Remember those New Year resolutions that we made not that long ago? Well, I am proud to say that KL and I just crossed a MAJOR one off our list (and if we can do it, you can do it)...Please put your hands together for changing the way you eat and as a result, LOSING WEIGHT!
For the last month KL and I were on a jump start cleanse guided by (the AMAZING) Jess Hilton, health coach extraordinaire. Our general problem (like so many) is the deadly combination of getting home late from work + a lack of planning = undesirable eating habits. We said we wanted to make changes, would do a little here or there, but nothing would stick (in a real life way). Add a baby into the mix, and in no time our choices (ahem - cookies, cheese, and lots of pizza) took a turn for the worst - we had to regain control. We did a ton of research, and opted for Jess's jump start cleanse for three specific reasons.
THE DETAILS:
1. It's a cleanse, but you can eat food: Instead of cutting everything out of your diet (and focusing on counting calories) she suggests yummy ways to eat smart. Meals that fill you up longer, reduce cravings, and give you more energy. It's not a crash diet, or a juice cleanse - it's one month of proper nutrition, well rounded meals, and filled with REAL FOOD (none of the fake stuff). Eat as much as you like, as often as you want, and before you know it the weight falls off (her recipe's are life savers).
2. One month commitment: A month seems like a long time to be on a diet (especially for us) but we felt like it would jump start weight-loss (which we could then channel to stay on track) while also laying the groundwork to introduce new/better habits.
3. Cooking your own food: Deep down we know that eating processed foods is THE WORST thing for our bodies so we wanted something that encouraged us to cook more veggies, prepare meals in advance, and better understand how to make our groceries stretch. We wanted a solution that we could apply to the rest of the year and continue to be creative with. Opposed to diets where you buy prepared meals, or live off shakes, we wanted a realistic solution that fit our lifestyle.
THE RESULTS:
In 30 days KL lost 14lbs and I lost 6lbs (guys suck). I cooked a TON of food (disclaimer: making the time for that is the most challenging part) but with a stocked fridge, and renewed energy, it's easy to stay on track. By week three we both felt totally different, actually craving the healthy stuff, and most importantly able to see the error of our old ways. It's not that we wanted to eat poorly before, it just takes more energy to make healthy choices (and we didn't know how to make the time) but once you start (and realize the benefits) it feels natural and so important. Yes you have to plan, cook in advance, and be willing to connect what you eat with how you feel, but omitting ingredients you can't pronounce and replacing them with REAL FOOD is the wake up call that we needed.
As a proud supporter of Jess's work and an extra happy client, I can personally share that she is a dream to work with. She can help you lose weight, naturally lower cholesterol, help to reduce cravings, increase energy levels, help you discover new foods, and teach you incredible ways to prepare them.
For more information, or if you have any questions about health coaching contact Jess today!
is the book I should have chosen when it was my turn to pick for book club (I was worried 
(bleh). Actually, that's not fair, everyone else seemed to like it (and it got tons of great reviews) but I was a little disappointed. Since we are on a temporary book club hiatus (sigh) I decided to right my wrong and see what 
