It tells you what workout to complete on each day.

3.  Autumn Calabrese, the creator of the program, instructs you on each move.  This is great for those who haven't done a whole lot of training before.  Doing the exercise correctly ensures that you won't injure yourself and you're getting the most out of it.

4.  There are modifications for each move.   This is especially great for those days that you're extremely sore and need an adjustment for the 30 minutes.  You can still get a great workout with these modifications, so it makes it that much sweeter.

I wanted to post my meal plan for the whole first week.  It is sooo much easier to follow the plan if you've got your meals planned out for the week.  If I don't have a plan, I will fall off the wagon in an instance.  Meal planning is the reason that I can stay on track...that and not buying junk to eat at the grocery store.  :)

If you're interested in this program, email me at TheFitnessPrincess13@gmail.com or connect with me on my facebook page, The Fitness Princess.  I would love to talk with you about it!

Our Challenge Pack discounts and free shipping deals have been extended through this weekend (3/2)!  So act fast if you want to take advantage of them!!

Anyone can do this program...beginner, intermediate, or advanced fitness "student" (because we're all still learning, right?).  And anyone can stick to a plan for 21 days.  It's as simple as that!  I can't wait to share my results with you at the end of my 21 days!!

**Also, sign up for my brand new newsletter here!  You'll receive information before anyone else!!  Get helpful fitness tips, recipes, and even workouts!**

Clean Eating: How to Keep on Budget

After a couple of weeks of break, I am back with the continuation of my clean eating series!!
Did you miss the first part?  No worries!

Find out what clean eating is.
Find out what the benefits are of eating clean.
Find out how to get started.


One thing that I have heard so many people say over the last year is this:  "Eating healthy is sooo expensive."  Yes, eating healthy can be more expensive than eating packaged foods full of ingredients that you have never even heard of.  But spending the money on food now is waaaay better than spending money on doctors, medications, and hospital bills later.

I truly believe that I am worth investing in.  My health is worth investing in.  That may sound selfish, but in reality I think it's also selfless.  I want to be the best person that I can be for my family...that includes spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.  I want to be able to live a long, healthy life.

But eating healthy doesn't have to be expensive.  
Here are some tips for keeping your health in the budget:

1.  Shop meat sales!  The grocery stores have meal sales quite often here.  Depending on the week, you can get beef, chicken, and seafood for a decent price.  We eat a lot of meat in our house, so when I can find a really good deal, I will stock up.  Then I'll freeze the meat in portions so that we have options to choose from in the future!

2.  Find a cooperative near you!  A friend of mine told me all about the local co-op that she was a part of.  You can get almost anything through this co-op including fresh dairy from a farm over in Illinois.  One thing that I really like is that the co-op supports local farmers, and if you know me (a farmer's daughter), then I will of course support the farms!  During the winter, it's harder to support local since basically nothing is in season.  But come Spring through Fall, they have such fresh produce.

I got all of this produce for just $20.  Our co-op orders every two weeks, and I personally order about once a month.  There is a lot of produce to last us a while.  Emails are sent ahead of time to let us know what is in the basket for the week, and then another email is sent to share different recipes using those ingredients.  I plan my meals around the produce that I will be receiving in the basket.

If you're in the St. Louis area, check out St. Louis Community Helpings Co-op to find a group near you!

3.  Shop your pantry.  After you've started eating clean, you will get the hang of it.  As I mentioned above with meat sales, I like to stock up.  This goes for anything.  I might have purchased grapes for the week but didn't eat them all that week.  So I will eat them the next week.  When you're meal planning for the next week, open your fridge and freezer to see what you have in stock already.  This will not only help you save money, but also clean out some room!

4.  Plant a garden.  I cannot wait to be able to start planting my "garden" this year.  I won't have a huge plot of land like my parents do, but I am going to try container gardening this year!  I can definitely cut down on my grocery bill by growing my own peppers, tomatoes, basil and other herbs.  I have started a list of things that I want to grow, so I can be prepared when it is time to plant.

These are just a few ideas to help you save money!  What do you do to save your family money when eating healthy?

Questions?
Leave them in the comments and I'll respond!

My Favorite Fitness Apps

I thought I would share with you some of my favorite fitness apps that I have found over the past year or so.  We live in such a techy society, using your phone is almost a necessity when it comes to working out.  Here are my top favorite apps!

