This is what my celebrity clients do to achieve their ideal weight – it’s a part of my MK Method, and I want to share it with you.

 

90% of successful weight loss and weight maintenance comes down to your diet – you can kill yourself in the gym but it’s your diet that will keep your from your ideal body.

 

It’s Friday – I had to give you the good stuff before the weekend and this is by far the number one way to lose weight and keep it off!

 

I often get asked how I eat and what I eat. 

 

My personal preference is “Clean Eating” which is very much aligned with a “Mediterranean” style diet. I have always favored fresh fruit, fish and vegetables and have been fortunate to love water even as a child. 

 

I think I was the only kid that didn’t want soda. Even though I liked eating this way, I still ate A LOT of junk. I definitely loved my white bread…um Wonder Bread with fluff was amazing;), all sugar cereals and have always LOVED dessert, I still do but now I choose to eat ones I really want, when I want them, not when I feel I need them. I also now bake healthy dessert by taking my favorite recipes and swamping ingredient…more on that later☺

 

As for the white bread, if you’re a “white bread” lover or “whole wheat” fan, try switching to Ezekiel Bread. It’s sprouted, easy to digest, higher in protein and fiber and doesn’t have all of the added chemicals and sugar that make you tired and leaving you wanting more instead of feeling light and energized. In white and whole wheat bread you will see in the ingredients “Enriched Wheat Flour” – stay away from this, it means they have taken out all of the good nutrients and replaced them with chemicals and sugar.

 

Or check out my favorite carb free or low carb options for bread or bread replacements in this awesome video here:

Back to “Clean Eating” – Clean Eating is essentially eating foods closer to their natural state, i.e. fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, dairy and lean protein – all of which have 5 or less ingredients. For example, an apple only has 1 ingredient, an apple. If you were in my home, my cabinets are stocked with canned beans, raw nuts, honey and oats along with some cartons of pureed soup. I do not have foods that have a shelf life, meaning foods that do not have an expiration date.

 

Go here to watch my video on clean eating to get even more details here: 

In simple terms, Clean Eating involves these 10 key elements:

 

Clean Eating is a way of life – you only have one body, what you put into it is not only how you will look, but how you will feel.

 

 

  • Load your plate with vegetables.  When I teach portions, I always tell my clients, measure with your hands.  Protein is the palm of your hand, vegetables should be two hands cupped, grains should be one hand cupped, fats are the size of your thumb. 

 

  1. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store – anything fresh and in the “Clean Eating” way of living are on the outside of the store – anything in the middle is processed

 

  1. Drink More water – aim for at least 3 liters per day. Your body is made up of water; give it more of what it needs to function most efficiently. Water helps to eliminate fat, detoxify your body and hydrate your body. Use his to assess your hunger levels.

 

  1. Eliminate added sugars from your diet– look at the amount of sugar on the ingredient list and aim for no more than 8 grams.  ONLY buy foods where sugar is NOT listed in the first 5 ingrediants.  When it is, it generally means there are 2-3 other sources of hidden sugars you aren’t aware of.

 

  • Don’t eat foods with ingredients you can’t pronounce. 5 Ingredients or less is best;)

 

  1. Eat your meals seated and undistracted – I know this can be hard but turn the TV off and step away from your computer

 

  1. Balance your diet – make sure it is rich in protein, healthy fats, fruits, complex carbs and vegetables

 

  1. Stay Connected– listen to your body and what it is craving

 

  1. Focus on the content – meaning please your emphasis on the foods themselves not on the calories- sugar free, fat free, low carb, no carb – more times than not these foods are filled with hidden sugars, sugar alcohols and high amounts of sodium to make up for the lack of taste

 

  1. Spice it up – our pallets are saturated with processed foods, chemicals and sauces that we don’t enjoy the taste of food without them. Try use spices like Mrs. Dash – all of which are sodium free, rosemary, cinnamon, paprika, turmeric, red pepper flakes, sea salt – all these spices are incredible and add a ton of flavor along with nutritional benefits.

 

 

Why is it so effective? 

 

When you eat this way you are fueling your body with whole foods, which means you are naturally cutting your caloric intake. Many processed foods are high in calories and have little nutritional value so your daily calories are spent on foods that leave you unsatisfied, overweight, tired and wanting more.

 

If this way of eating interests you there is a great book by Tosca Reno, called “Clean Eating” where she gives you several recipes, tips and guidelines to help you make this a lifestyle change for you and your family.

 

Try eating clean today and see how your body responds – I have a feeling it will thank you! And I would love to hear from you.  What’s your preferred way of eating? Are you up for trying what I outlined above?