After visiting the blog ABCs and Garden Peas, I learned that Katie from Chocolate Covered Katie is challenging us to post a no make-up pic on our own blog. Since this is right up the Your BEST self program alley, I was game! I looked on facebook this morning and selected the pic I took right before I was to get dolled up for my wedding. With as little as 2-3 hours of sleep, the sheer excitement still shines through.
Fresh faced and proud!! Are you up for the challenge? My Operation Beautiful note today? You are BEAUTIFUL, just the way God made you! Do you wear make up every day?????????
Okay now on to the real deal behind this post. Now that we all have our cupboards cleansed, it’s time for a grocery shop!! What’s going to be on your list? With weight-loss, natural eating is SO important!! However, isn’t it pretty easy to eat an entire avocado, “mindfully?” Yea…LOTS of calories. So, if you need to gain weight? GO FOR IT! If not, we need to learn some lower calorie swaps for every meal, while STILL eating naturally! So that is the purpose of the post today!!
Breakfast
- Opt for skim milk in your cereals, coffee, pancakes, etc. Skim milk too watery for you? 1% milk is still a great compromise!
- Start your day with a high fiber cereal! The more fiber you start your day with, the less you will eat all day! Need help choosing a cereal? Check out my simple tricks for how to pick a healthy cereal!
- Craving a meaty breakfast? Bacon is a better option than sausage!
- NEED that donut? Is that what your body is telling you? Avoid the cakey varieties, as they are more calorically dense. Choose a yeasty variety and stick to just one.
- Muffin anyone? A muffin can be a caloric nightmare if you grab one that is on steroids. I prefer my muffins small and if you whip some up yourself, you can control the size! Add flax seed and whole wheat flour to the mix and you automatically increase the fiber! Pair with a glass of skim milk and a piece of fruit and you’ve got yourself a winning meal!
- Breakfast bars. Not my favorite option because they are usually pretty processed and lack any nutritional value (think Nutrigrain bars), and the nutritionally dense varieties are EXPENSIVE! I’m sorry but $1 for a bar? No thank you. You are better off making your own granola bars and pairing it with a yogurt or glass of milk and some fruit! Need help picking a yogurt? I’ve got tips for how to pick a healthy yogurt too!!
Lunch
- Making egg, chicken, or tuna salad? Use 1 T of real mayonnaise and then add 1 T of sour cream or cottage cheese to cut calories! I enjoy Hellman’s Olive Oil mayonnaise, which has half the calories per tablespoon than the regular varieties!
- Out to lunch? Ask for you salad without cheese to save 100-200 calories. Need cheese? I always ask for some on the side, that way you know how much you are getting!
- If you NEED a soda with lunch, choose diet or ask for the child size version and limit yourself to one 4-8 oz glass.
- Whole wheat bread is wonderful but at 100-120 calories per slice, that can add up! If you hate the idea of only eating half a sandwich, why not try a 100 calorie, high fiber wrap or whole wheat pita? Fewer calories and you still get the fiber and whole grain!
Dinner
- Making pasta? Use whole wheat noodles for a boost of fiber and use small plates to make yourself feel like you have more than you actually do! With meatballs, use half ground beef/half brown rice!
- Pizza? Nix the deep dish or pan crust varieties for their regular or thin crust. Pick lots of veggies over the meaty toppings! Fill up on a big salad first!
- Out to dinner? If you absolutely cannot resist the bread basket (like me), choose ONE small slice and avoid the butter and oils. Freshly baked bread from a nice restaurant typically has enough flavors without! Then avoid starchy sides with your entree (fries, baked potato, rice, etc).
- Choose LEAN cuts of meat and add flavor with lots of herbs and spices for an antioxidant boost!
- In the mood for Mexican? Sometimes it is hard to find a lower calorie version of your favorite dishes at restaurants. Instead, stay home and have a fiesta! Make your own beef or bean burrito with a whole wheat tortilla, lettuce, tomato, beans or beef, salsa, and sour cream! You will save yourself loads of calories!
Need some snack ideas? Check out these simple snack swaps that can BOOST weight-loss!!
Don’t forget to fidget-cize!!! You gotta MOVE IT to LOSE IT!!!
Try this one today! Don't have a ball? No problem! just lift and lower your legs! just be sure to keep that lower back on the floor! Do 10-25 reps, twice daily!!
Question: How do you cut calories without sacrificing?
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[...] 15 Ways To Cut Calories at Each Meal! [...]
Aww what a great post! And thanks so much for the sweet shout out. It really made me smile. You look (and are!) beautiful!
Those are all excellent tips! I usually cut cals by using reduced fat cheese; taking the stuffing out of thick rolls/buns, and using Greek yogurt as sour cream.
Jenn
really great! I need it to train for another 5k!
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Great post, yet again. Your tips are always a good reminder of what I need to do more of and also an opportunity to pat myself on the back. I have recently been using whole wheat pasta more and can honestly say, I don’t feel like I’m giving up hardly anything when it comes to taste. (By the way, you look fantastic sans makeup!)
I try not to drink too many calories. I usually only drink water, but if I drink anything else (tea, juice, etc.) I try to look at it as a concentrate, and water it down as much as possible so there is only a hint of flavor. It saves a lot of money, too!
You look beautiful! Lately I’ve been wearing makeup every day but I think I look fine without it too. I’ve just been feeling off and tired so the makeup helps perk me up a bit. I don’t wear too much though – mascara, eyeliner, blush, and sometimes eyeshadow.
Another great post, thank you!
I only wear make-up at work, or on dates. With friends or just for normal stuff, I don’t.
I don’t really care for dressing, so I swap it out for avocado for healthful fats and tons more flavor. I also share desserts, and enjoy just a bite or two for my cravings. =)
I love this post!! I almost never wear makeup… I did whan I was younger but as time goes by, I realize I don’t need it.
Awesome post! I always order my dressing on the side when I go out…that saves 1000′s I am convinced!
These are great tips. Portion control is the hardest thing for me, so the calories add up. But I’m working on it!
Great ideas! I’m in the process of trying to gain weight, so I’m having add things like peanut butter and cheese to my daily meals.
I don’t focus on calories, but I do try to make most of my meals at home rather than eating out – it helps my waistline and my budget!
All of those are such fabulous tips. It really is easy to cut calories here and there once you get started. Little changes can add up fast.
I almost never wear makeup during the week. I’m big on natural beauty. It helps that I stay at home and only really see close friends or people I don’t care to make a glamorous impression on though.
Y’all look gorgeous in the pic, very fresh faced.
I don’t eat bread with a lot of my sandwiches, or if I do I choose an Arnold sandwich thin.
For work, I wear makeup everyday (it’s like a magic esteem-booster for me–plus it makes me feel glam). But on weekends, I stick to sunscreen, lip gloss and mascara (my essentials). In the past, I wouldn’t be caught dead without full makeup on in public. But nowadays, I know better. It’s not like people are going to run away screaming in horror at my makeup-less face!
As always, your tips rock! For a healthier option, I swap a few thin slices of avocado in place of mayo on sandwiches. I don’t know if it necessarily cuts calories, but it’s tasty and heart-healthy! Thanks for the information!
I wear at least a little makeup every day. Even if it’s just a little powder to even my complexion out. But I do have to say- I’ve cut back on how much I wear. I used to reapply ALL the time. Seems like such a waste of time and makeup now!
And I cut calories by nixing the cheese on my salad (or sandwiches depending on the variety). Because I’ve already got the dressing and/or vegetables that have been roasted with seasoning, I really don’t notice that it’s gone!
Great tips!!