I’ve gotten a few requests from people who are following along with my fitness barter with Amanda to know about what/how I’m eating with my new health regimen. (If you’re new here or catching up, I’m trading decorating services with a personal trainer who is whipping my ass into shape. We are two and a half months in to our barter and I’ve lost 18 lbs. so far–but more than at I feel SO much better.) Even though I still have a ways to go to meet my goals, I wanted to share how my eating habits have started to change. First, I think it’s important to share a bit of back story…
I was nine years old when I decided not eat red-meat. I just never really liked it. It wasn’t the taste, per say, but if I thought about what I was eating I just couldn’t stomach it. I’ve always had this thing with meat–like I have to suspend my knowledge of what I’m eating in order to enjoy it. Anyway, I’ve been a pescetarian (fish-eating vegetarian) now for about 8 years. This sounds healthy when I say it to people, but the truth is that before I started working out with Amanda, my entire diet was based around dairy and carbs: Cheese, yogurt, pasta, ramen, lattes, chai lattes, bagels, panini…did I mention cheese? These were a few of my favorite things. And yet if you asked me, I would have told you that I was a healthy eater. I would have told you that it was primarily my portion sizes that was responsible for my weight gain in recent years–afterall, when I ate bread it was usually whole wheat, when I ate pasta I’d put broccoli or kale in the sauce, when I ate yogurt it was usually the Greek kind that everyone says is so healthy. I love vegetables and ate them a lot, but almost always smothered in salad-dressing, smooshed between bread slices or dipped into something buttery and/or creamy.
So in my first meeting with Amanda she told me very matter-of-factly to not eat dairy, fat or gluten. Honestly it sounded like a joke at first. I’m thinking–what’s left?!? But now, almost three months later I have discovered my version of these rules that I (so far) have been pretty good at sticking to. So, here are the main things that I’ve changed. Where I used regular 2% milk before, I now use almond milk. I’m so used to the taste now that I swear I can’t tell the difference. Where I used oil before, I either use avocado (like on a salad) or I use coconut oil (like for cooking). I bake a bunch of sweet potatoes at the beginning of the week to have them around as a snack. I keep dates around if I’m craving something sweet. I sub quinoa for times that I would have had rice before. I used to eat fruit whenever (often I’d eat a side of fruit WITH a meal) and now I stagger any fruit I eat so that it’s between meals. Bread was surprisingly easy to give up. I’m still eating eggs and fish, but I’m not eating carbs (hold the side of toast) when I get down on those proteins. So those are some big basic changes that really are some of the main changes I’ve made.
Some things that I’m still working on getting better at include:
1.) drinking more water. I am terrible at drinking water. It should be so simple but for some reason it feels like such a chore.
2.) asking for no oil. Amanda tells me that when I eat out I can ask for things to be cooked without oil. I haven’t brought myself to do this yet. I’m not sure why. Maybe because I hate to be that person that asks for the burrito with no tortilla, no cheese, no sour cream, no meat, and no oil. But I’m just gonna have to get over that now aren’t I.
3.) general self control. I’m pretty good about not eating bad stuff, but I do have little bites of stuff I’m not supposed to eat ( a little bit of cheese, a piece of chocolate…)–and that would probably be OK if it weren’t for the fact that once I have one bite, I inevitably want another and another…It’s much easier if I abstain from those little ‘cheats’ that tend to escalate into big cheats.
4.) making time and motivating for cardio. I’ve been working out with Amanda 3x/week–but when we work out together we do mainly weight training type stuff, not cardio–so I really have to push myself to both motivate AND find time those other four days per week to cardio.
5.) getting out of the mindset of ‘better than before.’ My eating habits have changed so dramatically that I often find myself indulging in things that I shouldn’t be eating with the excuse of, ‘well, before I wasn’t excersizing at all and now I’m working out 3X per week so I can afford to eat a little X or Y.’ On the weeks where I didn’t lose anything (and there have been a few) I think I fell into this trap.
I can improve in those five areas I will certainly feel REALLY light on my feel by my 35th birthday in March. Already I am down one jean size (which feels great) and yesterday I took Ida to the mall and carried her around for about 40 minutes without putting her down once–which 3 months ago I would not have been able to do–like AT ALL. So that feels SO, so good. Admittedly, I am really proud of myself. This is not easy. The eating is hard. The exercise is hard. I friggen hate lunges and berpies and step-ups and all of the rest of it. But both the exercise and the eating ARE getting easier, and I’m even starting to crave it. And this morning as I was doing lunges holding 20lb weights in my hands and feeling how dang heavy those weights were, I couldn’t even BELIEVE that I’d lost almost those two barbells worth of weight. It’s bananas. And awesome.