1.  My very first app that I ever downloaded that was fitness related was My Fitness Pal.
What is even better is that you can access it on the web as well!

This app helps keep you on track.  You create an account and put all your information in including:  your age, your height, your current weight, your goal weight, your activity level, and your weight goals (lose 2 lbs per week, lose 1 lb per week, maintain, etc).

It will give you your calorie goal per day.  **Personally, I think there is one glitch in it.  A lot of people get 1200 calories to eat in a day, but I think that goal is too low. I would up the goal a couple hundred calories.**

You can keep track of your meals with this app and it breaks out your macros for you.  The best thing about it is that there is a scanner on it.  So if you eat a lot of packaged foods with a barcode, you can scan the product in to your diary!  You can also enter your own recipes and it saves it in the listings for you!

This helps you see what you eat on a daily basis, which I think is helpful in your fitness journey.  This app also allows you to add friends to help keep each other accountable.  Already have MFP?  Add me: bethelaine_07.

2.  I just recently found Map My Fitness.  This app uses the GPS in your phone and tracks your runs, walks, bike rides, etc and keeps track of it in the app.  You can even add notes to the exercise to help you see how far you've come!

You can also find other people to be friends with on this app as well.  Find me:  Beth Branstetter.

3.  The next app that I absolutely love is one that I just found.  Everyone likes free money, am I right or am I right?  I know I do!  I found Gym Pact just by searching the app store. 

This app allows you to make a commitment with yourself.  It allows you to commit to working out a certain amount of times per week.  You can also make a pact about logging your food each day or eating a certain amount of fruits and veggies.  

I currently only have a workout pact going on (but you can have up to 3).  I commit to working out 4 times a week.  I have one whole week (Monday through Sunday) to get my 4 workouts in.  If I miss a day, I have to pay $5 per missed day.  But if I complete my pact, I get money from other pact-makers who have missed their workout days. :)  Sounds like a plan to me!  When I reach $10, I can deposit the money into my PayPal account.  Woo!  This helps keep me accountable and I want to workout because I'm getting paid!

I wear my phone on an armband when I'm logging a 30 minute workout at home.  I can also get credit for workouts through my Fitbit, Map My Fitness, checking in at a gym, and several other apps that connect to it.

Want to earn your first $5 for free by signing up?  Check out this website and enter the promo code GymPact$5.

4.  We all know how important it is to be drinking water, right?  Well, I will admit that I am horrible at drinking water.  I found this app called iDrated.  

It's basically a drink alarm.  You should be drinking half your weight in ounces.  That means if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water a day.  This app allows you to put in your goal for water intake.  You can record each bottle that you drink and if you haven't drank in a while, the alarm will buzz and remind you.

It's a great visual because the more that you drink, the more the body fills up on the app.  It also tells you your percentage of hydration and when you had your last drink...of water. :)

5.  The last app that I absolutely love is called Seconds Pro.  I found this app when I did my first challenge with Betty Rocker.  

Seconds Pro is an interval trainer!  I love to do intervals from time to time.  You can put your exercises in there and add rest time as well.  You can tell it how many rounds you'd like to complete, too.  It will time your exercises and tell you when to go on to the next one.

I love it because I don't want to think about the time while I'm working out.  This app does all the work for me!  Check it out!

Do you have a favorite fitness app?  What is it?

Clean Eating: How to Get Started

Two weeks ago, I talked all about eating clean and what it means to me.
Last week, I shared the benefits that I have felt since changing our lifestyle.

This week I want to help y'all get started!

Here are a few tips on changing over to a clean eating lifestyle.

1.  First thing you must do is define what clean eating means to you.
Is it eating whole foods?  Is it eating less processed foods?  Is it eating all organic fruits and veggies?  What does it mean for you and your family?  Have a plan before you get started so you know exactly what you are going to eat and what you will not be eating.  If you have kids or a spouse, I would encourage you to let them in on this discussion so they know what to expect going forward.

2.  Clean out your pantry.
Get rid of all foods that are processed.  It's just easiest to clean it out and start fresh.  But you don't have to feel guilty for throwing food out.  Why not find a local food pantry to donate your unwanted food to?  When I did my cleanout last July, I also got rid of the foods that had gluten in them, because I went gluten free.  I gave the unopened packages and canned items to our food pantry at church!  I may not have wanted them, but there are others that will take those items!

