Cheers To Healthy Eating and Healthy Being!

Dates, cocunut and macadamia nuts tart filled with banana and honey cream (sugar and wheat free) 

About a month ago I posted on instagram and tumblr a couple of "Before and After" pictures illustrating my weight loss, and immediately I got asked like 1001 times what I did to get there, I gave very short answers but I thought about writing a post on it to let everyone know about the simple way I did it, there is no secret really I just started eating/being healthy-er!

Disclaimer: I am not a nutrition pro or neither do I expect you guys to base your diet on mine, this is just for the sake of sharing and giving you guys ideas on how to do it in a manageable way.  

Ok so let's get started! Here is what I did:

1. I said no to speed and extremely restrictive diets: Speed and overly restrictive diets work fine to lose weight over a short period of time, however the second you get off them everything you eat that is different to them is not processed well and immediately turns into FAT in your body (not my words, that's doctor talk!) Instead I just took it easy and I made it a long-term thing, so instead of losing a lot too quickly, I did it over time (I am talking MONTHS) We all would love to wake up one day skinny, but trust me: Just as you one day woke up skinny after a speed diet, the day you eat a chocolate you will get fat within seconds!

2. I consulted my doctor: Before I started any diet plan or anything I went to my general practitioner to  check what exactly was making me fat and what exactly did I need to work on (health wise) and she was the one who told me what was wrong with me and that determined the diet. I had this thing where everything that went into my body would extremely turn into FAT just like that and fat was very hard to get rid of so I had to cut down on specific foods; which brings me to my next point: 

The healthier option: Almond milk!

3. No dairy and no wheat: THIS part was a  huge part of the success for me and even though it was specific for me, this may work for a lot of people, probably not completely eliminating but just by cutting back a bit. I used to drink A LOT of milk, I dank milk like if it was water. Turns out milk (dairy in general) has a whole lot of fat and hormones (from the cow) in it and in-taking a lot of it is only going to turn into localized fat in the body, it is like filling a glass full of of water with a whole lot more, it is going to overflow and spill. Wheat (gluten in particular) makes you swollen, I don't know how else to put it, it just makes you go big, simple as that, it literally makes your body go swollen. Cutting off/down on them two things was key. 

4. No fried food and if so, it has to be  in olive oil: Why would anyone drink oil from a bottle? Not saying anyone is doing so, but eating a lot of fried food is doing exactly that, cut it down and you will see the difference, I certainly did! Oh and if I need to fry something up I use just a bit of olive oil, it is always healthier. 

Fruit and sugar-free marmalade for sweet cravings!

5. I found alternatives and substitutes: I don't just forget about food. Since I had a very specific diet that required me not to eat a certain bunch of things I just simply found HEALTHIER SUBSTITUTES to what I couldn't eat: Cow milk turned into almond or rice milk, cheese (I don't eat it much anyway) became goat cheese but only on every other occasion if it is really necessary, it is less fatty. Wheat based foods turned into corn or rice based products. Oh, and in terms of sugar and sweets: I replaced them with fruit, fruit is an excellent way to give sugar to the body without over doing it (I do cheat every now and then and have some sweets).

6. I EAT EVERYTHING, I DON'T STARVE:  I LOVE EATING! I eat everything, sweet and sour (and anyone who follows me on instagram or tumblr can attest to that) I just try to keep it healthy, and keep the portions at reasonable level. I go to restaurants but instead of fast food I eat things like sushi (sushi can be the weight loss best friend, it is VERY healthy). If you feel smaller portions aren't filling, eat what you want in a small portion but have a bowl of soup, it will guarantee to fill you up. If you are as anxious as I am, feeling like you can't eat anything will only make you eat more, so don't go about not eating, just eat reasonably. I even have dessert, but I make it sugar-free, wheat and dairy free like the one from the picture at the start of the post. 

I do have a macaroon (or  more than one) every now and them, though!

7. I walk: Yes, I am lazy and I am not the best one at working out, however I did do some lifestyle changes to give some activity to my body. I used to take a car or a taxi to university and stuff, now I take public transport  which forces me to do more walking and be more active. I also don't stay in bed for the entire day, I just go out and walk around. Oh and also 30 mins a day on a cardio machine doesn't hurt!

That ladies and gentlemen is IT, they are minor tweeks and it is not dieting it is just being healthy. I want to lead a healthy life and fit into clothes (duh! Obvious ). I used to be plus size and now I buy medium size stuff  on almost everything, I just dropped a pant size this last months and I haven't even been very on top with the eating right so you get the point, it is easy! It is about long term health and being happy with who you are. Remember to go to your doctor because he/she will always help you get to where you have to be at. Take it easy and focus on being healthy and not on being skinny, because there are very unhealthy skinny people and that is NOT the point!

xo style your life modest and stay healthy!

Love,

Kiki Gil