Do you have any super healthy (no fat, no gluten, no sugar) treats that you love? Sweet potatoes and avocados are saving me right now :) I’d love to hear what your go-to healthy foods are!
juli says
Cookies made with almond meal or ground oatmeal and pureed dates as a sweeter are delicious.
Dried tropical fruits (pineapple, mango, or try the italian sun-dried kumquats if you can find them) are great too and ready to eat immediately :-)
Clare says
This is great, and you look awesome. I am vegan but I also do not eat oil – cutting this made a HUGE difference for me. I work out a lot and am slim but I would always be battling between two ends of a size. When I cut out oil, I found I could easily maintain the smaller end with no extra effort. I saute things in water or broth, not coconut oil – it’s surprisingly easy and you can still caramelise onions etc. Just takes some practice.
Clarissa says
Congrats on your hard work.
The oil thing is tricky for me. I hear coconut and olive is OK in moderation, so that’s what I use.
Going gluten-free (and no process foods) is a huge help too.
Keep at it. You can do it!
Clarissa
June says
First of all, you look… WOW!!
I have a pretty healthy lifestyle too. Due to a non-seriuos , so but annoying health issue, I have to watch what I eat. So I don’t eat sugar, dairy, refined flour or red meat. I still eat fish (I just LOVE oily fish, fresh anchovies… yum) and eggs, and my other protein sources are tofu (in burgers), seitan and quinoa.
Regarding excercise, I (try to) practice Ashtanga Yoga, which (done properly) is a good weight, cardio and stretching workout. I also do hypopressive abs to re-gain pelvic floor strength, highly recommended to all mums.
You are doing so so great, my only “advice” would be to find an exercise regime that you REALLY enjoy, otherwise is really hard to be consistent.
Keep up the good work!!!
Erin says
Mama – you look H.O.T! As someone who used to work as a personal trainer I know first hand how hard changing those life habits can be but you do it now and you stick with it you will be amazed at how different and fabulous you feel! You’re motivating me to get my butt back in gear – 35 is a great wall right?! Huge hugs to you!!
Sarah says
green smoothies! Not as bad as they look ;-) Just get a good blender.
Hanne says
I am lactose free and try to be as sugar free as possible. I also crave avocados and sweet patatoes a lot.
And baked apple crisps without oil, I make them in the oven. That’s also very nice.
Jessica says
I am right there with you.
I completely revamped my diet and workout plan about three months ago. So far I’ve lost 15lb (which on a 5’3″ frame, that’s a decent amount).
I also am sticking to a pescatarian diet. I also got rid of dairy and gluten, so I feel like our diets are really similar.
Most of my diet includes onions, garlic, bell peppers, beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocado, pineapple, eggs, tilapia and salmon (but make sure you’re getting wild-caught salmon because, holy moley, the more I read about farmed salmon the more freaked out I get).
I usually eat fruit in the morning, so a banana and some pineapple or something, because fruits are most easily and effectively digestible to you when you first wake up, and get the ball moving on your GI.
Lunch is usually up in the air, but I recently made a batch of veggie chili which is DELICIOUS, and healthy, and filling, and only 100 calories a cup! I used spicy hot V8 juice and pureed roma tomatoes for the base, and then just dumped a bunch of beans and sautéed onions and peppers in it. I’ll be able to eat it for lunch for at least a week.
Also, to keep really good track of how much protein and sugar and sodium and all that stuff you’re taking in throughout the day, I strongly suggest using http://www.myfitnesspal.com
It has helped me SO much! Seriously, it’s an awesome tool. And if you cook a lot of your own stuff at home (like I do), you can plug all your ingredients in and figure out just how much you’re ingesting for a serving. It’s awesome.
Anyway, this is really long, but I hope it’s helpful.
Keep fighting to the good fight, girlfriend! I know it’s hard, but man, isn’t it exciting? :)
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Anonymous says
It is crazy to me how much we have in common! I’ve been following you on pinterest for awhile now and I love love everything you post! I have an 8 month old daughter and just started seeing a nutritionist! And omg we have the same eating habits! No red meats just fish and eggs and even that is hard for me!! So my go to gluten free stuff is the almond cookies just one is enough and gluten free blue berry waffles with nothing on it is a good treat! Oh I will be losing weight with you! And I will be 35 in February! I always say yes its in my pinterest closet (clothing) but I am still too big to wear it…not for long!
Anonymous says
I forgot my name up above : ) I am Kaelys. Oh I also have the crazy curly hair like you!
Eli says
This is incredibly awesome to read – I wish you the strength to continue doing what you are doing! I cut out almost bad carbs (bread, cake, pasta, soft drinks) 8 months ago and have lost almost 30 lbs. At first I did it because I was going to someone’s wedding but the weight just kept coming off and it freaked me out that these things are SO bad for you.
