My Diet Tricks

Losing baby weight...not so easy. Getting your body back after having triplets...even harder. Somehow I feel like my body chemistry has changed this time. I'm struggling with eating the right things...something I've always been really good at. I think a huge part of the problem is that I'm at home all day long. I use to work full time and keep my mind busy...also didn't have food at my fingertips all day. I find myself struggling with that more than anything. Eating out of boredom. And lack of the time on my hands to make healthy foods. I know I've posted a few times this summer about dieting and all that jazz. But this time I wanted to share a post about things that DO work for me. I think I've finally found the keys that work for ME.

Work Out Routine: P90X

I've heard about this for YEARS...and I almost wish that when I was a youngun in high school that I would've bought into it because I LOVE it. It really works...and like many other routines, I don't get sick of this because it's something new every day. I always do best if I wake up first thing in the morning, before breakfast, and knock it out of the park. And on days when it's hard to get up or make the time I just remind myself of what Tony says, "just show up". Then let the work out do the rest. Before you know it the workout is over and you go about your day, almost forgetting you ever did it. And the way I feel after is priceless.

Protein Shake-Syntha 6

I am pretty big on protein shakes. My body responds really well to the low-carb, high protein approach. I usually have a protein shake right after a work out. And I know it's not always the healthiest to replace more than one meal a day with a shake, I like to replace my breakfast and lunch at least a few times a week with a protein shake and then I feel a little more flexible with dinner choices. Replacing two meals a day for a few weeks with shakes was how I got rid of most of my baby weight after having Kayson. I switch up my recipes to keep it interesting too. If I'm having a protein shake as a meal I use 2 scoops. If I'm having it as a snack I only use 1 scoop. Sometimes adding fruits, sometimes adding yogurts or cream cheese. I also like to add Flavored Stevia drops (Chocolate Raspberry is my favorite!). I've tried a lot of protein shake brands but this one is a current fav!

 Diet- Low Carb/Sugar, High Lean Protein

I try to exercise a good protein shake diet during the day time and leave my big eating for dinner. Some meals I like to stick around are chicken & salmon with veggies and/or rice. I definitely stray from these items but I try to keep the carbs as low as possible. I also replace a lot of sweet items with Splenda instead of sugar. I have come to LOVE splenda!! I feel like I can still bake and make sweet foods without feeling as guilty and let's be honest..splenda tastes the same as sugar to me. So why not? For lunches I love to eat buffalo chicken salads (dressing=apple cider vinegar + Franks Hot Sauce), Chicken Walnut Salads, tuna salads and egg salads. I try to allow myself a "free day". This is usually for when we go to Sunday Family Dinner.

Snacks
I found this recipe in one of my low carb cookbooks and I've been making it ever since. They are called Protein Balls. You can have them plain or you can choose to coat them. But anytimes I'm craving something sweet, I love having these in my freezer or fridge. I posted the recipe for them on a recipe blog I share with some friends...here's the link...

http://food-between-friends.blogspot.com/2010/05/protein-balls.html

My friend shared this snack with me and it's become one of my favorites. I put some in my protein shakes and snack on them during the day.

Secret Tricks-Water Pills
Some days when I'm feeling extra bloated, or after a day of having not ate well or maybe overate or splurged on some desserts I shouldn't have, I go to these babies. Diurex Water Pills. I take a few in one day with LOTS of water. I usually drop a couple pounds that day and I feel so much better. You'll be heading to the bathroom a lot but it really cleans out that "yucky" feeling after eating too much or eating heavy foods. They also have a little caffeine in them so be prepared. I don't mind the extra energy it gives me though...I usually get a lot more done that day!

Water, Water, Water!!!
I can't say it enough. Drinking tons of water every day really helps aid weight loss. It also keeps you feeling just a tad more full. Sometimes I find it hard to drink water...especially in the winter months. A couple things that help me get that extra H2O are drinking out of these Arrowhead bottles. My husband and I feel like we drink them faster because of the lid. I know it sounds crazy. But we keep several of them cold in the fridge and just refill every day. It really helps.

When I can't stand the taste of water, adding these drink packets is a life saver. They are really healthy. They don't have any carbs or sugars and the calories are really low. Usually less than 10 calories per packet.

Here's another one of my "secret tricks". These Deton 8 energy packets are so much better than energy sodas. They don't have a bunch of sugar in them and all the junk that an energy soda has...yet they work just the same...actually better. They give me TONS of energy to either help me get through a work out or just get a lot done around the house! But you have to be careful. Make sure you don't drink them on an empty stomach or you might get jittery. They have a couple flavors and they taste great! They are the only brand I've found that actually works. I can only find them at Smith's.

So there you have it. Some of my favorite tricks!