#nosugar #nograins - How to Do it

Just a quick post to summarize my way of eating.  I started out "eating clean" which, for me, meant just eating food in its natural state, or close to it at least (minimally processed). Processed, pre-packaged food is my enemy, but I also know that life is real and sometimes it's hard and a lot of the time it's real hard, so I do buy some processed stuff... I just make sure it has really minimal number of ingredients and no added sugars or grains.  That means reading labels which is a total pain but once you've done it a while, you get a pretty good idea of what you can buy.

By switching to a clean eating life, I lost about 30 pounds.

About 18 months ago, I transitioned to no sugar, no grains. I had picked up a few pounds again (I had definitely strayed from my clean eating). It paid off quickly and I easily dropped the weight I'd picked up.  It's been easier to maintain this way of eating too... at least for me.  I eat fairly high protein, moderate fat (because of my age) and low carb.

Okay, I said I'd keep this brief, but I do need to tell you that planning and/or prepping meals ahead of time helps a lot!  Also having some easy go-to snacks helps, although I find I don't snack as much if I stay on course.  I try to do intermittent fasting (which just means eating only for 8 hours a day... no, not continuously) but some days that just doesn't happen.  So... typical day:

10 am Breakfast:  Buffalo Omelette
Prepare the filling. Put 2 ounces cream cheese and 1 TBSP blue cheese in a microwavable dish and heat for 30 seconds.  Stir in 1 tsp hot sauce.

Make the omelette.  Heat 1 TBSP butter in a skillet.  Whisk together 2 eggs and 1 TBSP water.  Add to skillet. Cook on medium (cook it slowly... don't let it brown). As the eggs start to firm up, add the filling to one side.  Allow to firm up a little more and then fold the other side over the filling. Cover with a lid and cook on low until cooked through.

Strawberry Shortcake!

Noon Lunch: Grilled Hamburger Salad
Grill a hamburger to desired doneness.  Place over a bed of shredded lettuce or greens of choice.  Add  a side of dill pickle slices and pickled red onion.  Garnish burger with sriracha mayo.  (Make your own by mixing 1/4 cup mayo with 1 tsp sriracha, more or less to taste.)
Dessert (not every day!): Strawberry shortcake

3 pm Snack: 2 slices manchego cheese and small handful of blueberries

5 pm Dinner:  Ranch chicken and roasted spring onions

Honestly, you can just mix this up in the way that works best for you.  The focus is on eliminating added sugar and grains.

Sometimes I only have cottage cheese for breakfast (because I like it!) if that's what I'm feeling.  I try to eat more at lunch so I don't eat as much in the evening as that works best for me.  But if I keep my protein up, I don't feel as hungry throughout the day anyway.  Don't eat treats every day, even ones with no sugar, no grains, but we all need them now and then, don't we?

For best results, follow my blog to get great recipes.  Or page back through the old ones to see what you've been missing.