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When did you officially overdosed on gluten-free cookies and treats? Or maybe it’s the rich, heavy, starchy foods that got you this time around?
Either way, the holidays pretty much throw everyone’s diet off the rails (including mine) with too many meals eaten outside of the home all in the name of celebration. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that the New Year has finally come and life can get back on track!
I’m sure you’ve pondered your New Year’s goals or resolutions and considered a myriad of options like “Finally go 100% gluten-free”, “Eat healthier”, or the seemingly popular idea to “Lose weight”. And just maybe you’ll succeed this year… maybe.
Take Your Gluten-Free Diet Back in the New Year
These flashy ideas that seem great in the first 2 weeks of January quickly become stale, boring ideas shoved to the back recesses of your mind the moment something more tempting is dangled in front of you. What also doesn’t help is the way that you motivate yourself by setting unrealistic, vague goals lacking clarity, a timeline and a measure for success. Nor will punishments, harsh detoxes which don’t even remotely mirror normal eating habits, or images of skinny models who embody how you want to look.
If you want a REAL fresh start, then here’s my three tips to getting back on track in 2013:
1) Find a Community (or at least a partner)
Most people can’t sustain a ton of change on their own. Consider how difficult it is for gluten-free folks to maintain their diet when they don’t have a supportive community around them (maybe this sounds familiar to your own situation). Family and friends tempt them on purpose and repeat how it doesn’t matter if they cheat.
Well, we all know that cheating does matter. That’s why being plugged into a community or at least having a buddy can make all the difference. I’ve found this to be 100% true when leading the Gluten-Free Sugar Cleanse that a supportive, inspiring community is a huge driver for everyone’s success.
Have you check out the HUGE Gluten Free School Facebook page yet? If you live in an area that leaves you lacking in the support department, this is a great way to get connected to others just like you.
2) Stop Eating Sugar
The standard gluten-free diet contains way too many processed (aka. refined) carbohydrates which only add up to excess weight gain. If you begin to take sugar out of your diet, your cravings will come to a halt and you may notice that stubborn weight starts to melt away.
One key way to do this is to stop drinking your sugar. No more fancy coffee and tea drinks from your local barista (with added syrup), soda (even diet will still trigger cravings) or juice (with is still sugar even though it’s natural). Taking these out will absolutely help.
Should you need more help, I’ve got a free training video series you can have access to right now. Just click here to grab it!
3) Make a Meal Planning Date
Clients come to me because they lack a real plan or system so that things like creating meals in a timely fashion actually happen. No plan = failure. My number one tip is to initiate a “Meal Planning Date” once a week. Either you do this on your own or with others involved in cooking (or an interest in what’s served) for 30 minutes each week. The best time is usually on the weekends.
Figure out which 2 or 3 days you’ll cook, then set your meals, write out your shopping list and go to the store. Keep the plan on the fridge with easy access to the recipes (Dry Erase Boards can be very helpful here). Prep what you can on the weekends or have some of it stored in your freezer.
Then follow your plan throughout the week and – **voilá** – you’ve got food!
Leave a comment below sharing what you’re doing to get back on track!
I have been checking out some recipes for homemade breads and such and they seem to combine almond and flour and golden flax meal, only problem is I dont seem to be able to even send the smellmofmthe flax meal. I made some bread to go with my homemade chicken and wild rice soup and had to throw the bread out because it tasted so nasty. Is there an acceptable sub for the flax? Can I use millet or coconut? I am trying to stay away from the rice flours because of the glycemic index, but every once in a while I like bread.
I’m still having some problems coming up with a variety of planned meals. To make matters worse my computer bit the dust today so all the sites I had bookmarked plus my stuff from the last gluten free sugar cleanse is gone. I do have my manual but had wanted to add more variety so that maybe I’d do a better job planning and sticking to my goal of getting my sugar consumption back to the level it is supposed to be.