ULTIMATE Savvy Guide to Getting Started (Part 3 ~ Common Concerns)

Common concerns, let’s chat about this today. Did you start the challenge from Part 1? What did you start with?

Nothing is too small, anything counts. Share it with me on Facebook you can join the private Savvy Vitality Community, or send me an email…either way, I would love to hear what steps you are taking 🙂

In Part 2 I covered Grocery Shopping, if you missed it, check it out.

I want you to remember you are not alone; sometimes we think of a question but don’t want to ask it because we feel like it is stupid, we should know the answer.

Let me tell you that in learning anything there are no stupid questions.

Most of us have gone a long time believing a variety of different things about simply eating well.  

Seriously, who can keep up with all the new and constantly changing information?

So here are some of the common concerns I have come across:

#1: Having Trouble Choosing Proteins.

What proteins do you like to eat?

Are you including a protein at breakfast?

Suggestions:

Add protein powder to yogurt or choose Greek yogurt as an afternoon snack

Cheese is easy and portable

Hard boiled eggs

#2: Not sure what to eat for a snack.

What would you normally have for a snack?

Suggestions:

Fruits are great snacks – higher sugar fruits like banana, grapes and oranges should be eaten in the morning, lower sugar fruits like berries, apples and pears can be eaten later in the day

Nuts

Cut up veggies with hummus or guacamole.

 #3: Can I eat after Dinner?

Eating after dinner is ok if:

You have food leftover you didn’t eat.

Have just worked out, especially resistance training.

Do not eat within 2 hours of going to sleep.

You are actually hungry (true hunger) and not just bored or having a craving

Suggestions:

Proteins and/or fats are always the best options.

Plain Greek yogurt sweetened with maple syrup/honey add cinnamon, cocoa, and vanilla for flavour.

Hummus or Guacamole and veggies

Cheese

Nut butter from a spoon

Nuts serving

#4: Don’t like to drink water or have trouble getting in all the water, this probably should be the first of the common concerns :).

Suggestions:

Carry a water bottle, or a travel mug with water in it instead of coffee

Start with 1 extra cup per week

Slice lemon, cucumber, orange, or berries and add to water

Brew a fruit flavoured herbal tea and turn it into iced tea, add a small amount of honey, maple syrup or liquid stevia to sweeten if necessary.

Set a water alarm on your phone, watch, or computer to remind you to drink

Cut back on other beverages to include water

Use a straw to sip from – there is no science to back this up, but it works!

#5: I don’t like vegetables.

What veggies do you like?

Suggestions:

Add spinach or kale to a shake – you can’t taste it

Make a soup and puree veggies

Have veggies with a dip made with Greek yogurt

#6: On the list of common concerns is “What about coffee?” Are you going to take this away?

Suggestions:

Coffee raises blood sugar levels so it is best to either avoid it or cut down to 1 cup per day

Pay attention to how you feel after drinking coffee. If you start to crave sweets or notice that you don’t feel good after drinking the coffee then cut it out

If you still want your coffee – no sugar, use stevia if needed and you can use cream or milk, or milk alternatives like almond, cashew, etc.

#7: Where does Alcohol fit in?

Suggestions:

Ideally, you shouldn’t drink alcohol as it leads to poor eating choices (among other poor choices ;)), blood sugar swings, and dehydration, but once again life, and we are all about everything in moderation.

Best types of alcohol – vodka, wine

Plan it into your day, and cut back on another indulgence to allow for it.

We are ALL human, and we all want that bowl of ice cream or…insert your own indulgence here…the main thing is that it starts to happen less frequently and is just that, an indulgence or a treat that you enjoy for what it is, guilt-free, once in a while.

In Part 4 of 6, we are gonna look at food labels.

Note: Please remember that these are basic guidelines. Keep your current state in mind, if you have any medical conditions consult with your doctor. Use what you can and ignore the rest, at least for now. 

Lisa Corkum is not a Nutritionist, Registered Dietitian, psychologist or Medical Professional. The information on this website is not intended to  diagnose or replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.