ACTUALLY...Size Does Matter!

ACTUALLY…Size Does Matter by Sheena Bidwell, MMA MOM

PLAY WITH YOUR PACKAGE

An idiot proof way to slash carbs, calories, and gross is to recreate your own portion size.  In our big bulk super ultra mega family pack world almost everything comes in out-of-control sizes. Plates are piled to the brim with food at restaurants. Or, we get tricked into believing something is healthy by rationalizing the itty-bitty snack size. Most of us don't even realize that a snack bar is usually divided into at least 2-4 servings (how dare they!).  Ugh....gross. Isn't a ‘portion’ or ‘serving’ supposed to imply some sort of happy fullness, or at least a semi temporary satisfaction?!?!... Alas...our snackies have us hook, line and sinker - Regardless of their diabetes inducing portion size. After all, who doesn't want more, More, MORE of their favorite yum yum? My two cents? Play with your package! Take control of your portions!! (insert: grunt, yell, holla, hell yeah, whoop-whoop)  Here, there, and everywhere in-between.

It's time to turn that defeating feeling into an empowering one by determining your portions, 

Here’s how:

FIST YOUR FOOD
Make a tight fist. This is what a natural portion looks like for your body.  Start with one portion (per food group), then drink water.  IF you're still feeling hunger after a few minutes add another portion.  A balanced meal is a portion of vegetables, protein, and a healthy carb.  And, for those of you trying to cut weight or shred inches cut your carb portion in half.  *Do NOT freak out too bad. This will not look like the usual amount of food you're used to eating.  We need to teach our brain and body how to define hunger and eat for that purpose only.  Don't use food to satisfy an emotional craving or as a release or outlet.  I recommend martial arts for that :)Take whatever bulk food that is in front of you and section it off into separate containers, and be done with it.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER 
I always include a 'to go box' or 'doggy bag' along with my order at a restaurant.  As soon as my food comes out I put half of it in the ‘to go box’ and put it with my keys, off to the side. Set yourself up for success like the winner you are.

CLEAN HOUSE 
It's easy to sabotage yourself when our plate size is enormous. If your cups, bowls, and plates are all jumbo than it's time to get rid of them! De-big gulp your cups, keep bowls the size of your open palm,and eat from plates that are around 9 inches in diameter. 

DRINK LIKE A FISH 
Liquid calories are, well, a total bitch! Don't work your ass off in the gym, eat healthy, and ruin it all with synthetic drinks. Get water crazy. There's a water party and you're invited! Soda is basically liquid shit, just look at the main ingredient (high fructose corn syrup) - It's like drinking diarrhea. When people think of you, they think of water....see where we're going? Get there.

MOST IMPORTANTLY. . . .
Eat real food to fuel your body. Indulging means once in a while, not every meal. Keep it simple. Keep your portions the size of your open palm or fist. Happy healthy eating!

What the hell did I get myself into?. . . . . .(How to read a Nutrition Label)

Want to know what you're really getting with that 'food' you're eating?. . . .Probably not!

Weight gain, indigestion, mood swings, premature aging, the list goes on for sure. 

Ignorance is bliss with most of us when it comes to what we're shoving in our face hole. 

I say 'shove' and 'face hole' because that's about as romantic as it gets when a craving comes on. So, let's take a peak at how to help yourself fight those nasty midnight munchies. 

1. Look at the ingredients FIRST!

Immediately whip that package/can/whatever around and look at the first 5 ingredients. (Scary I know, but it's like ripping off a band aid - just get it over with.) Why? Simple, it's going to be the quickest way to get the low down on what's about to go down into your bod. If the first 5 ingredients are fake, phony, knock offs of food than you're to blame for being a wannabe food eater. Get Real, Eat Real Food! Keep the chemicals, fillers, coloring and other junk out of your food. Or, suffer the consequences of literally eating shit, and nobody wants to be known for that. 

2. Find out the Amount / Serving Size

Sneaky bastards lead us to believe that okay, we can indulge just a little with this snack not realizing that the recommenced portion size is fit for a keebler elf. If the first 5 ingredients check out okay then just make sure that you can enjoy more than a lick of something. And on the flip side of this it's called a portion for a reason. If you can tackle 4+ portions per serving it's probably about that time to take a note to self that this deserves some attention. 

3. Seek out where your food was born

If your food was born and raised in another country just keep in mind all it had to go through before it got into your kushy little kitchen. Food with dual citizenship has all kinds of cooties that we're not used to on a daily basis. Think about it. . . .if my orange juice was made with oranges from Brazil what are their regulations for growing food there? How many miles, hands, and preservatives did it have to endure before it got to transform into something edible? Once it was

in the United States where was it now distributed from before it got to me? Who am I ultimately supporting by buying this product? How fresh, natural, and delicious is it really? Bluh is right.

4. Now, for the business. The Nutrition Facts.

By the time you get to the actual breakdown of Total Fat, Calories, etc. you should already have a pretty good idea about what you're holding in your hands. Food, or, something else. This step ultimately becomes the easiest part. A quick once over of the actual Carbs, sugars, etc. will give you your final go ahead for access to the mouth and beyond. Check out my video blog for intimate detail on this, it gets graphic. 

P.S. -

mi casa es su casa!!

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