Day 1 of My Low Carb Week

Pasta, bread, cookies, crackers, muffins, scones, are a no no this week! I have vowed to avoid carbohydrates for one week. I eased into the process by beginning to cut carbohydrates over the weekend. I immediately began to feel withdrawal like symptoms. I felt a little jittery. Other than that, I can put my nose on it, but I just didn't feel at my best. I am glad that I began weaning off of my addiction over the weekend. All of those ugly feelings have subsided for the most part and I am beginning to feel more clear headed and energized. We will see where I stand in a few days.

I do not think that I can be low carb forever, but I definitely think this is something that I can do every other week if all goes well. I have been on a weightloss plateau for a while now and going low carb may just be the solution. My day one meal plan is as follows:

Breakfast: Bannana, grapes and 1 tablespoon of almond butter
Snack: Wasabi flavored Almonds (Trader Joe's brand)
Lunch: 1 Mahi Mahi Filet, Orange-Glazed Carrots and a Babybel Cheese
Snack: More Wasabi flavored Almonds (Trader Joe's brand), Oranges and a Nectarine
Dinner: To Be Determined....

This week, I have also decided to also eliminate artificial sugars from my diet. I know, big changes?! I drink lots and lots of iced tea with Splenda as well as diet dark sodas on occasion. I have noticed that after ingesting artificial sweeteners, I have an insatiable appetite. Through my research, I believe that my articial sweetner intake is the culprit. I purchased Wholesome Sweeterners' Organic Blue Agave and raw honey from Costco. These two products will replace my Splenda/Sweet n' Low products from here on out. I will keep you all posted daily to share my experience going low carb as well as artifical sweetener free.

My Lunch: Mahi Mahi and Orange Glazed Carrots

Favorite Office Snacks

I am always looking for high quality delicious snack to eat while I'm at work. I'm not one of those Special K bar girls, I don't like eating cardboard. I like taking a bite into something that is so tasty it doesn't feel like I'm dieting. When I started my weight loss journey two years ago, I was looking to make a lifestyle change forever. That is the difference between dieting and lifestyle changes - temporality.

Over two years time, I have tried new products and I make it a point to do so as a way of keeping things fresh. For the month of February, I was inspired by sweets (especially chocolate) and nuts. Just because I choose to be health conscious, it does not mean that I can't have a pop of indulgence inbetween all my veggies!

1) Trader Joe's Cocoa Almond Spread
2) Trader Joe's Dried Feezed Mango slices
3) Fresh bananas
4) Trader Joe's Almond Butter
5) Trader Joe's Wasabi Flavored Almonds
6) Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Bar
7) thinkThin Brownie Crunch



 

 

Being Latina is complicated when trying to pack the most flavor into a healthy lifestyle, but it is so worth it!



The Perfect Torta

Now that I have been on a health kick for over two years now, I have become even more particular about what I eat, especially in regard to high calorie foods. Mexican and Italian food are notorious for packing in the calories and they happen to be my favorite. Although I love enchiladas and pizza just as much as the next person, I have had to cut back my intake.

Two years ago, I would have been the first person down to hit up a late night taco place, but it's just not worth the repercussions anymore. By living a healthier lifestyle, I have actually grown to appreciate when I do have the opportunity to splurge. I find it funny that when I post pictures of unhealthy food now on Instagram people freak out and think I have fallen off the wagon. It's actually the contrary! I give myself treats so that I can continue being honest with myself.

Becoming healthy is being willing to listen to your body and never denying it a treat if you worked for it. I stand by this and know that giving myself a little something out of my usual diet isn't going to send me into a huge food binge. I trust myself.

Now onto the real story. I have been craving a great carne asada torta, a Mexican steak sandwich, and these are hard to find! Now my husband can make a delicious one, but I didn't want him cooking after a two hour commute.

The only option at that point was eating out! The only place that I trust my order with is El Rincon in La Puente, California.  My sandwich was complete with a slice of white Monterey Jack cheese, avocado, mayo, refried beans, carne asada, lettuce and pickled jalapeños and carrots. It was divine to say the least. The chubberita inside of me wished that the sandwich was bigger, but I fought off the desire to buy a second.

Being Latina is less complicated when you are making strides to live a healthier lifestyle rather than dieting!