Surprising benefits!!

kitkat415

So, in case losing the weight isn't enough motivation to eat healthy, I thought I'd share some added benefits I've noticed, that really surprised me. I'm sure I'm not the first person who has noticed these things, but I'm just so pleased.

I've always eaten healthy. I'm mostly vegetarian, cook almost all my own meals, and read the ingredient label on everything. I didn't think I could get much healthier, but counting calories caused me to make some changes I probably would not have done on my own. In an attempt to get the most out of every calorie, I cut way back on fat (I used to cook with a lot of olive oil), sugar (even natural ones in fruits) and carbs (being mostly veg, pasta and rice- the whole grain kinds- were usually my go tos). My weight has dropped but more shockingly:

1) My mood has leveled significantly. My mood used to be very dependent on my eating schedule. I would be a monster if I was hungry then almost euphoric after I ate. It was a frustrating roller coaster. Now, I'm pretty level and peaceful all day. I don't know why this is. Someone mentioned it might be blood sugar related. I would snack on fruit and all those sugars and carbs were constantly spiking and crashing my blood sugar, cutting back on them and switching to veggie snacks have leveled it out.

2) My skin has cleared up sooo much! No idea why on this one, but I know it's not just a coincidence, because it's pretty marked.

3) My tummy is flatter! Even at my skinniest, I always had a belly. Reducing carbs to a normal level helped flatten my belly. I still eat plenty of healthy complex carbs in the form of whole grains and fruits, but I was eating way too many of those before, so cutting back made a difference.

4) I have more energy! Eating more protein at meals other than dinner has given me much more energy. I'm a little anemic, so when I went vegetarian, I noticed my energy levels slip. Now that I eat egg whites (I'm not a strict vegetarian), beans and tofu and incorporate more protein into breakfast and lunch, my energy levels have come way up. Even my boss commented on my newfound enthusiasm each morning.

5) Everything is tastier! Focusing on eating "hardworking" calories has expanded my food horizons. Trying to come up with innovative ways to cut calories has led to amazing food discoveries. Examples, switching from sauteed broccoli with too much olive oil in a pan to roasted broccoli with just 1/2 tbsp evoo and garlic in the oven was so amazing! Adding chili flakes to my usual stir fry to add flavor without calories was so yummy!

I just had to share because I want to shout it from the rooftops! What are some surprising benefits you guys have noticed after making the switch to a healthier lifestyle?