Motivation and Haters

Finding your fitness passion/motivation is crucial to long lasting success for a healthy lifestyle and weight. When I realised that cycling and dancing were activities that I wanted to do for fun and didn't notice that I was exercising while doing these activities, I began to do them more and in turn, began to lose weight without going to a gym and feeling like exercising was a drag. The great things about these forms of exercise is that they are made up of a variety of different forms of the one activity. Cycling is also easy to fit into a busy lifestyle - choosing to cycle somewhere versus hopping in the car is a very easy way to get in daily exercise. Cycling can also be done in various ways - mountain biking/cross country, down-hill, street, competitive and indoor (I'm sure there is even more!). Dancing is fantastic! There are so many different types of dance and it's hard not to smile when you do it. I loved the Hip hop abs exercise DVD when I was trying to lose weight before my 21st as it was high energy and made me laugh as I tried to do all the moves and the instructor is so charismatic and encouraging. 

A friend of mine who also struggled with weight, found fire spinning. It became a passion and he wanted to keep doing it to get better. Without really noticing that he was becoming more active, yet as a result (combined with a healthier diet) he began to lose weight.

Obviously, fire spinning, cycling and dancing isn't for everyone...but as you can see, once you find something active that you can incorporate into your life without it feeling like exercise then fat starts to melt away without feeling like being active is a chore.

There is another thing that one must overcome when transforming your lifestyle into a healthier one....Haters!
After duscussing this with a couple of people who have gone through weight loss journeys, i have come to realise that this is a common occurence. The closest people arround you, the people that are supposed to love and care for you unconditionally can quickly become your enemy against change. Humans hate change! Your friends and family are used to "fat (Insert name here)" and when you have made up your mind and accepted the changes you will make, those people haven't. It is hard to get used to someone changing their entire lifestyle and sometimes it can mean that you can no longer surround yourself with the same people as they become negative influences. 
Another thing i encountered is family and their struggle to accept me as someone who lived, looked and behaved so differently than the Anna they had known for years. Suddenly after months of not seeing me, they would be shocked and afraid at the change and would think the worst - does she have an eating disorder? Well let me tell you that this is likely to happen and your task is to push through this as it can seem that the very people who are supposed to be your support systems start to project negativity. If you get through this, you will only be stronger for it and even more resilient. Eventually, if you are open and positive towards these poeple and communicate freely, they will come around in the end. 

This weeks finds:

1. When i worked full-time over the summer, I began to appreciate how hard it is for full-time office workers to stay active and healthy...This site give you great tips for building fail-safe lunches - in fact it's a great guide for building every meal: http://www.leanitup.com/how-to-eat-well-in-the-workplace-lunch-edition/
2. ActiveBeat - a website featuring health advice and recipes etc....
3. Whole-grain Zucchini Bread: (Source: Clean Eating)

Serves 12

INGREDIENTS

• •Cooking spray
• •1 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour - I substituted 1/2 a cup of this for white high grade flour for a lighter texture.
• •1/4 cup spelt flour - I swapped this for oat flour (ground rolled oats)
• •2 tsp baking powder
• •1/2 tsp baking soda
• •1/2 tbsp cinnamon, ground
• •1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• •2/3 cup of apple, grated
• •1 cup zucchini, grated
• •1 egg
• •1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek-style yogurt - I used Bio Farms low fat acidophilus plain yogurt
• •1/4 cup raw honey

I then added 2 Tbsp of unsweetened dutch cocoa powder, one Tbsp of Healtheries LSA with buckwheat and chia and 3 Tbsp of dark chocolate drops. All optional...but you can't say no to chocolate!

DIRECTIONS

• 1
  1.Preheat oven to 180°C. Mist an 8 x 4-inch or 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
• 2
  2.In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside.
• 3
  3.In a separate bowl, whisk together apple, zucchini, egg, yogurt and honey.
• 4
  4.Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and fold until just combined. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.

NOTEs

Nutrients per 3/4-inch slice (2 oz): Calories: 113, Total Fat: 1 g, Sat. Fat: 0.25 g, Carbs: 24 g, Fibre: 3 g, Sugars: 9 g, Protein: 4 g, Sodium: 125 mg, Cholesterol: 21 mg

My version came out at the same amount of calories per serving (113) with Total fat: 2.3g, Sat. Fat: 0.8g, Carbs: 15.9g, Fibre: 2.0g, Sugars: 7.4g, Protein: 3.5g, Sodium: 168.3mg, Cholesterol: 0.2 mg.

