Stop the Bloat for Good!

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Many of us women, and a few men, have a serious problem with bloating. Not only is it a death nail for those bikini and scale goals, it can be just plain uncomfortable. Bloating also tends to pop up at the most importune moments- say, that vacation in the Bahamas that you have been diligently dieting for since way earlier than bikinis were weather appropriate. 

Bloating is one of my biggest diet problems. So much so, that my scale can change five pounds due to water weight. That is, until recently. A few weeks ago I noticed a big difference between the days/weeks that I took my vitamins and the days/weeks that I did not. It may seem like a vain reason to take your vitamins, but turns out, vitamins reduce bloating! That's right, taking your vitamins will not only improve your health, it will also reduce that pesky bloat. 

Now, I am sure many are asking what vitamins to take, how often, and if that is really all you have to do? Right?? Well, let's get into it!

What Vitamins to Take

The vitamins you take will make a big difference to the results you see. I take (and swear by) all Nutrilite vitamins because they are 100% organic, been around for 70+ years, have never had a recall, and have extremely high check and balances. All of this means they are a bit pricey, but you are actually getting the nutrients you pay for with no fillers. That is worth it for me! 

As for what vitamins I take, there are a few. The biggest difference will come from a good multivitamin, a fish oil, a probiotic, and an extended release vitamin C. These do the biggest job for me in removing that bloat and it is what I would highly recommend to anyone with that same issue.

Why an extended release vitamin C, you ask? Fantastic question! Turns out, the one vitamin our bodies cannot make or store is that necessary vitamin C. This means that if we take a vitamin C that just shoots straight into our system, most will go out as waste. We are, literally, wasting our money away. An extended release will make sure that only a small amount of vitamin C is released into the body over a 12-hour period. Making you and your wallet a bit healthier! 

Side note: I would also recommend looking into where your fish oil comes from. Most fish oils from salmon farming are causing  massive ecological damage and should be avoided. As weird as it sounds, the fish oil I take is from calamari- something that, when farmed, does not harm our environment! 

When to Take Your Vitamins

Morning, noon, and night. That is the easiest answer to the question. Take your vitamins with meals whenever possible. There are few vitamins (vitamin D being the only one that comes to mind) that should not be taken in large quantities since it can cause internal damage. 

If you are not able, or wanting, to take vitamins this many times a day (oh boy do I hear you- all those plants mushed up making them taste NOT GREAT), try taking them in the morning with your breakfast and at night with your dinner. Morning really seems to make the biggest difference for me. Just be sure you eat your breakfast before taking your vitamins. Vitamins on an empty stomach can be just about the worst thing ever! 

One More Thing

There is one more thing that you should be doing along with taking those vitamins and it is probably exactly what you are thinking. Drink water. When vitamins are breaking down, they absorb ALOT of water for the process. In order to keep your body hydrated, you should be drinking about 80-160 ounces of water a day. Honestly, eighty ounces of water is on the very low side and probably about the minimum for anyone who has grown past puberty. We just need more fluids than that! 

100 ounces is my daily mile-maker and what makes me feel energized, keeps my skin healthy, and keeps that bloat down. Of course, not eating tons of dairy, fried foods, and salty snacks also helps wit that whole reduced bloating thing ;)

These simple little changes have made my scale seem a bit less bipolar and kept my tum in check. If budget is an issue, start with a simple multivitamin that will give your your daily needs, and go from there. If Nutrilite is not an option, just be sure you are checking what is in your vitamins and reading the small print. And please let me know if this little tip helps you as much as it has helped me! 

What other tips do you have to stop that pesky bloat? 

Weighing In

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Since we are all friends here, I decided to be pretty honest about something... Summers can be a bit fickle for me in the gaining weight department, especially since we are up in Michigan where sweatshirts and booties are my daily uniform. This year was no different and I found myself eating, eating, and eating some more. I am not one to eat on a schedule; at home I eat when I am hungry and don't when not. Up in Michigan things are a bit different since meals are scheduled and I do not always make my way down to them. For this reason I find myself eating 2-3 of each meal and not the most healthy of things either. There is also TONS of midnight snacking and eating right before going to bed. The worst. 

When we got home I put myself on a scale for the first time in two months and was SHOCKED. This body of mine had somehow found a way to pack on ten extra pounds in 2-months time. Yikes. Although I am super happy that two of those pounds are muscle from all my intense Michigan workouts, the other 8-lb's were a bit of a shock. I am a big supporter of weight being but a number and the way you feel being most important, but have personally been feeling a bit bigger and clothing that I usually love is not zipping up so well.

So many of us go through these weight yoyo's and it just made sense to share mine with you. Sometimes we see people we think are super fit and healthy or have it all together, but the fact is, all of us have issues. Right now, my issue is losing those extra pounds that seemed to glue themselves to me over the summer.

The hubs recommended that I try a low-carb lifestyle for a while since he knows my addiction to bread and the whole thing about it not being great for me (I could, and have, eaten an entire loaf of bread in one sitting- it is just so good!). It is actually going very well and he is being super good about not having breads or super carby snacks in the house. Things are much easier not to eat when they are not available :)

So far, I have lost two of those pounds and these are a few of the things that have helped me do it...

• A low-carb diet that has plenty of fruits, veggies, and lots of protein!
• Snacking. My stomach seems bottomless now and I feel like I could eat an entire buffet's worth of food in one sitting. Snacking keeps me satisfied better than big meals that turn my stomach into a black hole of calories.
• Hot Yoga. This is something my body has very obviously been missing. It raises my heart rate, burns fat, and keeps my mind at peace... Everything I love in a workout!
• Drinking coffee black. So long yummy creamers filled with carbs, you weren't that great anyway.
• No more splurge days. This has probably made the biggest difference. I use to have one splurge day a week but could never remember when the last one was or would go out with friends a day after the splurge and end up having way more splurging than healthy eating on a weekly basis. Now, I am eating healthier by just keeping a healthy diet in mind and avoiding not-so-great things. If I want something unhealthy, it is not held off for a week, but instead, eaten in small quantities.

What are some of your tips and tricks to staying healthy or loosing some extra weight? I would love to know any suggestions you have and may even create a post or two about all your fantastic ideas! Any of your favorite calorie burning workouts would also be super appreciated since trying new workouts are, pretty much, the best thing ever!

Happy Friday friends, I hope your weekend is simply wonderful! Be sure to check out my workout sum-up this Sunday as well :)