I realized that our starches are also pumped with sugar. In the end I was cutting out most gluten and sugar, which is what was keeping me very round. I never joined a gym, although I kind of want to now to gain muscle, but I’d often just walk 2 or 3 miles after work about 2 days a week. After I lost some weight I can now run a little bit better (crazy how things become easier after just losing a bit of weight – it’s taught me to never judge a really obese person, because if 30 lbs was stopping me, I can’t imagine what it’s doing to someone carrying an extra 100 or 200).
I struggle with the water thing too. Snacks, or the lack of them is huge. I get asked this all the time. I love roasted almonds, and will snack on those or raisins. I’ve heard plain popcorn you pop yourself is fine too, I just don’t like them.
If I had to go back to the beginning to give myself advice, I’d say to not be so hard on myself on days where I gave into the cravings or weeks where I lost no weight. You’re doing mighty fine Justina, and an inspiration to many :)
Christie says
I’ve only been reading your blog for a few months, and I’ve always thought you were beautiful… but you look FIERCE in that right photo! Be proud! Keep it up!
Jen says
You look fabu!!! way to go i heart your blog!
Nikki Hirigoyen says
gosh you are always so inspiring! i have been doing the Whole 30 program off and on for the last year or so. Im on my 3rd full round (not consecutively) of 30 days of eating ONLY protein, fruits and veggies, with no added sugars etc.
our favorite snacks for when we are hungry between meals are an avocado, a hardboiled egg, cashews or any nut, and its fun trying any variety of green olives from trader joes. i swear we have like 8 different kinds of olives in our fridge at any one time.
keep at it girl! i was in a rut of eating pretty bad for the last few months, but seeing your blog and instagram posts and how AMAZING you look inspired me to get back on the healthy bandwagon!! thank you!
Megan @ Pink O'Clock says
You look SO fabulous! Congratulations on all your success–I love reading your updates on all this. xo
Angel Y. says
Congratulations on adopting a healthier lifestyle! How exciting! I’ve been a pescetarian since April and it’s been the best change I’ve ever made. I also need to make more time for cardio. Before, I was visiting my gym and we had excellent Zumba and dance instructors. Since then, those programs have died down so I’m not as cardio-heavy as I once was.
Avocados are also my favorites right now!
Sarah says
You’re so awesome! Thanks for keeping it real. Yesterday I had two cups of tea, a coffee, and a chai latte and woke up this morning with one of those dehydration headaches. Isn’t it funny how sensitive we are to things like our need for water? Also wondering, what is your plan for Thanksgiving? Are you planning to make any exceptions?
Bee says
It is not easy to do what you are doing, but you look amazing-go girl!
My weight went up and down for years as I subscribed to “this” and “that” new eating fad. I have committed my life to real food for my family so I just want to share a few things I’ve learned.
With water I find it easiest to make sure I drink a certain amount per block of time per day. My baby is almost 15 months old and still nursing strong so I drink 32oz upon waking. Then again I have another 32oz finished (not chugged, but spaced over that time) by noon. Then again by the end of the day I try to have at least another 32oz done. Sounds like a lot, but it becomes something you crave!
Next, I know people are very anti-fat, but I’ve never been thinner in my life than when I started eating grass-fed butter. (Cholesterol from real butter is a myth-look into vitamin K that can only be found in pastured dairy.) I cook with it (and coconut oil) and spread it on of vegetables. Did you know that in order to fully absorb the nutrients in vegetables a fat is necessary? So is a sprinkle of mineral sea salt.
Are you allowing yourself natural sugars like grade b maple syrup? If so, I die for raw avocado cacao pudding. Coconut oil, grade b maple syrup, vanilla, avocados, pinch sea salt, cacao.
Good recipe here:
http://thedeliciousrevolution.com/dessert/raw-cacao-pudding-recipe/
Take care!
-Bee
Haley says
You look great! You break it down and it sounds so easy.
PS. Where did you get those pants? I’m obsessed!
Justina Blakeney says
Awww thank you! I got them at Free People!
miss loop says
You look amazing. Remember that healthy women are beautiful and delectable regardless of weight and waist/hip/chest ratios xxxx
Lisa says
I’m really glad you stressed how good you *feel* and not just how you look (beauty comes in all shapes and sizes – and for my personal struggle, all amounts of body/facial hair. Thank you, PCOS).
One of my favourite snacks to have on hand is a jar of blended seeds/cacao beans (I use sunflower, flax, chia, and pumpkin seeds), and then toss in shredded coconut and toasted buckwheat. I eat it sprinkled (generously) on top of yogurt & bananas. Works just as well sprinkled on salads, pancakes, apples & almond butter, you name it.
