Work Smart, Not Hard!

Realizing this week that it's time to start eating SMART instead of just eating LESS.

Once you get used to eating LESS, you start to learn how to eat SMART. That peanut butter may have a lot of protein in it, but it also has a lot of fat. Beef jerky may have no carbs, but it also has a lot of fat and sodium!  Okay, so peanut oils are certainly better than some others out there, but sometimes it's best to use your calories elsewhere. 2 tbsp of peanut butter is often over 200 calories and it's not filling at all. Whereas you can eat 6 - 8 oz. of lean turkey breast for the same number of calories and 1/4 the fat. Find foods that fill you up and satisfy you without breaking your calorie bank!  Get your diet to work FOR you instead of against you. 

Also, high sodium foods will BREAK a diet.  It doesn't matter how much water you're drinking, if you're eating pickles and olives and beef jerky and processed canned soups/veggies and putting salt on everything...you're sabotaging yourself...period. You will retain every ounce of water you drink so that your body can make up for the sodium intake! Stay away from those kinds of food, or choose "No Salt Added" canned vegetables or soups.  Avoid anything soaked in brine (AKA salt water/vinegar!).

Avoid the foods you can't resist!! Stock up on fresh fruits and veggies to snack on. If you are smart about your diet and how you go about this whole process, you will not have to work as hard!!

On a personal note - Jesus is amazing. I'm feeling covered by him this week as school begins to get more stressful. I'm feeling a call to patience with school as well as with this whole journey of weight loss. I have good days and bad days, but I  know that everything I'm doing is for the Glory of the Lord and I'm so thrilled about where He's going to take me in the future!

Time to sweat!