Melissa Paris Fitness

Welcome to week one!

Briefly though, before we start talking about forever, let us all commit to the present, and least thirty days of change, however minute it might be. By joining this challenge group you will receive the building blocks to construct the best version of yourself, and we are here to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Sustainability, and convenience are two words that might not be synonymous with weight loss and health gains. In fact, they seem to be the great white unicorn on the path to a permanent lifestyle change. With this challenge, we are hoping to give you insight that will bestow upon you the knowledge that not only is a healthy lifestyle easily attainable, but equally sustainable. Ultimately, isn’t that the dream for most of us? Quick weight loss is not exceptionally difficult, and the Internet is overrun with ways to attain the aforementioned quick fix; so before we begin this, it is imperative to point out that this is a challenge for your health, and as such, there are simply a few “rules” we ask you to be mindful of.

1. Alcohol As useful as this adult pacifier is at times, it is in fact, not as necessary as we would deem it to be. And no matter how much you try to justify it, that glass does not count as your serving of grapes. The magical adult elixir that is alcohol has it’s place in life, to be sure, but unfortunately it is not in the next thirty days.

2. Packaged and Processed Food- This is quite simple. If the food coming out of a package is ready to eat, its not quite right. Eating plants? A definite yes. Eating things that came out of a processing plant? A definite no. If the food has a longer expiration date than your family pet, toss it in the garbage.

3. Sugar Substitutes and Artificial Sweeteners- Even though this falls under the above mentioned, it is worth mentioning again. Do whatever it takes to turn yourself off your daily Splenda fix. Convince yourself it is crack cocaine. You’ve just poured cocaine into your coffee. That police siren you hear? They know. And they’re coming.

4.Dairy - This is more of a guideline than it is a hard and fast rule, as you’ll see it pop up in several recipes. We’re not asking you to permanently give up your favorite noche, but do try your best to avoid the cheese platter at cocktail parties, and step away from Ben and Jerry. They are not your friends.

Some tips to make your life easier as you get started:

1. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. All that is evil dwells in the aisles. Seriously though. If you avoid the seduction lurking within, you would be amazed how much easier this whole process becomes. Set yourself up for success. Oscar Wilde said it best, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it”. Unless of course, we cheat the whole system and don’t allow ourselves to be tempted in the first place.

2. Familiarize yourself with hot sauces, salsas, and truly natural sweeteners. Learn them, love them, pile them on. Go for the most organic, freshest ingredients, usually located in the refrigerated section near the vegetables you will be eating in abundance.

3. Prep your food in advance. Set yourself up for success. Everything mentioned on this menu will keep quite well for up to three days in a refrigerator. You may curse my name as you dice, chop, and sautee, but after a long day of work, children, and workouts, you will be glad to grab a fork and your tupperware. Though you may look longingly at your liquified adult grapes, do not be seduced. You were prepared for the seduction, and so you will triumph.

4. Invest in the proper tools. This may seem unnecessary, but it will make your newfound journey to health exponentially easier, and far less time consuming. We stress again here, sustainability is key. No one wants to be digging frozen chunks of fruit out of a blender’s blades before they have had their morning coffee (sans Splenda, but you already knew that). I cannot, cannot, recommend the Nutribullet enough. It will blend your greens seamlessly into your morning smoothies, and cleaning is virtually a breeze. Bed, Bath and Beyond is almost always luring customers in with 20% off coupons, so run, don’t walk. Julienned zucchini will change your life, but a spiralizer is not necessary. (Fabulous, but not necessary). A mandolin will do just fine.

So, we ask you- challenge accepted?

* please note *
Be aware that before embarking on any fitness or nutrition journey it is in your best interest to consult a physician to ensure you are equipped to handle the above challenge. These recommendations, though endorsed by a nutritionist, are not meant to be a substitute for a personalized analysis of individual health. Ingredients in this challenge include, but are not limited to, common allergens such as wheat, soy, egg, and fruit. Adjust accordingly.

Melissa Paris is currently five months pregnant and under the supervision of professionals. If you yourself are pregnant, we ask that you please consult your doctor before undertaking dietary changes and additional exercise.