5 Steps

I got this tiny flyer from my Doctor when my husband and I went to her thee other day. Hubby needed to see her and she handed me this little flyer. There were five powerful things on this flyer and things I have already started to implement into my life. Something we have been doing for a long time, others we are still working on. I will list them now and expand my thoughts and opinions on each of them.

1) Less animal products:

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but let me tell you, there is more to just cutting down or out red-meat. People assume that red meat is thee only antagonist out there. Any and all meat is culprits. Everyone flocks to chicken automatically and then fish. But trust me as long as you are consuming animals and their by-products, you are still not eating healthy.

And lest we forget meat derivatives, such as cheeses, butter, and anything related to these items. Fear not, you can still let go of these things and not feel deprived. It is something you can do overnight? Possibly, but I do not recommend it. Baby steps. But there are many who get this far and stop reading now. "Who me? Give up meat? You have got to be out of your mind." May be, but let me give you an example of how easy it is.

My husband, Mr. Macho Cuban, who grew up in a home that had no idea what the word vegetable was, sat down last night at dinner and had a super-filling meal and never touched a lick of meat. So the old adage of, "What do you eat?" Does not apply in my home. Give me a call let's do dinner and then tell me my eating lifestyle is lacking...I think not.

2) More plant products:

Please do not tell me you added a salad to your dinner. Blah blah blah. Yeah yeah yeah, whatever. But let's get down to brass tacks, we are talking heavy duty veggies. Like more than canned green beans on your plate. Throw some Swiss chard out there, put together a fan-flipping-tastic stir-fry and use things you have never seen or used before. Step outside your comfort zone and experiment, you will be surprised what you try once you add more vegetables and cut back on the meat. You will be forced to try new spices and herbs and your palette will come alive and your taste buds will thank you for it.

3) Less refined, processed, artificial foods

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a man on a mission. I already have gone through my cabinets to rid them of things that were processed. Luckily for me there was not a lot to lose. Did I throw it out? No, I ate them and then vowed not to buy those things again. Do I miss them? No, for I know the harm they were doing to me (what little I was consuming) and my family. But again, we took it one step at a time. First it was boxed cereals. We no longer have any in our home. then it was salad dressing. Now they are gone as well. There was little of anything in our cupboards that we had to get rid of, but what little was there is now gone. Everything we do, save for a few items (pasta, some canned tomatoes, and some sauces, but even those I am trying to figure out how to make from scratch) is homemade.

Some may say, "I don't have time." Well make the time. But do it in tiny, small steps. Pick one thing and work on it. Does not matter if it takes you 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month. Only you can determine what is right for you and your home. You can do this.

Remember this. If you can't pronounce what is on the label, then you do not need to be eating it.

4) More whole foods:

Most people automatically think of whole wheat bread. Ahhh, but do not be fooled. All breads are whole whole, because it is part of the wheat kernel, but is it whole grain? That is what you should be looking for. And even if it is whole grain, it is usually stuffed with preservatives to be able to keep it on the shelf. Real whole grain bread is usually kept in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Our homemade bread only lasts about 3 days...if it makes it that long. A loaf usually only makes it 2 days, tops. So we do not need preservatives in this house.

Preservatives are pumped into everything you eat. Why do you think food you purchase in 2009 can stay fresh until 2011??? What the heck is that anyway. Food was not meant to be around that long. It goes against the grain of Mother Nature. I am not saying that all of you need to become grain grinding nerds, but think of where your food comes from and how many stages removed it is from its point of origin.

5) More exercise:

I remember when my husband went to a nutritionist and she asked him for 15 minutes 3 times a week. (A walk around the block) and he flat out told her with all the defiance he could muster, that he could not incorporate that into his schedule. Give me a flipping break. He was being lazy. You want something bad enough, you make the time. If you can sit and watch an episode of Soprano's then you can take a walk to the end of the block or all the way around. Small steps people.

Once you are in a routine, then you will soon crave, if you will, exercise itself. It clears my mind and calms me down. No one to bother you and it is only 15 minutes out of my day. And who knows, you may meet your neighbors. What a concept.

Please read over what I have posted. Look and see what you can do with your life. If it is only one thing then so be it. That is one more thing you are doing today that you were not doing yesterday. And there is always tomorrow!

Good Luck