Inflammation.

I want to shout it through a cone at my clients.

And I don't shout. Ever.

But this dirty little word is what halted my fitness and health efforts for YEARS,

And I'm seeing it pop up more and more with my clients.

They just don't know it. Or don't want to believe it.

So let me explain.

The 3 signs that you KNOW your body is inflamed are:

1. Water and gut issues-- bloating, gas, belching, diarrhea, constipation.

2. Exhaustion- Dark circles under eyes, fatigue, sluggishness.

3. Physical and Emotional Pain- joint pain, acne, rashes, hives, stuffy nose, excessive mucus, binge eating, compulsive cravings.

Hell to the NO. I don't want any of that in my life,

But I suffered from a lot of it.

I used to blame my chronic tiredness and sickness on being a nurse, trainer, mom, and wife and working 12 hours shifts.

But the blame needed to be shifted into ownership, as the food that I was eating the real cause.

We know that a stressful lifestyle or over-training can increase cortisol.

Which then leads to inflammation and the symptoms above.

But I want to offer you a quick solution.

Because changing our work environment, training plans, responsibilities, and relationships take time.

Changing our food choices takes minutes.

Some of the highest inflammatory foods are: Dairy, Wheat, Corn, Sugar, Soy, Eggs and Nuts.

If you want a deeper dive into what you should and shouldn't be eating, then I suggest my Macros, Muscles and Mindfulness 3 week program.

But for interest of time, let's change ONE variable.

SUGAR.

Eating too much sugar causes insulin resistance and leptin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a step before Type 2 diabetes, in which numbness and tingling of the body can occur as well as rises and intense dips in energy as our body isn't properly using the food we feed it for energy.

Leptin resistance is the main driver of fat gain and storage in our bodies.

The hormone leptin is supposed to tell our body that we are full, but when we have a resistance, we're always hungry and never satisfied, even when we do eat.

We blame PMS. We blame crazy work schedules. We blame stress.

I blame sugar!

The C-Reactive Protein in sugar is the quickest way to ruin the gut, hold fat, bloat, and place ourselves at risk for long term problems like diabetes.

So not only do we need to stay away from table sugar and all of its substitutes like:

Stevia, sucralose, splenda, honey, agave nectar, high fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, cane sugar, caramel, icing sugar, fruit juice and concentrate, molasses and turbinado sugar.

But we also need to stay away from high glycemic carbohydrates like:

Whole wheat and white breads, white potatoes, taco shells, watermelon, pop, doughnuts, pretzels, onions, dates, rice cakes, cornflakes, jelly beans, cheerios, chips, corn, and popcorn.

Some of the processed foods are a given, but healthier foods such as dates, watermelon, onions, and whole wheat bread can also be a source of inflammation.

I eat these as a treat, and in turn I pair it with some HIIT training and an increase in my water intake by 1L that day.

But for the most part, my carbohydrate sources come from greens, sweet potato, apples, and quinoa.

I'm also now able to drink my coffee with just a splash of coconut milk and I've cut out all of the sugar and honey.

Your taste buds do change.

But most importantly, my waist line has started to change.

I've always wanted abs,

And with this knowledge and food changes, I've got them!

*If you want a deeper dive into nutrition, my 3 week Macros, Muscles, and Mindfulness Program can be purchased here!*