3.  Meal Plan.
If you plan out each meal for the entire week, you will know exactly what you are going to eat and when.  This not only helps you out when it comes time for meal time, but it also helps you stay on track with your eating!

**I wrote this post on meal planning over a year ago.  Since then, our eating habits have changed, but the principle is the same.

4.  Write out a grocery list and stock your pantry with new clean eats!
Things to include:

• fresh fruits and veggies
• lean meat and fish 
• healthy fats {olive oil, coconut oil, nut oils}
• frozen fruit

Be sure to read nutrition labels.  The shorter the ingredients list, the better.  Can't pronounce an ingredient?  Don't eat it!  Avoid anything with added sugar.

This is a great article to help you decide what to eat:  Real Food Defined (The Rules).

Questions?

Leave them in the comments!

Clean Eating: The Benefits

Last week I started a series on eating clean.
Did you miss it?
You can find the first post here.

Today I want to share a little bit more of my story.
When I was in second grade, I started getting headaches.
I had my eyes checked and they were fine.
In fact, I didn't get glasses until I was 21.
Happy Birthday to me...

The headaches just became part of my life.
In 6th grade, I was taking so much ib profen for these dang headaches, I remember my mom telling me that I couldn't have anymore.
She was afraid that I had become addicted or immune to it.
Those next couple of weeks were painful.

I got my first migraine in 6th grade...I started seeing fuzzy stuff and then I could only see half of things.
I remember being at Walmart and asking my mom why I could only see half of her face.
She immediately knew that I was going to have a migraine.

A large part for changing my eating habits were to see if I could rid the headaches.
I was so tired of getting them...and there was never any point of taking painkillers.
They didn't really work.

I did lots of research and read lots of testimonials about getting rid of the headaches, and how having a cleaner diet helped tremendously. 
So, I thought I'd try this "clean eating" lifestyle for a bit.
Like I said before, I cut processed foods out of my diet, including gluten and dairy.

After four weeks of this lifestyle, here are my benefits to eating this way:

1.  No more headaches!  I'm not kidding.  I really got rid of them this time.  I used to carry Excedrin in my purse because I never knew when I'd get a migraine, but I no longer carry any kinds of pain killers with me.  This was the BIGGEST improvement for me!  Life has been so much better since I didn't have that "nagging headache" to carry around with me.  Even if I didn't feel any other benefits from eating this way, living without headaches has been totally worth it.

2.  I lost weight and most importantly, inches!!  In just the 4 weeks, I lost 10 lbs and 11 total inches.  I felt SO much better in my clothes because my body was shrinking.  It's really not about what that number on the scales says, but rather how you feel in your own skin.  And I feel fabulous!  I got through my plateau that I had been on for 6 weeks, which was a great feeling!

3.  No more naps!  I don't feel like I need a mid-day nap in the afternoon.  I have a lot more energy, and I'm not prone to getting that "mid-afternoon slump" each day.  I can come home from work each day and feel like I have enough energy to do the chores, make supper, and workout.  That was huge for me.

4.  No more bloating.  A lot of times, after eating, I just felt really full.  I may not have even eaten that much.  I really noticed this after eating ice cream a lot.  My tummy would hurt and I'd feel like I needed to go put sweats on.  After cutting gluten and diary out of my diet, I really realized how crummy I was feeling and how much better I felt without it.

5.  I know exactly what I am putting into my body.  Before, I never really cared about what went into my body.  But after doing my research, I found that the foods with the least amount of ingredients, the better.  

6.  My brain fog has been lifted.  Do you ever feel like you are just in a daze?  I felt like that all the time before the switch.  Eating real, unprocessed foods helped lift that daze.  I am more alert and can think clearer now. 

I love the way my body feels.  I have learned to feed my body to nourish it, rather than to just eat because I want to or am bored.  It's a different way of eating, since not many talk about eating to nourish.  I haven't felt this good in a long time, and all of those benefits that I listed above are completely worth giving up processed foods. 

Questions?
Leave them in the comments and I'd be happy to answer them!

Super Bowl Party Tips

The Super Bowl is coming up on Sunday and I've been thinking about it all week.
Not because I care about football, but because I know that there will be many parties.
Parties where there happens to be a ton of junk food and lots of other unhealthy options to consume.

Via

I've come up with just a few tips on how to have a successful Super Bowl Party and stay on track towards your goals!

