So what's my secret?

When it comes to dieting, nine times out of ten, people (myself included) don't eat properly or enough. People always come up to me and ask, "Monica, how do you do it?" With dieting, it all comes down to one simple thing: discipline. You need "stick-to-it-ness". For me, the hardest part to dieting is eating the same kinds of foods day in and day out. That's why dieting is boring, boring, boring. If you can find creative solutions to this problem and stick to it, you'll be successful in no time. Here are my three steps to starting an effective diet.

First, protein. To maintain, repair, and change your body, you should be eating at least 1.25 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. For instance, I weigh about 135, and if I don't take in around 150 grams of protein per day, I will not stay lean or feel very productive. Preparing for a show, I pretty much eat the same kinds of protein: lean chicken breasts, eggs, protein shakes, and buffalo. Yes, you heard me, buffalo. I get ground buffalo meat from a local restaurant here in town. It's lean and has a lot of taste. Many grocery stores are carrying buffalo these days, so be sure to ask.

Second, fat. It's also extremely important to obtain a healthy balance of good fats. I personally take in 3-10 grams of healthy fats with each meal. I might eat an egg yolk at breakfast, supplement with flaxseed oil, or snack on avocados, natural peanut butter, and nuts. Nuts can be very addictive, so it's best to take out the amount you want to eat and then put the rest away. Trust me. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are important because they can actually help lower cholesterol levels and maximize fat burning.

Third, carbs. When it comes to carbs before a show, I keep my choices limited. My only carbs come from brown rice, red potatoes and oatmeal. I cut out sugar altogether. I prefer brown rice over white rice because it's more nutritious and less processed. In my diet, there's no room for sweets. With me, just eating one piece of candy or cake will lead to my wanting more! So instead of going down that road, I cut sweets out altogether. Well that's about it. Until next time,

Stay Fit, Love Life, & God Bless each one of you always!

--Monica

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