My finished Product :)

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Eating Out

Eating out is hard to navigate sometimes and it can feel awkward to be the one who makes the special requests and alterations. Sometimes one can be reluctant to ask questions about how food is prepared and whether they can change things for you...then remaining assertive when/if they do not prepare things the way you requested - usually you are out with friends and family who can give you exasperated looks. But don't let that put you off...it is crucial that you navigate restaurants with caution when you are trying to stay healthy or lose weight as chefs often have a love for cooking things in a heap of fat - of course because it tastes better that way! 

Controlling portions is important. If you wish to order an entre; share it. Set aside half of you main in a to-go box, or ask what the portion sizes are for the mains and ask for less if they are generous - like Lone Star for example. 

I research the restaurant online before going. If they have the menu available online, you can research each option to find the best choice - but one that will also satisfy you. I try to find a balance between health and my cravings. Plan what you will consume before you get there; will you have an entre, dessert, alcohol etc. I often decide to skip the entre so I can have some desert as I have a weakness for sweet things. Because I love dessert so much, I can live without that glass of wine and just stick with water - saving me approximately 120 calories with that one choice! I also have a light snack like an apple or a couple of vita-wheats with some low fat cheese before i leave home so I can last without nibbling until the main comes out which can sometimes take up to an hour. 

Tips to keep in mind when you’re dining out:

• Fried, au gratin, crispy, escalloped, pan-fried, sautéed or stuffed foods are high in fat and calories. Instead, look for steamed, broiled, baked, grilled, poached or roasted foods. If you’re not sure about a certain dish, ask your waiter/waitress how it’s prepared. 

• Request that your meal be prepared with vegetable oil (made from canola, olive, corn, soy, sunflower) or soft margarine instead of butter.

• Have gravy, sauces and dressings served on the side, so you can control the amount you eat or skip them completely.

• Ask if the restaurant has fat-free or 1 percent milk instead of whole milk.

Try to order first...listening to others choices may tempt you. If I like a meal but it has an element like chips as a side or a creamy dressing, I ask for light vinaigrette on the side and to replace the fries with steamed vegetables or salad. Ask for things to be cooked in less oil and opt for less meat if you feel like a meat dish. Approximately 100g or a palm size portion is what you need; however most restaurants serve portions well over 200g - especially stone grill!

If you are more of an entre person, try to choose things like salads and soups - but be aware and ask if the soup is prepared with cream...AVOID everything with the word creamy in it!

• Bad preparation words = buttery, breaded, buttered, fried, pan-fried, creamed, scalloped, au gratin, a la mode.
• Good preparation words = grilled, baked, steamed, broiled, poached, stir-fried, roasted, blackened.
• Marinara and tomato-based sauces are usually more flavorful and healthier than creamy sauces and gravies. As a rule of thumb, red is usually better than white or yellow.
• Get all sauces, gravies and creams on the side so you can add to taste.
• Even better, rely more on herbs and spices to flavor your food. Become familiar with your favourites and ask for them by name.
• If you must order pasta with a cream sauce, ask the kitchen to go light on the sauce.
• Know your fatty and lean meats. Pork: fairly lean except sausage, bacon, and ribs. Fish: all fairly lean or contain healthy fat. Chicken: fairly lean especially when skin and fat is removed, and white is leaner that dark meat. Ground beef products (in order of most to least fat): ground beef. Eye of round and roasts are leaner, while steaks and ribs have more fat.
• Don’t eat the skin of chicken, turkey or duck. You can save yourself loads of fat and calories with this simple step.
• Ask for your fish or meat to be baked, with no extra butter.
• Vegetarian options are not always lower in calories if they’re loaded with cheese, nuts and other non-vegetable ingredients.
• Remember, a salad and a healthy appetiser can make a great meal