Congrats on your progress so far, and thanks for sharing your story with the world :)
Melinda's Musings says
First off, congrats! Sounds like you are on a really great path! For healthy snacks, I’m a big fruit eater as well, and for something more substantial I like to stock raw nuts around. When I stick to eat healthy, I eat pretty simple stuff, not much fuss. Other people’s suggestions here sound more enticing though! Lisa’s blended seed combo sounds like a great snack!
Sophie says
I suppose if you say “no fat” but you write avocado you mean no fat added.
So may I suggest olives?
Organic Lives has sun-dried botija olives with aji spices. Oh my!
Kelp noodles are fun too.
It is cool to be able to follow your progress.
Thanks for sharing.
Bekka says
GIRL! You look so good. You know I love to exercise, and I’m so happy to see you embrace it. Sometimes, I just eat avocado by itself, or maybe sometimes I alternate spoonfuls of avocado with sunflower seed butter.
debra says
What a body! Before and after it’s beautiful but now you are healthier, more energized and mentally more confident. What an inspiration!
Ana says
Great job Justina!
corlie says
Congratulations you look absolutely amazing!
freckleface says
Oh my days! Hot, hot, hot! Looking so beautiful.
Chandra @DelMar says
You look great! And congrats on the weight loss. My go to when I need something healthy and am craving a cool sweet treat is 1 ripe banana, half a mango, half an apple, a handful of spinach, some soy milk and ice in a blender and voila!
kate says
Hi, You look really great! Your diet sounds very good, giving up diary will do so much for you and disease proof you a heap with no casein in ur diet. My kids and I have no diary,we use almond milk and my little kiddies had it too once theyd weaned off me. (it has twice the calcium as moo milk and is not acidic). Drinking saturated fat does no kiddy any good. I am completely ‘plant strong’ and only eat a whole foods/ whole grains and plant based diet, supposed to protect you from any heart disease (no cholestrol from other animals), some cancers and diabetes 2. I also start each day with a raw ‘green juice’, i yearn one day for a vitamix but for now take a while with a soup blender! Exercise has now started and i am seeing results of everything. I used to be an athlete but inactivity from twin fatigue made me stop and any diet with no exercise is rubbish. my treats will always be dark vegan chocolate, chocomole (omg try it!) guacamole, short grain brown rice with home made salsa. i never add oil and i know avocados are fattening but well….what is a world without avocados!
‘
Carly says
You look amazing but make sure you keep some of your lovely curves, lucky devil ;)
Desha Peacock says
WOWee! You look fantastic. It takes a ton of motivation to change deep rooted habits, I am impressed. you look fantastic!
Camille says
Damn girl. DAMN. You look amazing.
I can stomach gluten (literally) so I’m with you on the no-carbs lifestyle. I can’t give up dairy though (cheese!) but I do substitute many snacky-things (chips, etc.) for healthier choices — love me a good trail mix.
Keep going! So happy for you!
Trish says
My friend Angie has some amazing dishes that you would easily be able to work into your new lifestyle. Check her out at:
http://uberdish.ca/uberdish-angela-fuchs/
Sarah says
Justina,
I am a casual reader and admirer of your blog, this is my first comment! As an overweight teenager who turned it around in my early twenties, I know the struggle to change eating and exercise habits and I want to commend you on your progress! Above looking great, it is wonderful to hear how much better you feel. I think people get so caught up in the physical appearance of loosing weight they forget to talk about the improved physical, mental, and emotional health. Anyways…. congrats and good luck on your journey, I know how tough it is but it is so worth it in the end!
And for shared recipes, when I am craving sweets (which is ALL THE TIME) I blend a few dates, tablespoon shredded coconut, a pinch of cocoa powder, and a table spoon of peanut butter (unsalted, natural). Roll the blended result out into little bite sized balls and it is good for a couple sweet snack sessions. This was a loose adaptation of my favorite cafe’s ‘zen balls’.
Victoria says
I have a water-drinking tip for you. Pour yourself a quart mason jar of water first thing in the morning, that way you don’t have to keep refilling it and you can judge how much you drink by noon.
You are a beautiful woman (always, with or without the weight), but I think it’s awesome that you’re getting so in shape and strong.
I had my second baby three months ago and I’m slowly losing weight (1 lb. a week) through sensible eating and making sure I don’t eat after dinner in the evening (my primetime for snacking!). I have 10 lbs. to lose yet but I’m feeling great and that’s the main thing!
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Your body is amazing and an inspiration! When you say you aren’t eating any gluten- are you including gluten free grains, like corn, rice or millet? Obviously you mentioned you do eat quinoa. And as far as fats, you eat coconut oil – is that the only one? I’m thinking I need to drop dairy and grains, too (even gluten free one) and am so reluctant…Thanks for keeping it real, out there. I love your style and your attitude!!!
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