Wherever I go, people always seem to bring up the conversation of diet and what they are doing to lose weight. It seems that people put themselves through torture unnecessarily in order to shed those pounds when some simple little changes in lifestyle habits would do the trick, without trying so hard and without all the stringent detested regimes.
As a Dance and Fitness instructor, the topic will always occur, as many come to my classes in order to help aid their diet plan and get toned up. Some people seem to live in the gym, doing class after class daily for hours. This will help lose weight but is not practical in the long run and often will be given up, especially as it becomes to feel like a tedious chore, is time consuming and often not really enjoyable. It really does not have to be like that at all.
I have managed to maintain a stable size and shape without any extreme measures. I make the best of what I have, training 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I only manage once a week but don’t stress over it, as I will just enjoy dancing around at home or go out and dance at least once during the week and that will suffice. I eat sensibly and enjoy my food which is why I only ever competed twice in the world of bodybuilding in Miss Figure. I did not enjoy the strict dieting prior to the competition. Even then I only bumped up my training to four times a week and thought it was all too much for me. I had to watch what I ate just before the competition in order to get ripped as it were for muscle tone to be defined and visible to maximum. I found I was not enjoying this and although I am glad I had the experience to participate and win a couple of trophies, twice was more than enough to abstain from my much loved enjoyable food and drink. After all when I started to train originally, it was all in order to get fit, strong and healthy so that I could feel and look good to my own maximum potential. I have followed this through from my teenage years from when I started and it has not failed me. I do not have to live on lettuce leaves to stay in shape and I do not have to train excessively more than a couple of times a week. So here are my simple tips that work effectively for me.
I eat like that of a dedicated bodybuilder when trying to bulk up on muscle. I eat good regular meals throughout the day, eating approximately every 2-3 hours at least a little of either fruit or protein snack. I always eat breakfast, a healthy snack between lunch and other snacks between dinner and snack before bed time. This ensures that my body does not think it is going into famine and it will not slow my metabolism down in order to survive. It maintains blood sugar and keeps up my energy level.
I will not eat processed foods or quick take outs. Whether I fancy a pizza, keftedes, bourekia, cake, apple pie or ice cream, I make it myself so I know what has gone into it. The simple switches are don’t deep fry, instead bake or par boil and then shallow fry in a tablespoon or two of olive oil. Switch to light versions of any milk, cream or butters that contain the good fats like olive spreads, ProActive or Benecol. Have good carbohydrates, not bad. Bread, potatoes or pasta are not bad on their own, it is how they are cooked and what you put on them that makes the difference. So without deep frying and don’t laden with oily rich fatty sauces. Make your own, with good healthy alternative ingredients and they will be fine. Spice up your recipes, be creative and enjoy.
Look and feel fabulous!
Love and Sparkles
Samsara x
