Here we are, the Carson Family 21 Day Challenge is now 14 days old. I thought to myself, “We got through week 1, week 2 will be smooth sailing!” Well I was wrong!
Week 2 of the 21 day challenge turned from a challenge to a battle. It seems that everyone this week battled temptations more so than the previous week. Thinking about it, really every day is a battle when you’re following a plan like we are following. Some of us have given in to the temptation this week, but we didn’t quit. We may have slipped once or twice, but we started right back over with the next meal. That’s the key to success when you’re doing any kind of special diet or nutrition plan like we are following. The girls have been out of the house a few times this week with friends, and that’s where the challenge really becomes a battle. When you’re at home, you’ve got more control, but when you’re eating out with the limited selection of restaurants that we have, it’s hard to make the right choices. It is even harder when your friends are sitting across from you eating whatever they want to eat. When I, the coach, am with them it’s not so hard. Things are always easier when someone is there to hold you accountable. Despite the slip ups this week, I am extremely proud of my girls because, for the most part, they have done exceptionally well in making the right choices, and I believe everyone can do that. I admit it is not that easy to make the right choices when eating out, but I believe it can be done, and here are my recommendations on how to do so.
First of all, plan ahead! Choose a restaurant that has a variety of menu selections that fit or can be made to fit your nutrition plan. For example, if pasta and pizza are not part of your plan, then don’t walk into an Italian restaurant and expect to feel good about yourself while you’re walking out. Instead choose a restaurant where the majority of their menu items are baked, broiled, or grilled. Obviously you should avoid fast food restaurants, because the choices are much more limiting, especially when you are not supposed to eat any bread or fried foods. You may say, “What if I have no choice, what if I have to eat in a hurry and am forced to get fast food?” Well in that case, there are several fast food menu items that I can recommend.
Most fast food restaurants this day and age serve garden salads or mixed greens salads with grilled chicken, and some of them are pretty good. There are many restaurants now where you can design your own salad, choosing the vegetables you want as well as the type of protein, whether that be chicken, fish, eggs or some type of meat that you’d like to have on it. Just make sure when you do choose a salad, you also choose a good healthy dressing. I recommend the oil based dressings and not the creamy or sugary dressings. There are also many fast food spots that serve chicken salad or tuna salad, and one of my favorite things to do is get a couple of scoops of either of those, a side salad, and an unsweet tea or water with lemon (Yes, believe it or not, we do have unsweet tea in Mississippi.) Some great choices for a nicer dine in restaurant would be an entree with salmon or some other ocean fish, a side of steamed or grilled vegetables, and small side salad. A grilled chicken breast or small steak could be your protein source as well, at any of those nice restaurants. Some of you are probably wondering, “Well what about eating at a Mexican place? I love Mexican food!” I love Mexican food as well, but unfortunately it doesn’t feel the same way about me, but even at a Mexican restaurant you can make the right choices. I recommend ordering fajitas without the flour tortillas, and even though there will be free chips on your table, you have to resist or request they not bring them.
I hope you find these recommendations helpful if you are undertaking a challenge similar to ours, or if you are following any other type of nutrition plan to help you lose weight and get more fit. The Carson Family 21 Day Challenge will continue and hopefully over the final seven days it will be less of a battle than it was this week! In spite of the battles though, I am happy to report that the Carson Family is an additional 12 pounds lighter than we were last week for a total of 31 pounds lost in two weeks!
If reading this blog inspires you to begin your own 21 day challenge, then you may be interested in a product I recently discovered. This product can provide a genetic nutrition and fitness assessment based upon your unique DNA and lifestyle. Click here for a short video detailing the assessment. If you’re interested in achieving a new level of wellness, then please contact me by filling out the contact form on CarsonNatural.com or by leaving a voice message by clicking the “Ask Dr. Phil” Microphone!
Happy Summer and Healthy Blessings,
Dr. Phil
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