6 Clean Eating Hacks for Memorial Day!

This is the weekend for barbecues and picnics, full of ribs, loaded burgers, mayonnaise laden potato and macaroni salads, chips, ice cream, cakes, and sweets!

I listed six clean eating tips below, but also try to limit the partying to one day, or at least only one cheat per day! To navigate these parties and stay true to my clean-eating principles, I follow these principles:

1. Bring an eat clean dish. For every holiday party, I always volunteer to bring a fruit or vegetable tray, or a healthy fruit or vegetable based dish. Picnics and barbecues are the perfect place for finger sized cut veggies and fruits or a great big salad! This way, I'm guaranteed to have some healthy food to eat.

2. Skip or go easy on the dips and condiments. I go easy on the mayonnaise and cheese based dips and even the guacamole and the hummus.  While guacamole and hummus are healthy foods, they are also high in calories which can quickly add up.  So, I put just a spoonful on my plate to eat with veggies, or skip these dips all together.

3. Drink lots of H2O. I drink lots of water before, during and after the party. It helps me feel full and hydrates me, so I quench my thirst, which can sometimes be mistaken for hunger. In fact, make sure to drink lots of water all three days of the weekend.

4. Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and will-power.  After a few drinks, I'm more tempted by the sweets and calorie-laden foods. I take a few sips of my drink, and when I've reached the halfway point, then drink a glass of water. My goal is to drink two glasses of water for each alcoholic beverage, which I limit to two. Another strategy is to cut the two glasses of wine (or in my case, margaritas) with seltzer water. Then I can have four "drinks" because each one is diluted.

5. Start small and take it slow. I start with the fruits, vegetables and clean proteins.  After filling up my plate with these, I eat them and don't go back to the buffet table until I've chatted and visited with my family or friends for half an hour. This gives me time to digest and feel full.  When I'm ready to go back for some treats, I make sure it's a dish I really love and will enjoy.  Then I eat it slowly, savoring each bite.

6. Back to business the next day. The day following a party, I go right back to eating clean and get on a good sweat, forgive yourself, don't dwell on all the things you "shouldn't" have eaten. You are a fit, healthy person, and you practice balance!

7. WORKOUTS! I know this is six "clean eating" hacks, but workouts are important to make you feel fit and get those endorphins going! This is a three day weekend. Make sure to workout all three days, and up the intensity. If you usually walk, consider a run walk. If you lift weights, consider doing a set of burpees, jumping jacks, or jumping rope a few times in between sets. Try to burn a few extra calories.

There is STRENGTH in NUMBERS!! If you're looking for more tips like these, nutritious recipes, motivation, and support in your health and fitness journey, fill out the application below to be considered for my next fit club!!

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Fit and 40, 50, and beyond!

The past 18 months I haven’t felt quite “right”. Not BAD, but not great. Even though I have eliminated many chemicals from my diet and eat very clean, I was still struggling with how I FELT.

I noticed that no matter how much I exercised, that my weight would stay the SAME. And if I didn’t exercise, or eat well, I’d GAIN weight VERY easily. I had my thyroid tested in October and it was normal. I had several more tests run last week and finally had my answer!

There were several things going on with me. All simple fixes, but if left untreated, could end up much much worse.
I was very deficient in B12. I was also deficient in Vitamin D. Both very simple fixes. But those were SYMPTOMS—> like the many other symptoms. Symptoms of chronic inflammation. The biggest disease causing culprit.

Although I was eating clean, I was not RESTORING the quality of my GUT HEALTH. Your grand central station for how you FEEL. Years of eating processed food as a kid and most of my adult life. For over 30 years I was digesting round up, antibiotics and vaccines. Then add stress and high cortisol levels. All things that even the BEST past 4-5 years of eating clean can’t undo.

I am thankful for least or my Shakeology, as my doctor said it kept me from getting worse more rapidly. But the probiotics and digestive enzymes in Shakeology can only repair so much on it’s own. It’s like holding a single umbrella over your head during a hurricane. Our gut needs to be restored and given a chance to heal itself with the OTHER foods we eat.

Poor gut health causes inflammation, which can later lead to a spectrum of autoimmune diseases like Hashimotos, Graves disease, Psoriasis, Fibromyalgia, Ulcerative Colitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis to name a few. Ironically, all of these autoimmune diseases have TRIPLED in just the last 50 years. Also, your GUT HEALTH holds the KEY to your metabolism. Improve your gut health and you improve your weight <3

My May online Fitness and 40 group is going to be a little more UNIQUE. For my clients, I am tailoring this group to the issues we face at 40 and beyond. I am going to share meal plans and foods that will help RESTORE your gut and IMPROVE your symptoms. I am going to teach you foods to eat more of and less of so you can start feeling better. I’m going to include a meal plan that you can incorporate with your portion control containers and at home fitness.

This offer is EXCLUSIVE to my CURRENT an NEW clients. I will be hosting a live webinar this Sunday for all clients selected and have registered with me by Saturday, May 7.

If you have any of these symptoms that I have, or have been sharing the same struggles as me, just want to FEEL BETTER and are ready to learn about foods that may help, Connect with me at: vanessadotfitness@gmail.com or fill out the form below.

How does it work?

1. You make me your coach by going to my Beachbody site and creating a free profile which makes me your COACH!

2. I help you choose the right program for your goals.

3. You purchase the challenge pack (workout program + Shakeology) that we chose for your goals.

4. You are required to replace Shakeology with 1 meal each day for the very best results. My goal is to teach you how to plan and prepare the other meals of the day so that you get the results you are looking for. At the end of the 30 days the choice is yours to continue with Shakeology or not.

5. You must check in daily to the private online group to rate your day, be accountable and engage in the group discussion of the day.

That's it! You get to workout in your own home (only 30 minute workouts), but be connected to me 24/7 for support, fitness, recipes, nutrition and tips!

What you can expect from me is meal planning help, choosing the foods you like, or that you require (works with any diet that is vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy free), support, accountability, tips on how to eat while on vacation or summer travel, suggestions and advice on how to prevent emotional eating, and lots of inspiration and motivation.

Interested in one of my 10 spots available?!

Fill out my online form to reserve your spot.

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