Gonna Get Lean By Eating Clean

Dear Diary...

Picture this for a second... The inside of your body is a busy metropolis.  Cells rushing down the vein highways, trying to get to work at their Muscle and Organ buildings.  A school of mini cells are learning about the importance of running the body, working in the various places of the body.  The best educated will be given the responsibility of performing the important areas of the body, while the "slackers" could be sent down below - to the area no cell ever wants to end up.  The President is up in the control center with his important staff corresponding with the mayor of Heartsville to make sure things are running smoothly.

However, like all busy metropolis areas, pollution has become a concern.  There's trash lining the veins.  It's getting harder and harder for blood cells to get to work.  The oxygen is becoming laced with obvious signs of chemicals and toxins that are polluting the streets, the water, and other areas.  The workers down in Bowel Town are on the verge of a strike - there's just too much trash going down to their neck of the woods - and it's causing some major back-ups.  The mayor is concerned and has been relaying his concern up to the President.  The President, at first, wasn't too worried - but seeing the dismay of what was once a pretty clean, well running country - is now starting to have some serious concerns.

There's only one thing to do - send out for help.  Start organizing a clean-up on the Metropolis.  Call out for assistance from those that know how to flush out the damage and restore life to a clean, pollution free wonderland.  The trash has to be cleared out of the main arteries and veins.  More water is needed.  And the oxygen in the air needs to be filtered and cleaned.   What is the President and mayor to do?

No, this isn't the beginning of a truly fantastic children's book - although, now that I've mentioned it, consider it copy written.  Maybe one day kids everywhere will be begging their parents to tell them the ending of this magical story.

This explanation is the messed up way I think of my own body.  I think of actual living beings rushing around inside of me, working their hardest to keep my body moving.  Although it's a fantasy land - the problem is very real.  There is some serious damage that's been done to the inside of my body, and unless I get some help for it - my insides are on the road to disaster.  So, what can I do?

That, my friends, is where Clean Eating comes in. 

After doing some pretty intense internet research on the subject, yesterday, I think I've finally settled on a plan that's going to save my body and restore it back to a healthy, beautiful environment.  I can flush out the chemicals and toxins by just not putting anymore in to my body - and filling my body with good, wholesome ingredients.  And yes.  It really is that easy.

Clean Eating isn't a fad diet.  It isn't a get thin quick scheme - although many people report losing a ton of weight in the early stages of their clean eating transformation.  It's a simple way of life.  Don't eat anything that has processed ingredients.  Period.  That's it. 

At first, I was a little worried.  How am I going to be able to avoid foods that have processed ingredients?  Wouldn't that limit my food choices by about 300%?  Well, after my research, I found out it was a heck of a lot easier than I ever imagined.  Being that the country is trying with all it's might to help people lose weight - the amounts of unprocessed foods are vast.  Whole grain breads, pastas, and grains are much more readily available.  Even cereals are available that are made with unprocessed grains and natural cane juice - versus processed grains and refined sugars.  The lean meats, fruit and veg are easy - they've always been available.

You want to know what stuck out to me the most during my reading?  No more counting calories!  You all know how much I HATE counting calories, right?  I went back to doing it out of necessity.  The only way I could keep track of how much I was eating was by counting calories.  Well, guess what?  As long as I stick to three meals a day with two light snacks - that are all CLEAN - then I don't have to count calories anymore.  Is it really that simple?  Yes and no.  I definitely have to be mindful of my portion control and the amounts of protein versus complex carbs.  But, being that I'm moving to a more protein heavy - less complex carbs way of eating right now... I don't have to count.  YAY!!

So, I'm making the switch.  I'm moving to a Clean Eating lifestyle.  It won't be a complete transformation - yet - but I want to try and shoot for eating around 90% clean.  The 10% will come from dairy.  I just don't want to think about cutting dairy out of my diet.  I love it too much.  But, it's hard to find unprocessed dairy products - so the dairy stays.  But, 90% clean eating is a heck of a lot better than 0% clean eating.

As of right now, I've been eating clean for three days.  I would say my percentage is about 85% for those three days.  I've had some sugar.  But, for the most part, only clean foods have entered my body - and I'm already noticing a difference.  My bloated feeling that sticks with me pretty constantly is lightening up.  I'm starting to feel more energetic.  The cravings and urges have decreased - not completely gone, but aren't constantly in my mind, either.

I feel like Clean Eating is the best option for me.  It's the only way I'm going to retrain my body to not want the junk.  It's the only way I'm going to get rid of the fat - and keep it gone.  It's the only way I can really know that my body is getting healthier.  I'm excited about it.  I know I can do it.

There will be a happy ending to my story - eventually - and I can't wait to share it all with you.

Till next time. ;)