Never Can Say Goodbye....

There are some foods that I just can't say no to. For example, I love cheese. Whenever I get a sandwich, I HAVE to have extra cheese on it. Even on vegetables I like to sprinkle a bit of cheese on everything. Also, I LOVE bread. I remember at one point I was anti-bread. I'd only allow myself to eat bread just two days out of the week. Let me tell ya: that didn't last too long. I need my morning bagel, and my sandwiches during the day, I just do. This last one may sound a bit weird, but I cannot resist eating the skin off of the chicken. I know that most of the fat is on the skin, but I honestly have to eat the skin or else the chicken-eating experience just won't be the same. Sad but true. I'm willing to do the extra laps and extra crunches if I have to, as long as I get to eat my cheese, bread, and chicken skin. Don't judge me, just love me!!

Before/After Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkeUsQLhUhM

Thanks again to Mr. Ahmad Baari for making this video, very appreciative leave comments =).

Time For Some Honesty

Ok, let's be real, now I've been doing the healthy eating for over two years now. In all seriousness, I HATE it. There's been so many times when I've said "why the fuck am I eating rice cakes"? or "Where's the macaroni & cheese"? It sucks so hard not being able to eat what I want, when I want anymore. I'm not one of those people who can eat whatever and not gain any weight. I have to monitor what I eat everyday and every single meal. It's very important for me to be healthy and set a great example for everyone reading this blog. But I'm only human and food is my kryptonite. Last night I went to cheesecake factory. I had me some fried macaroni & cheese, and some red velvet cheesecake. Let me tell you, it was glorious. And my top choice for cheating is a big cookie. I would kill for some double-stuf oreos any day of the week. But alas, I keep myself in check and 8 out of 10 times I can resist temptation. I'm finally getting to the place where I can allow myself to have some freedom with food and have things that aren't the healthiest for me every once in awhile. But I make sure that I keep up with the working out six days a week, definately not putting on those size 46 jeans ever again, I'm just saying. This is all a process. You're gonna slip up occasionally. The trick is to not beat yourself up over everything. If you're craving that cookie, then have a cookie and get back on track. Just don't let your slip ups be an everyday occasion. I may have to pull a Kanye and interrupt your cookie time.

Some Healthy Alternatives

Ok, so you proabably hate me for telling you what foods to leave alone. Now you get to hear some of the alternatives (just bare wth me please):
For fried chicken - grilled or baked chicken is just as good, plus its healthier! You can even go the extra mile and take the skin off the chicken (most of the fat is located in the skin.)
Eggs - boiled eggs are healthier than fried or scrambled eggs for breakfast. Egg whites as well.
Bread - If you need your bread fix, I suggest whole wheat (not enriched honey wheat)  and multi-grain bread. Limit your intake to about 3-4 days a week.
Fruit - avoid the fruits drenched in syrup and concentrate. Apples and bananas would be my top choices for fruits. Others are fine, just in moderation
Cheese - If you're a cheese lover as I am, can't just give it up so easily. I suggest provolone and low skim-milk mozzarella cheese, none of that cheddar cheese.
Rice and pasta - brown rice is the best alternative. It may not be as flavorful as say some Goya red beans and rice (that be hittin the spot) but much healthier in moderation. For pasta, whole wheat pasta is healthier as opposed to pasta made with white flour. Once again, in moderation.
Snacks - little debbie, ben & jerry's everything delicious and tasty just nope. Instead, nature valley granola bars are a great alternative. Nutri-grain bars on occasion as well. Honey graham crackers, string cheese sticks, multi-grain crakers. Wheat thins and wheatables as well (wheatables are amazing). Rice cakes with a little bit of peanut spread on it is tasty enough.
Butter - Margarine, that is all!
Milk - Gotta let go of the whole milk. It may have the necessary calcium, but still high in fats. Gotta take this on a gradual course. Start with 2% milk, then ease on to 1%, then right down to skim milk. The color will turn you off at first but it grows on you.
Beverages - No sodas or other sugary drinks. OJ is ok every once in awhile. WATER WATER WATER!!!! Water will help you lose weight for sure, it helps to rid the body of salts that lead to weight gain in the stomach. Crystal light is a great alterantive to kool-aid and hawaiian punch. There's different flavors and only 10 calories (we like this).
Cereals - Almost any box of cereal with a colorful animal on it, you may wanna avoid them. Except for corn flakes (corn not frosted). Other healthier breakfast cereals include: total, raisin bran, smart start, and special K (My favorite)
Fast food - HELLLLLLLLL NOOOOOOO!!!! It's just not going down, if you frequent these places, then you're doing yourself and your body a disservice, that is all!!!
Once again, these are alternatives that have worked for me. If you have any other ideas email me: vanxmar10@aol.com. With some will-power and an open mind, you'll have no problem adjusting to this healthy eating.

