This blog post has been a long time coming.
Even though I discuss this topic on my social media posts and even on my live sessions, it’s so important that people get tips on this.

First off, cheat meals ARE essential.
I dont want that to be misunderstood though.
I say cheat MEAL, because that’s what it is. a MEAL.
Not a cheat day, not a cheat weekend and most definitely not a cheat-cation.
Meaninf you eat your normal healthy routine the whole day around that one “bad meal”.
Ill explain how I handle my cheat meals, and remember this is just me. This is what’s worked for me and after years of trial and error I found a method that hasn’t caused me to gain weight, feel guilty or have me fall off track.

Most importantly I plan my cheat meal.
I used to do them once a week or once every 2 weeks and now since skin removals I have them once a month. i’ve had to be so strict with my nutrition and sodium intake because the salt causes me to swell and makes the pain that much harder and it takes days to get rid of the bloating and pain and truthfully it just isn’t worth it to me.
I always know my cheat meal ahead of time! That way when I get to the restaurant, I know what i’m going to order and that’s it.
If I want pizza, I know the amount of slices i’m eating. 2-3, and a huge salad.
For some reason I truly love colombian food as my cheat meal. Am I colombian? NOPE, but spanish food and mexican food are my favorite.
So I get to the restaurant and know what i’m getting, and since it’s been planned I don’t have any regret.

The whole day of my cheat meal I still stick to my meal prep and right back on it the next day. also the day of my cheat meal I drink an extra 64 oz water and the day after too...which helps for the sodium.
I also take detox by MOTIV8 to help with bloating.

Even though my cheat meal is once a month I will still retain water because it’s outside my normal eating habits!

If is so important you don’t deprive yourself.
IF YOU DO DEPRIVE YOURSELF, and you have a cheat meal it will lead to binge eating everything, and causes many people to fall off,

What people don’t realize is how important they are when done right. having a cheat meal shocks your metabolism and resetting it causes for it to be faster.

If you are truly consistent with healthy eating habits and have a cheat meal a week or a month, you will not gain weight.

I can’t stress this enough. YOU CANNOT OUTRUN YOUR FORK. The gym and working out is not punishment for what you ate. It’s possible long term to outwork bad eating habits. In fact, it’s extremely unhealthy.
Feel blessed that you are physically capable of exercising. Use that as motivation. If you are too tired to go workout today, think of those battling cancer and going through chemo treatments truly exhausted, but still making it to the gym to stay healthy.
Those recovering from Surgery.
Those with major physical limitations not making an excuse.
There has been days due to neck pain, surgery recovery, etc that I have not been able to be at the gym.
Then there’s most days where i’m fighting through pain just to get through my workout, still maintaining a positive attitude and a smile on my face. BECAUSE, being physically able to exercise is a blessing that some people don’t have.
I look at exercise this way... as something that at 400 pounds I didn’t see as important. I wasted years and years of my life being obese and unhappy. My outlet was FOOD. My outlet was other people. Venting to them. Eating bad food with them. Drinking with them. Not making the best life decisions with them.
Now i’m at this place where the gym is my escape from everything and anything that life throws at me. I DO NOT take it for granted. It’s where my anxiety is lowered, my mental health is strengthened and my physical health and pain is worked at. I Thank God everyday for the ability to be able to physically workout. Because like I said, there were days I couldn’t, and there will be days I won’t be able to.
The gym or exercise shouldn’t be an hour of sweat and punishment. And don’t use it as a tool to try and outwork bad nutrition. It’s a vicious cycle that always catches up to you.
If you are working out for the wrong reasons I can promise you that all it will do is make that relationship with good even more toxic and your hate for exercise stronger.
So my advice is...
find an exercise you love doing.
religious or not, spiritual or not, you should look up to some higher power and be fully appreciative you have legs and a body that is capable of exercise.
Dont not take advance of an ability you have that others may not.
And stop thinking of food as a reward for your workout. Change that vicious cycle

All you need is:
1 package of 1lb ground chicken
1 yellow, red, and orange pepper
And any veggies of choice
Seasoning wise, I only use DAKS SPICES (it’s the only seasoning line i’ve ever come across that has zero salt and is so full of flavor.
For this I used the ASIAN ZING one.

i sautéed it all together in a pan adding in the seasoning some while it was cooking and more as it was done and I was ready to serve.
Once it was all brown and amazing looking, I added spoonfuls over iceberg lettuce pieces.

To me, it was a 10/10. Not tooting my own horn but it was just that dang good.

Making a whole batch with ingredients was cheaper than what I would have gotten at a restaurant.

So amazed by the flavor.
If anyone is interested in trying daks...
they gave me a friends and family discount code.
ANNAMARIE saves you 10%.
website is daksspices.com

Love sharing my favorite recipes with you guys! i’m all about “eat according to your goals”...
So why not share something I think you would all love.