I don’t diet…

       It’s simple really, the easiest concept there is, which I will share with you in a little bit. I know most of you are thinking oh lucky her she isn’t “big boned” or “thick”  maybe you’re thinking that I had surgery to remove fat or the something to make my stomach smaller, or you might jump straight to thinking I have an eating disorder. Well, no you’re wrong. I just don’t eat (that much) processed foods.

       I see the post for Oreos baked into cupcakes, Doritos chicken bake, or one of the countless other recipes that call for loads of processed foods   and I can’t help but think to myself, when did we become a nation of processed foods? Was it my generation, the one before ours, or was it when the original TV dinner was introduced? When we did we become so “busy” with everyday life that we willing (in most cases-let’s be honest) gave up our health?

      If people would simply give up processed foods or at least the majority of them and spend a little more time in the kitchen making things from scratch, (yes, I talk about homemade all the time but guess what!! I don’t care.) And I’m not talking about crushing a bag of chips, adding a can of cream of chicken, cheese, and the chicken then sticking it in the oven. I mean, cutting up your veggies, marinating lean meats and instead of frying up “something yummy” bake, sauté, grill, broil, sear your steak or (some) fish, you can even boil it if that is to your liking.

       You shouldn’t be eating foods just because they taste good (we all do it, not going to lie about it…brownies are my weakness.) but because they are good for you too. I am proud to say that my go to “Easy meal” is a chicken stir fry with broccoli Cole slaw (in a bag yes) and my two year old eats it up! You will not see a bag of frozen chicken nuggets in my freezer or a crazy amount of chips in my pantry. 95% of the time my family eats clean, instead of chips for a snack we eat a handful of nuts or some vegetables or fruit. 

      We have gone  from eating NOTHING but processed foods with a few meats and veggies thrown in to “Be healthy”, I once ate 98% of a family size of Doritos I blamed my pregnancy craving and I “just couldn’t” help it. I have said everything you can think of as to why I eat the way I did, pregnancy cravings, I’m just too busy to cook a home cooked meal, or the kitchen is too small to enjoy cooking, to the extreme of eating only a handful of processed foods and nothing sugary or sweet even.

        I realized that I don’t  like the way I feel when I eat tons of processed foods, I’m lazy, tired, I can’t think clearly and my sleep is terrible ( I sleep better with a 7 month old who doesn’t sleep through the night then when I ate junk) . It even takes me longer to look “human” in the mornings, dry limp hair, dull looking skin, black circles from lack of good sleep.  I also don’t like depriving my body of foods that I love, such as brownies. I wasn’t very fun to be around without my sweet fix.

      For my family to happy, we made a life style change. Now that we are eating better in general with our just have to have it items, we are healthier and happier.

 I haven’t had a strict exercise routine since I’ve had baby girl. I know that I need to get off my bum and do it but I don’t want to, plain and simple. (My SIL would tell me that I would be doing it for my kids and that I need to get on it, you really should check out her  amazing blog! http://onefitmommaandababe.blogspot.com/) but I am amazed at the results of JUST eating right. And to prove it a picture of my bare belly, I do have stretch marks. I am also adding pictures of each pregancy s how I wasn't super small. 

barely 32 weeks pregnant with Lime.

                  Day before I had Baby Girl, 37 weeks pregnant. (I was a lot bigger with Lime at the same time)

                                             Just eating and drinking the right things make all the difference.

If I ever get brave enough I will post a picture of what I looked like with Lime-a-kins at the same time post pregnancy.