5 bad things you should totally be doing right now!

Grab a notepad and take a seat….you might just fall over with this list!

Have you noticed how there are so many “diet trends” or “diet theories” that will tell youdo this but don’t do this?

Well, these are some of my favorite controversial topics to chat about because so many people are easily confused with what is okay and what’s not okay when you see all of these diet trends.

Ok, first up on the list ……drumroll …….

1.  Eat Chocolate

Yes’mm chocolate, and you can eat chocolate everyday!  Of course, in moderation (I had to throw that in there!).  When we talk about chocolate, we are talking about dark chocolate, not candy bars or the sugary stuff.  When shopping around for dark chocolate, look for quality and make sure it has 70% or higher cocoa content (this should be clearly labeled).

Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants, flavanols, and polyphenols in addition to having vitamins and minerals…..it actually works in your favor!  It’s good for your heart as well as for your brain.  You want to be careful though, that even though it’s good for you, you don’t want to over do it.  Most bars have been cut into squares, so savor a square or two right after dinner.

2.  Eat Fats!  Go Nuts!

Fats have had an interesting rap throughout the past few years.  Way back when, the craze was to follow a “fat free” diet, but studies really have proven that we need fats in our body!  Period.

Fats are used as a source of energy.  Everyone’s body is different, especially when it comes to digestion where some people tend to do better on a high fat diet verses a high carb diet.  Regardless, you need to have fats in your diet everyday.  Grab some almonds for a great snack, cook some yummy salmon, stock up on avocados, use clarified butter (otherwise known as ghee), or load up with coconut oil (even put it in your coffee!), but really focus on getting good, healthy fats in your body.

3.  Hit SNOOZE!

“Buzz, buzz, buzz …..Oh, but I’m not ready to get up yet….” Sound familiar??

Studies have shown that gradual wake-ups are better for you than hitting your alarm and shooting straight out of bed.  When you hit the alarm that goes off, you actually startle yourself which can be bad for your heart!  There are several clocks or even settings on a cell phone that allow you to comfortably wake up during the “twilight zone.”  These alarms are built to start sound at a low volume a few minutes before your set wake time and it gradually gets louder.  I recently set this on my phone and I totally notice a difference.  I am more focused and awake rather than how you feel groggy and lost if you happen to wake up during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep!  Give it a shot.

4.  Eat Ice Cream

Uh-huh! Ice cream it is.  However, the ice cream I am talking about is made with a frozen banana and almond milk!  Have you ever tried it? Ohmydelish!!  I actually buy bananas a freeze them right away as they are a staple in many of my sweet treats.  When I feel like ice cream, I throw one frozen banana with 1/2 – 1 cup almond milk in the blender and whip it up.  The consistency and taste is identical to old fashioned ice cream, except here you are benefiting from natural sugar.  If you feel like spicing it up, add some dates and nuts to this mix and you will have you a delicious little treat.

5. Eat Before Bed

Now, this one has several theories where some say not to eat after 7 pm, and some say it’s totally fine.  Through my research (and personal testimony), I have found that eating a light snack (emphasis added!) before bedtime is very beneficial.  If you think about bedtime, you are likely getting 7-8 hours of sleep.  When you look at your day, you likely eat every 2-4 hours.  If you have a light snack close to bedtime, your body will digest it as you sleep, during this 7-8 hour period.  Where if you happen to follow the 7pm guideline, by the time you go to sleep you are probably hungry.  Then, by the time you wake (say 6 or 7 am), you will wake up starving because it had been at least 12 hours since you ate!

So not only does a light snack before bed curb cravings, but also aids in your digestion as it keeps your body on a consistent cycle and resets your circadian rhythm.  According to the circadian rhythm, between 7-9 am, our large intestines, stomach, and spleen are at work. Now, this doesn’t mean to have a huge steak dinner before bed (this may lead to weight gain), but a light snack that is protein packed is best.

Give these 5 BAD things a try and let me know how GOOD you feel 🙂

xoxo