The New Year can bring out the crazy fad dieter in all of us. A couple years ago I decided to choose to live a healthier lifestyle year-round instead of looking for a quick fix that ultimately leads to failure and weight gain. Rather than restricting myself with foods, I have learned to listen to my body’s needs, wants and triggers; and I have educated myself on areas where food improvements can be made thanks to resources like ATKINS.
There are so many foods that we are told are “a healthy option” when they in fact are doing more damage than we think. The foods that I am referring to are the culprits of “the hidden sugar effect” — when carbohydrates convert to sugar when digested. You don’t see the sugar, but your body does. An excess of foods like breads, potatoes, low fat yogurt and pretzels can have the same effect on our blood sugar levels as teaspoons of sugar and can have adverse effects on our health. Over time consuming too many foods that are high in refined carbohydrates can cause things like insulin resistance, diabetes or an increased risk of heart disease.
Before you have a panic attack and decide to throw away everything in your pantry, just know there are healthy substitutes that can be made and they are easier than you might think! ATKINS has a lot of resources on living a low carb lifestyle and they also have a lot of information centered around “the hidden sugar effect.” I found their resource – Eat This Not That super helpful, especially when it comes to snacks. Things like nuts, cottage cheese and hard boiled eggs are definitely better choices particularly for that afternoon slump we tend to get in.
Not only is ATKINS a wonderful resource to turn to for education, tips and recipes but they also have some pretty tasty products that I tend to grab-and-go on my busier days. I have enjoyed using the ATKINS Protein Powder in my smoothies and as an added bonus it has 1 gram of sugar, 15 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 2 grams of net carbs. (Net Carbs = Total Carbohydrates – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols (if applicable))
I keep the ATKINS Protein Wafer Crisps in my bag as a snack option not only for me but for my kids as well. I can rest easy knowing that there’s only 1 gram of sugar with 3 grams of net carbs with 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.
I hope that as you journey through this wonderful new year, you simply strive to make better choices that will offer you a longer healthier life. Any lifestyle change doesn’t need to be over night, it can be gradual. If you make a mistake and over indulge, don’t beat yourself up! Instead, offer yourself grace and start over.
And as Mary Poppins would say “There is nowhere to go but UP!” You can do this, I believe in you!
This post was written as part of a paid partnership with ATKINS, all opinions are my own.
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