1.  Eat before you go.  If you eat something before you head out the door, you won't be as hungry at the party.  You get to still eat what's on your meal plan, and have fun at the party.

2.  Take something that you know you can eat.  If you make something to take to the party that you know you will eat, then you won't look like a fool for not eating.  It's a win-win. You can eat what you brought, and you won't have to face others asking why you're not eating.

3.  Don't stand, sit, or converse near the food.  The closer you are to the food, the more tempted you'll be to eat it.  If you truly want to stay on track, sit on the opposite side of the room.

4.  Keep a glass of water with you.  The more that you sip on your water, the fuller you become.  You won't feel the need to eat much.

5.  Scan all of the options before putting something on your plate.  If you choose to indulge, take a look at the different options and choose something that is most appealing to you.  Be mindful of what you're putting into your mouth.

6.  Just because you put it on your plate doesn't mean you have to finish it.  Don't feel tempted to finish everything on your plate just because the voice of your momma in your head is telling you to.  Eat until you feel satisfied, not stuffed.

Don't let one night of overeating ruin all of the hard work that you've put in working towards your goals.  It is one night.

A Clean Eating Series: What Is It?

Last April, I knew that our little family needed to make a change in our food choices.

Since making that change, I've seen significant amounts of benefits to eating healthier.

I've had a lot of thoughts floating around in my head that I've been wanting to share when it comes to eating "clean."

When the term "eating clean" came out over a year ago, I rolled my eyes every time that I heard it.

I still had a "weight watchers mentality."

That mentality was that I could eat anything that I wanted within moderation.

I'm not saying that it is a bad mentality at all...because many people have found that it works.

I just had a change of heart in the end.

I started modifying our recipes to include more fruits and veggies.

I knew that as long as I was working out that I would lose weight.

That's what happened in college.

I started working out and I lost a few pounds...but nothing like I had before.

I was stuck at a plateau for 6 weeks, so I finally did some research and decided to try eating clean.

Many people have very many views of what eating clean means.
I had to figure out what worked for our family and our lifestyle.
First and foremost, it's NOT a diet.
*I really hate the word diet.*
"Diet," as defined by dictionary.com is "such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight."

I am not limiting the amount of food that I eat.

I am simply learning what foods that I should consume to be healthy.

I am changing the way that I eat...it is now my lifestyle.

**You can't get healthy without eating healthy.**

Some people feel very opinionated to be only eating fruits and veggies that are organic.
Others feel that they should be eating minimal processed foods while others won't eat anything that is processed.
Some say they only eat gluten free while others think that you shouldn't eat gluten free if you don't have a reason to (celiac/gluten intolerance).
There are SO many opinions about what it means to eat clean.

For us, it was starting out slow...
I stopped buying some processed foods, but others I thought were fine.
I figured as long as I was eating "healthy" processed foods that I would be okay.

Then I read an article and found that I had 5 of 10 symptoms that I could possibly be gluten intolerant.  Whoa.
I did a bit more research to make sure that it wasn't just that article that said those things...and it wasn't.
So I purchased this food plan to help me out with a gluten sensitivity test.
I completed 4 weeks of being gluten free, and added some foods with gluten back into my diet.
I found that it made me sick. Blech.
I also found that I felt WAY better and could think clearly when I was eating real, whole foods.
Oh and I also got off that dang plateau.

I really love this quote from Chalene Johnson (creator of TurboFire) regarding whole foods:

"Whole foods are foods in their natural state, foods that are unadulterated.  If you can pick it from a tree or vine, if you can pull up or pinch off a vegetable from a plant in the ground, you are looking at a whole food.  Food in this state is food that hasn't been altered.
Whole food has its enzymes available for health because it is a whole food.  Whole foods contain all the enzymes and nutrients in the proportion nature intended for our health.  If you consume whole foods your body feels whole and nourished.  Whole foods diminish cravings, swelling, chronic pain, arthritic symptoms, digestive issues, and make weight loss and weight management easier."

So for me, eating clean means eating real food.
I have eliminated {almost completely} all processed foods from my pantry.
I avoid gluten, specifically wheat, at all cost.
And what I really love is a juicy steak and some yummy grilled veggies. :)

The best thing I could have done for myself is to really research all the different components to eating healthy (gluten, clean eating, whole foods, etc) before I made a decision on what I was going to do.  I like to be informed before I make a decision, so I feel like I have made the best decision for myself.

Questions?
Leave them in the comments!