Page 37 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com || MOST FITNESS || 37see how it fits you. I do understand that not everybody can do it all at one time. My fianc%u00e9 currently went vegetarian and has been for almost a year now. I%u2019m so proud of him! I blog about being a vegan athlete and the different vegan meals you can put together easily and inexpensively on my website at JoyVilla.com. I think The Fit and Sexy Vegan will be a great addition to everyone%u2019s health regimen.MFM: Can you give us a list of 10 Vegan tips?1. Make sure you drink plenty of water with lemon, which will help cleanse your system along with food. Water is a vital energy source.2. Opt for green, leafy vegetables %u2013 the greener the better: kale, spinach, green leafy veggies will always fuel you with proper nutrition.3. Eat fruit as a snack. You could eat fruit and nut butters for a great carbohydrate loaded with protein and healthy fats. Eat unlimited amounts of fruit, green veggies, and nut butters, especially if cravings hit you as you%u2019re going vegan.4. Google restaurants in your area. Simply type in %u2018vegan food near me.%u2019 A lot of foods with Mediterranean, Thai, or Indian flavors are vegan and absolutely delicious. This is the trick I use when I travel. I always use Google to find vegan restaurants near my hotel or apartment, so that I%u2019m already prepared before a hunger panic sets in.5. Supplement your diet with green juices. Fruit and veggie juices are amazing sources of proteins, carbohydrates, iron, and nutrition. You can get a lot of minerals from your greens. Make a simple juice with apples, pineapple, spinach, lemon, and ginger to add nutrition and give you an instant boost of energy!6. Whenever you see vegan bars or kale chips or treats that will last outside refrigerator, buy a lot of them. One of my favorites is a Lenny and Larry%u2019s yummy protein cookie, which I%u2019ll keep one or two of in my purse. 7. Eat the rainbow. Don%u2019t just settle for potatoes and carrots or your usual green salad all the time. Eat a lot if you%u2019re transitioning from heavy starches and heavy carbohydrates and meats. You need to replace those calories with energy fortifying veggies, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrate grains, such as oats and brown rice.8. Be prepared for going out. Always look up the menus of any restaurants that you will meet friends at. Make sure they have vegan options for you or call ahead. Many restaurants will accommodate you if you are polite and very firm; be sure to stress that you cannot eat dairy! I usually say I%u2019m allergic to make sure that they don%u2019t sneak any cheese or butter into my food.9. Forgive yourself if you end up cheating or falling by the wayside. Many times on our fitness journey we give all or nothing, but the important thing is that you are working on it and making progress. Also, there are all kinds of great vegan cake and cookie substitutes, so you don%u2019t have to give up your favorite foods or sweets when you%u2019re vegan.10. Educate yourself. This is the most important thing I tell all my vegan clients and friends who are wishing to go vegan. You must read up on vegan foods and nutrition. You don%u2019t have to have a PhD in nutrition to be vegan, but knowing as much as you can about what foods will help or harm your body will definitely help. Be well prepared. I know the science behind what I need and how it helps my body. And I see the glow of my skin and the white of my teeth, so I know I%u2019m doing the right thing. Always stay strong with your ethical values and have fun being vegan. It%u2019s really a great lifestyle! Just be strong, be smart, and buy my upcoming e-book The Fit and Sexy Vegan.