• Order as many vegetable options as possible. Steamed, stewed or boiled veggies are best, with little or no added butter or oil. Avoid butter and cheese sauces. Watch out for anything “creamed” or in casserole form.
• Potato options are good too. Stick with baked, boiled or roasted potatoes instead of fried potatoes, such as chips, fries or hash browns.
• The loaded baked potato can be a loaded problem. Instead of butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon. Try salsa, chives, pepper, margarine, low-fat sour cream, broccoli or salad bar veggies.
• Coleslaw is often mistaken for a healthy option, when in actuality it can be really high in calories.
• Fruit or fruit salad can make a sweet side dish (and might subside any craving for dessert). If there is no fruit cup side listed on the menu, the kitchen may still have the ingredients.
• Plain rice or noodles is better than anything fried or covered in creamy sauce or gravy. A tomato-based sauce can be added as well.
• Ask for natural yogurt or to hold the cream on your dessert and order things like meringue and sorbet. If there is nothing on the menu that you simply MUST consume then don't bother.....I have some ice cream at home in the freezer that I can control the portion and this choice also saves you money.

Even though it may seem like hard work, the way you feel after making those good choices is totally worth it and it gets easier as you get more skilled at navigating menus. Don't let others eating with you influence you, often they feel guilty when they see you eating well and subconsciously want to sabotage you...stay strong!

I have things like ribs, macaroni cheese, lasagna and other 'naughty' foods at home where I can control portions, cooking oils and make ingredient substitutions. I believe in indulging in a controlled environment rather than throwing all of your diet goals out the window just because your out, or it's a special occasion...

All the best...

Anna :)

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Substitutions and Sacrifices

Part of my journey has involved learning how to sacrifice and substitute to make cooking and baking healthier. Using a canola spray and a good non-stick pan or baking/grilling food instead of using a heap of oil is a great way to reduce unnecessary added fat to your diet. However a small amount of good monounsaturated fats is good so don’t be completely scared of using oils, just be mindful that they have a high number of calories for such tiny amounts. I have even tried roasting vegetables in a stock...Low-fat Roasties

If you want to try baking things, but healthy, it is certainly a huge learning experience as baking is a science and if you start messing with the tried and true, then the results can be disastrous. Here are some pretty fail-safe substitutions that you can use in you cooking/baking to make things a bit better for you:

Baking and cooking subs and tips:

1. All-purpose flour can be replaced with whole wheat flour. Since whole wheat flour is light, add only half the required amount.
2. Substitute margarine and butter with apple sauce or prune puree. Plus it adds flavour to the dough. You can even use baby food or puree cans of pears, peaches etc. that you have lying in the back of your pantry. For best results, sometimes it works better if you only substitute about ¾ of the necessary fat.
3. Refined sugar has absolutely no nutritional value, why not replace it with honey, stevia, xylitol, brown, raw or Demerara sugar to sweeten the goodies?
4. Whole eggs definitely hold the dough together and cannot be replaced. But you can use egg whites instead of whole eggs.
5. Or you can absolutely replace half the amount of eggs with nut butter, bean or fruit substitutions. You can also use a vegan flax-egg substitute which involves dissolving 1 tablespoon of freshly ground flax/linseed with 2-3 tablespoons of water – which then is the equivalent to 1 egg.
6. Instead of using whole milk, try the low fat, fat free milk, coconut and almond milk; the benefits are fruitful. In fact there is so many low fat or reduced fat options for most things nowadays… I have even found that Meadow fresh low fat yogurt has more calcium and protein than the full fat versions and I love Mainland’s reduced fat feta – it means that I can have more!
7. Oatmeal is a healthy ingredient for breakfast and for a healthy substitute for bread crumbs. Now you can also use oatmeal in cakes; replace half the flour with oatmeal.
8. Everyone loves cheese cake…Now you can opt for low fat cream cheese and still have the same decadent taste.
9. When you see cream used in soups, you can opt for skim milk plus a tablespoon or so of flour. Or some light evaporated milk.
10. Sour cream in your stroganoff or cakes can be replaced with unsweetened natural yogurt.

Good luck with your experimentation…I would love to hear about anything you try and feel free to ask about healthy swaps on this page or on Facebook. Also you may be interested in my Pinterest recipe board which is where I pin all of the great healthier recipes that I find – the link is on the left of the blog page.

xx Anna :)

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