...in creating a 1200 calorie menu that is gluten free, dairy free, cane sugar free, and soy free. It even meets the requirements for a diet that is 45% calories from carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 25% fat. This would be considered a low-fat, moderate carb lifestyle, which personally, I manage with best. I used to be deathly afraid of carbs because there is so much bad press out there about them, but carbs are an essential part of our bodies needs. Carbs provide both instant and sustained energy, as well as the vitamins and minerals our brains need to function properly, as long as they are whole grain (brown carbs, basically).
Here is the menu:
In my opinion, this is a very low calorie menu. Most adults between 135 and 200 pounds need approximately 1400 - 2500 calories per day just to maintain their current weight. I created this menu for people who are looking to lose weight. You don't have to be gluten free or anything-free to enjoy this menu. It is suitable for vegetarians (who eat fish - pescetarians technically) or it can be modified to replace the salmon or seafood with tofu or seitan for adequate protein.
As much as I really enjoy being vegetarian, I find with most of the food restrictions, it's just becomes too difficult. If I could easily tolerate tofu (which I can't, and I LOVE tofu) I would definitely have stayed vegetarian. I believe that everyone can be in tune with their bodies nutritional needs; we all know which foods make us tired and groggy, and which foods give us energy and vitality.
Personally, I have been completely ignorant about my food intake since Halloween. Earlier last year, during August, I was steadily losing weight by eating mostly raw foods, but experienced major financial stress in September when I ironically began gaining weight again. After weighing in at my highest weight in 4 years, I experienced a downward spiral into self pity and subsequently, stress eating to relieve my so-called failure. Gaining weight really isn't a failure; after all, it happens over time. No one gains 50 pounds in 2 months - I did it slowly over the last year and a half.
With that said, when I "fall off the wagon" like I have done in recent months, I lose myself. My heart is grounded in Nutrition and exercise, but I choose to ignore that due to laziness or ignorance, or whatever other emotion I am using to prevent myself from moving forward at any given time. The point is, health is hard. It's work, just like almost everything else in our lives; our relationships with our families, friends, coworkers, our jobs; our health is work, and it takes control and effort to make your health a priority.
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