do you think a bowl of salad + chicken breast is a good place to start with eating clean? i add some lemon pepper and just a little dressing for extra flavor
I think I’m overthinking this question a little bit, but I just had to get this out here.And also, I am in no way a fitness guru or a nutrition expert, so please don’t read my words as laws.
Maybe you love salads and think they are the best thing ever, but I’m going to answer as for myself, then maybe you agree with some of it. On a personal note. No, I don’t think that is a good place to start. For some weird reason I hate lettuce. The taste, the feeling in my mouth, but mostly I think it might be a mental thing. I feel deprived, and like I’m missing out I guess.
I mostly just eat a salad with some chicken or other stuff if I’m planning on treating myself to some chocolate or cake in the afternoon, to save up macros. So I’m just offering some thoughts and ideas here.
Is it a good place to start?
I think eating clean/ Being healthy starts from the inside out. It start by loving your body and yourself enough to understand that it deserves to be treater better. It deserves to be given clean and healthy fuel, and to get stronger and healthier. That you in your mind believe you can this, and that you deserve to improve yourself.
From there I would start by not changing anything at all, but just analyze your own habits. What are you eating now. What is healthy habits, and what is really bad for you. Where is it the easiest to make changes? How does what you eat make you feel. Mentally, and physically. Make a plan on the changes you want to make. Exactly how are you going to make this work? Don’t just start on day one and try to do your best. Have a gameplan. That is how we win the game.
Do you want to follow a certain work out plan. Focus on Cardio? Weights? Zumba? Yoga? Do you want to try IF. (Fasting) Low carb? Counting Macros? Do you want a cheat day? Plan it out!
Is it healthy to eat a salad?
I know.. from personal experiences.. that when you want to lose weight, you tend to eat less, and only the stuff you know/think is really healthy. But in order to have a healthy and sustainable weight loss you should try to keep the same amount of calories per day. (I also track macros. Carbs+Fat+Protein, Message me if you want more info on that)
A lot of people start out eating way to few calories by only choosing low calorie products, and the body is feeling deprived. You might get worse cravings, you body might hold on to fat because it thinks its entering a time of famine. (Your body is trying to keep your energy and resources for when you’re starving later)
So make sure you don’t eat just salads, and walk around hungry. I eat about 1670 calories per day, and losing weight just fine. There are several websites helping you find the calories you should have per day. Less is not always better. So yes, a salad is healthy, but you can’t live on salads.
Be creative! Keep your options open!
I’m somewhat a picky eater. I don’t like cereals, I don’t like bread, and I don’t like salads. I tolerate them at times, but eating it every day? Gosh now. So when I wanted to eat healthy, I needed to get creative, and I looked around for options. So here in the end, I just wanted to give you some! These can all be healthy if you just made good choices.
Breakfast/Lunch (I use them as both)
Banana Pancakes w/ berries (Mix 1 Banana + 1 Egg)
Smoothie bowl with granola
Mashed hardboiled eggs mixed with Mayo. Add salt&Pepper (Great on bread)
Leftovers (Because lazy.. duuh!)
Naad bread with Chicken&Tomato&Onion&Avocado
Different types of stird fry
Baked Fish or Chicken + Basked Veggies
Fruits&Berries (Will taste sweeter as you cut down your sugar intake)
I hope this helped! And good luck on your journey!