Some of you might know that I have gained and lost weight over the years and went from unhealthy and out of shape to becoming a Zumba® Fitness Instructor. Read my article here.

I wanted to share with you some of the things that helped me slim down and become fit.  I am neither an expert on weight loss nor a nutrition specialist, I learned from lots of reading and my personal experience.  I follow the same principles for weight loss and weight maintenance, except I allow myself a bit more “cheating” in the maintenance phase, like margarita nights. So this is not a quick fix, it is a lifestyle change for me.

Please remember that we are all different, so what works for me might or might not work for you.  Always consult your physician before embarking on a weight loss journey!

Portion control – Know your serving sizes!  I use a salad/dessert plate and salad/fruit bowl for my meals.  I also use a small size plastic container for packing my lunches. 
I use the following “rule” for estimating a serving size:
Protein – deck of cards or the palm of your hand (small hand!)  Fish and very lean meat can be a bit larger.
Carbohydrates – tennis ball for starches (potatoes, rice, pasta); baseball for fruits and vegetables.
I eat several small meals throughout the day.

Working out and weight training – Exercise is part of my life.  I don’t just do it when I can, it is in my schedule and I make time for it.  I weight train twice a week and do cardio several times a week.  Before becoming a Zumba® Fitness Instructor my cardio consisted of running and taking spinning classes.  I also love yoga!

Vitamins and supplements – I take Arbonne multivitamins and an Omega 3 supplement every day.  For a kick of energy (mornings or afternoons) I also use a fizzing energy tablet.

Fasting – I do a 24 hour cleansing/fast when I only drink water and herbal teas throughout the day.  I do this once a week when I am very disciplined, otherwise just a couple of times a month.  My favorite day to this is Monday.

Protein shakes – When I am in weight loss mode, I use Arbonne protein shakes as a meal replacement (non-soy or whey based!!!).  My favorite trick is to “skip” dinner and only have a protein shake at night (after my workout) and maybe a few bites of cheese/veggies/crackers but only if I have to.  I am vegetarian (no meat, very little dairy and fish), so I also use the shakes to make sure that I get enough protein.

Quality of food –I cook and prepare my meals as much as I can.  I try to avoid “man-made” and pre-packaged foods.  I stay away from processed food, fast/junk food, sodas and anything that has no nutritional value or that actually contains harmful ingredients like preservatives, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, high amounts of sodium, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.

Indulging – If I feel like it, I let myself eat/drink something “bad” and make sure that I compensate for it afterwards.

If you have any questions or would like to be part of a nutrition/weight loss buddy system, please call or email me!