Amy has been working with us for the last three years and has lost almost 50 pounds! She’s pretty much a celebrity as far as we are concerned. Maybe you’ve seen her transformation video featured on our website. She has done an incredible job, but she would be the first to tell you it hasn’t been easy. She has had her fair share of gains and setbacks, highs and lows, peaks and valleys. Recently, I asked Amy to share her transformation tips with me. She shared these five nuggets with me from the last few years. I think they will help you on your fitness journey.
Reduce your sugar intake.
“I eliminated foods that have added sugar. When I began to diligently read food ingredients, I realized how many foods out there have added sugar. The easiest way to avoid added sugars to is to eat whole foods like fruit, veggies, and lean proteins while also cooking meals for yourself vs. eating out. For me, if I have a sugar craving, I grab a piece of fresh fruit or add fruit to my smoothie (see below) to help eliminate the craving.”
Shake it up in the morning.
“I have developed the habit of drinking a protein shake for breakfast every morning. It’s quick and convenient and leaves out any guest work on whether my breakfast will be healthy and full of nutrients.”
Amy’s shake recipe:
– 1 scoop protein powder (I use chocolate Shakeology)
– 1 c unsweetened vanilla almond or coconut milk
– 1/2 frozen banana (for creaminess)
– 1/2 c to 1 c frozen raspberries
– 1 T ground flaxseed (omega 3s!!)
– 1 handful of baby spinach or baby kale (I promise you can’t taste it!)
Fall in love with water.
“I love my sweet tea just like the next person. That’s one of my vices, but I have chosen to eliminate it from my diet. I can use the extra calories somewhere else. I still love my morning coffee but the only other beverage I consume is water and it’s made a huge difference.”
You have to track it!
“It might be tedious, but I have found tracking my food intake to be really beneficial. There are many apps and methods of tracking your food but I prefer MyFitnessPal. You can save homemade recipes and serving sizes on the app and it syncs easy with Fitbit and other trackers which makes it very quick and convenient.”
Something is better than nothing.
“In the past, I would come home from work many days and be too tired to workout. Lately I haven’t been letting that excuse keep me from doing something, even if it’s very small. Now, if I have a long day, I will go for a walk around the neighborhood instead of sitting on the couch.”