From a personal perspective, I figured out that eating grains were causing me to have regular headaches and an unhappy belly, so when I learned more about this way of eating, I researched a lot and decided to give it a try. Fast forward to two years later, I continue to eat a diet of high quality meat, seasonal veggies, some fruits, and delicious sources of fat and I feel better than ever!
First, let me introduce you to Melissa!
Today, Mel is going to give you a bit of her background and share 5 easy ways to get yourself on a healthier path today! At the end of her post, she shares the ways you can enter to win the copy of Well Fed! Entries for this giveaway will end on Friday at 5 PM EST. A winner will be announced on Monday! Good Luck!
___________________________________________________________________________________
In 2008, I had just retired from Roller Derby and started a new, somewhat overwhelming fitness adventure. I cleaned up my diet by dumping grains and cutting out cocktails, and I signed up for a CrossFit-style bootcamp at 6:30 a.m. three times a week. I was determined to be a badass.
At the same time, I was in search of writing inspiration, so I started a blog called The Clothes Make The Girl (http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com). The idea was to write about the fun of creating characters with my clothes. I planned to share the stories I habitually make up in the shower, on my bus ride, and during my walk to work… flights of fancy inspired by whatever character I’d created with my clothes that day.
But as I became more committed to my physical training, the focus of my blog shifted. It kept the playful tone and the stories — and the occasional sidetrip into fashion — but it evolved to become about the beauty that starts inside with confidence borne of mental and physical strength.
Don't get me wrong! I'm still a sucker for the perfect little black dress and stompy black boots and a little sparkly what-what. But now, my desire to look as good as possible is matched by my desire to be as fit and healthy as possible.
I'm a huge fan of Stylized Existence and whole-heartedly encourage you to follow Lauren's kicky, stylish lead. But I also believe that no matter how great you look in your clothes, you can look — and feel — even better by treating yourself well on the inside, too.
The Paleo Diet
I follow the paleo diet, sometimes called the primal or caveman diet, too. Paleo eating is based on the idea that we feel our best when we mimic the nutrition of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. What that means for everyday meals is this: avoid grains — especially the ones that contain gluten — as well as dairy, legumes, and excess sugar. These foods, while often tasty, can make most people feel less than their best. That's a lot of favorite comfort foods on the "no" list, right?
That's why it's important to focus on the "yes" list instead. Think of every kind of meat, seafood, vegetable, and fruit you can. Go on! Imagine your list... keep going. Now add yummy fat sources like coconuts and avocados and olives — and the accessories of the kitchen: herbs and spices. That’s a lot of wonderful food! And those are the foods that make up the paleo diet.
If you're interested in the paleo diet, I recommend starting with the Whole30. (http://whole9life.com/2012/01/whole-30-v2012) It's the program that helped me learn to "just eat," without needing to worry about the trappings of "dieting" — like weighing, measuring, counting, stressing, and logging my food. Along the way, I also got a body that’s leaner, skin that’s clearer, hair that’s shinier, and energy that’s stable from wake up to conk out. It’s not an exaggeration that trying paleo for 30 days will change your life and teach you new things about your relationship with food.
But if you're not ready to try paleo just yet, here are five good habits you can adopt now to make yourself healthier, happier, and — fashionistas, rejoice! — even more attractive. Who doesn’t want that?!
5 Tips For Right Now
1. Get rid of gluten — bonus if you kick all grains.
All grains (wheat, rice, corn, quinoa, barley, etc.) contain proteins that we humans cannot digest. Those microscopic, undigested bits punch holes in our intestines that allow "bad stuff" into our bloodstreams. Our bodies’ immune systems react, and that leads to inflammation inside our bodies. Think about the blister you get from killer-looking -but-cheap shoes: it's red, painful, and hot to the touch. Now imagine that INSIDE your body. Ew, right? Inflammation is to blame for most modern ailments — and grains that contain gluten are the worst. At the minimum, cut wheat-based products like bread, pasta, and baked sweets from your diet. If you're ready to take the leap, say goodbye to all grains and see how great you feel.
2. Sleep at least 8 hours per night. Every night.
Slighting yourself on sleep can have all kinds of nasty repercussions: weight gain, inability to lose weight, mental fuzziness, increased appetite, increased stress, puffy eyes... the list goes on and on. I challenge you to make it a priority for one week to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. Try it and see how much better you feel — and look.
3. Say "See Ya!" to sugar.
The naturally-occurring sugars in fruits and vegetables are your friends; the added sugar in processed foods and your morning latte are dangerous frenemies. And artificial sweeteners are just as bad because, like the mean girls in junior high, they pretend to be something they’re not. Artificial sweeteners trigger a sugar response in your body without the actual sugar. Sugar causes an insulin response that also influences inflammation, which can cause weight gain and other, more serious ailments, including heart disease. You are sweet enough just as you are; banish sugar like that blouse in your closet that just seems to go with anything no matter how many combos you try.
4. Cut the caffeine — drink water instead.
If you drink more than one or two cups of coffee per day, you might want to consider cutting back. Chronic caffeine use has been shown to significantly decrease blood flow to the brain, and no matter how fab you look in that dress, the sexiest thing about you is still your brain. Plus, too much caffeine can interfere with sleep patterns, age your skin, and stress out your body... which leads to hormonal imbalances that can cause weight gain, especially around the belly. Drink water instead!
5. Eat your vegetables.
The old advice is true: eating vegetables is good for you. And no matter how many you're eating right now, you can always eat more. Just like your wardrobe, choose a variety of colors and mix-and-match them in different ways to ensure you get the broad spectrum of nutrients you need. Cooked or raw, fresh or frozen, all vegetables are a great choice to fill you up, to provide high-quality carbohydrates, and to give you the dose of antioxidants you need to look youthful and vibrant.
Well Fed Giveaway
OK! If you're inspired to try some new habits, we want to support you in your mission. We're giving away a signed copy of my new cookbook Well Fed: Paleo Recipes For People Who Love To Eat. (http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/wellfed) It includes more than 115 recipes that taste so good, you'll never notice what's missing, and it includes tons of practical tips for how to adopt the paleo lifestyle without making yourself crazy.
To enter, do all of the following:
1. "Like" Stylized Existence on Facebook << Click the link
2. "Like" The Clothes Make The Girl on Facebook << Click the link
3. Post to comments to let us know you did 1 and 2 above and tell us which of the 5 healthy habits you'd tackle first
Remember, the deadline to enter is Friday at 5 PM EST! Good Luck!
