All it takes is saying "No" one time

Sometimes all it takes is saying, "No" one time...

By Nicole

It can all start by saying, "No" just one time. 

I can't even imagine what it would feel like to have to lose 20, 50, or even a hundred pounds just to feel like yourself again or even trying to stop a food addiction like soda.  However, you have to start somewhere. 

I completely understand how food offers so many things to the human body and a lot of us have had years to build this multi-faceted relationship with it. Just recently I had been struggling to stay strong with the lifestyle we follow. If someone had M & M's or any type of chocolate I was on it. It left me feeling lethargic and lacking motivation to be as active as I would have liked. 

So, something had to be done. I just had to say, "NO" one time to a food offer that would do my body more harm than good. I know that food temptation is EVERYWHERE, but you can change. 

So what can you do?

Take a second to write down what it is you are eating throughout the day, sort of like a food journal. After about a week, examine those choices. What percentage are vegetables? Fast food? Healthy fats and meats? Processed food? Grains? Water? Sugar in all forms (soda, fruit, candy, alcohol, juice, etc)? For most, these results are eye opening, so what are you going to do to change?

Decide what it is you can possibly cut back on or even eliminate to make you healthier. For most people sugar is their main addiction and new studies are showing sugar can be just as addictive as drugs like cocaine.

When analyzing your nutrition, always try to remember what paleolithic, or original man, had accessible to him (or her). They did not have access to much fruit, so the constant craving for sugar was never there. But over the years, fruit has become so accessible and sadly, larger (I am pretty sure apples shouldn't be the size of a softball) it has people walking around in a constant sugar craze. 

So, please do yourself a favor and break up with these foods which are causing weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, thyroid issues, cancer and so much more. All it takes is for you to say, "NO" just one time. Trust me, after that one moment of strength you will start to feel better, then you will start to look better and it will continue to get easier and easier to stay strong! 

Wondering where to start? Here is a recipe you can say, "yes" to and it is so simple even a cave man could do it!

Crockpot Chicken

1 whole chicken

3 bags baby carrots

1/2 stick of butter (organic is best)

Salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder to taste. 

Place the whole chicken in the crock pot, breast side down. Season the chicken with the salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder.  Slice the butter and place on top of the chicken, save some slices to put on the carrots. Place the opened bags of carrots around and on top of the chicken.  Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours or on high for three. 

Of course, you need another vegetable. Here is our children's favorite way to have broccoli...

4-6 heads of broccoli, cut into small florets 

Grapeseed oil (olive oil is best not heated)

Salt and pepper

Place the broccoli on a large baking pan. Drizzle well with grapeseed oil and season generously with salt and pepper. 

Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until most pieces start to crisp. You will want to stir halfway through. 

Trust us, once you have it this way, you won't want to have it any way else!

Enjoy!