Sacrifices Must Be Made PT.2

Hello people, it's time that I continue with the foods to stay away from. Other foods you should cut out/limit are cheese, fruits, and bread bread bread!!!!! A lot of cheeses are full of high saturated fat. Don't try to justify eating all that cheese as just "getting calcium". I've done it many times. You're probably surprised about fruits too. Yes, fruits of course are a healthier snack and nutritious, but they're also full of sugar. I'm not saying ban fruits forever, but eat a little less and take it day-by-day. I have to put muc attention on the whole bread deal. All bread (white, wheat, rye, whatever) are carbs. If you want to lose weight, there has to be a cut down on carbs. Bread is one of those major carbs. It's something you just have to do, no ifs ands or buts about it. Another food that needs to be cut down are eggs. It's a well-known fact that eggs cause a significant increase in cholesterol and that is DEFINATELY not a good thing. Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, just nope. Chicken: NO KFC FOR YOUUUUUU!!!! Fried chicken is just meat wrapped around in grease, flour, oil and fat. If you love it, I'm sorry but its gotta go. Cholesterol, sodium, fat, everything that's bad for you basically is in fried chicken. Same can be said for any fried fish. You're losing all the nutrients and the good stuff that is associated with fish. All in all, DONT FRY YOU'RE MEATS!!!!!!!! I'm not a nutritionist nor a doctor, but I'm just saying that certain foods are not gonna aid you in your weight-loss journey. Sacrifices must be made.

L.O.V.E.

I know I said that I'd get to the nutrition stuff, but I wanted to write this post to reiterate some key concepts on the journey to weight-loss. Self-love is the most important thing you can have in this life. You really have to love yourself and have a positive attitude if you're going to tackle your issues head-on. If you're screwed up emotionally and mentally, the physical won't mean a damn thing. Like Lauryn Hill once sang "How you gonna win if you ain't right within"? Those lyrics randomly popped into my head last night when I was talking to good friends about this same topic (Gabby and Melissa). Real beauty and confidence truly does come from within. So before any of the healthy eating or exercising, take some time out to appreciate the person you are on an emotional level. It makes the process just a bit easier.

Sacrifices Must Be Made

 

       Hello my readers, I've finally got some time to write, so let's do this. At this point, I think its time for me to get into the nutritional aspect of the Slim & Sexy Campaign. This is my least favorite part but here it goes. Ok, so let's start with what you shouldn't eat at all: fried foods, greasy foods, sweets, pastries, cakes, pies, cookies, chips, ice cream, soda, sugary drinks, alcohol, and everything with any real great taste to it. I'm just saying, its gonna be hard at first. You're gonna go through withdrawals and relapses galore, but you gotta try and stay focused. Umm what else? Ohh yeah, cut down on the pasta, bread, rice, and potatoes. Those four are carbohydrates made with white flour, which leads to excess fat around the midsection a problem area for most fluffy and recovering fluffy people. No pork or processed meats either for obvious reasons: sodium levels, high fat, and for my black people it could lead to high blood pressure which many of us are struggling with. When I first started out, it was such hell. Not eating the things that I knew and loved for most of my life. I remember slipping up the first day (no type of willpower). But anywho, I got into the swing of things and the weight start flying off literally. These changes are crucial for those who are trying to lose weight. Give it a try and see the results. Sacrifices must be made =).

What's your favorite?

Hello people, I've been slacking on the posts lately, just trying to do the college thing. Anywho, I've been thinking and I wanna hear from you guys. What has been your favorite blog post of mine and why? It can be for any reason, I just wanna see the feedback. So you can email me: vanxmar10@aol.com or even message me on facebook: Vaughn Martin. Appreciate and love you guys, and I'll be back at it pretty soon =).