Happy Friday my friends! Can you believe we are entering into our fourth week of #eatpretty15 challenge? If you have been cruising through this challenge, things are about to take a big turn- time to say goodbye to most carbs. Wait not the carbs!! I know, I know- this is tragic but its time to crank this challenge up a notch.
First and foremost, please understand that carbohydrates are not bad for you. Quite the opposite, carbs are our bodies favorite energy source. Our digestive system changes carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar). This sugar is then used to energize our cells, tissues and organs. Most dietitians and health experts don’t advice completely cutting out carbs from your diet. Its when we start consuming too many simple carbs that we start having problems like weight gain. So just like everything else, eat them in moderation. A great resource to determine how many carbohydrates you should be eating is the website www.choosemyplate.gov. It offers great tools to figure out what types of foods you should eat and even set a weight goal.
The average person who is on a 2,000-calorie eating plan needs six servings a day (about 6 ounces) from the grain group. That includes all bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits. At least half of those should be whole grains
To give you an idea of portions, a single bagel can pack 3 to 5 ounces of grain. That takes up much of your grain budget for the day, which can make it difficult for you to meet healthy grain goals.
Since we are focusing on eating pretty and ultimately losing weight for the new year, we are cutting back on breads, pastas and cheese. We are eliminating cheese this week to make the challenge more difficult and to take out more calories for the week.
Keep in mind if you work out regularly, you need to replace those bread and pasta carbs with more veggies and fruits. Head on over to my Pinterest to see more delicious recipe inspirations for this weeks challenge.
Just a quick reminder, make sure you are incorporating physical activity in your daily routine. Whether it be walking the dogs for an extra 30 minutes per day or visiting your favorite Barre studio- stay active!
Good luck ladies on one of the toughest weeks of the #eatpretty15 challenge. Let me know how it goes and remember to use this hashtag when posting on Instagram and Twitter.
Xoxo,
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