Diets are confusing–there’s no question about that. Low-carb, no-carb, low-fat, no-fat, high-protein, high-carb, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach, Atkins, Master Cleanse, Raw…the list goes ON. None of them work forever. The only way to get and stay healthy is to rewire yourself. Don’t find the ‘diet’ hamburger or cheese enchiladas. Just limit your intake of high-caloric and processed foods. Eating fresh most of the time is really the best way to overhaul your nutritional health.

I may not be a registered dietician, but I know what works for me. Cut the sugar. Mainstream American fare is LOADED with sugars. Following a low-glycemic index eating plan is really the most awesome way to eat and you truly will start to notice a change in your digestion and your body. Plus, you can still allow yourself ‘cheat’ meals twice a week where you don’t think about it. You will notice though, as you follow this lifestyle, that you crave junk less and less and notice some undesirable “digestive effects” when you eat high-fat, high-sugar, processed food.

I started this lifechange (thanks to advice from the amazing Jackie Warner), by doing a sugar fast. For five days, I completely avoided refined sugars all together. This includes diet products, like aspartame, splenda, saccharin (which you should avoid anyway because it causes the big C). These zero-calorie sugars cause your body to respond the same as it would to real sugar, even though there are no calories. At the end of the five days, I noticed a serious change in my palate. Naturally sweet things like fruit tasted so incredible, while artificially sweet and sugary items are now really overwhelming.

I’m not a morning person at all, so making breakfast is usually out of the question. I also got this recipe from Jackie Warner on a diet/health Web site. This smoothie keeps me full until lunch and is super refreshing after a morning workout.

2 C mixed berries (note: Berries are very low on the glycemic index, meaning low sugar)

1 C ice

1tbsp cold, expeller pressed Flaxseed oil

1 scoop superfood green powder

1 scoop protein powder (use Whey or soy, but choose a low sugar option)

I know it’s tough to always eat fresh or to make your own food. Busy lifestyles are the new norm.

Here’s a guidline: If you MUST eat processed foods, purchase only items with fewer than 9g of sugar.

Secret ‘healthy’ foods loaded with sugar: Yogurt (especially non-fat, fruit at the bottom), granola, soy milk, salad dressing. For each of these, always check the back or look for unsweetened. I like Greek-style yogurt from Trader Joe’s, low sugar and you still get those awesome digestion boosting probiotics. Low sugar granola from Bear Naked is also awesome. Remember, key is low sugar, but not FAKE sugar.