Let’s be honest!
Living a healthy lifestyle can be a real struggle.
Telling yourself you will start eating healthy this week, getting your gym gear ready for a fitness transformation, signing up at the gym, shopping for a basket full of veggies/fruits/green/tea/wheat etc…
Fast forward a week later…you are back to eating all the processed foods, soda, fried snacks, late night snacks and seeking comfort in the words -“I will start again next week”.
You can relate to this huh?!
Like a broken record, I never cease to reiterate to my clients that “Healthy lifestyle can only be achieved if you are ready to make CONSCIOUS efforts and sacrifices”. Emphasis on conscious.
From birth to our current state, we pick up certain food habits from family, friends, social media, television etc – what we eat, how much we eat, cooking methods etc.
Unfortunately many of these habits cannot necessarily be classified as “healthy”.
We eat what is available, easy to reach, appealing to the eyes and savory to the tongue – not for a second do we stop to analyze what we are putting into our bodies.
Will it provide health or cause illness?
Conscious eating is a sure way to achieve health – be mindful of what you are eating, question yourself before eating, know the exact quantity your body needs and stick to the right times of fueling your body.
It is inspiring to know that at the end of the 30 days “Junk Free October” challenge, participants who previously ate for comfort or ate anything available can now comfortably decipher between healthy and unhealthy choices as well following a healthy lifestyle routine till sun down.
How did they achieve this? I will tell you.
“Junk free October” was a healthy lifestyle challenge initialized by Avery’s bio company- An online organic shop based in Ghana with the aim of helping people live healthier lifestyles. It was an easy and practical way of avoiding unhealthy junk foods and conveniently replacing them with healthy alternatives.
The rule of the challenge was simple and quite straight forward.
NO EATING OF JUNK FOOD FOR 30DAYS STRAIGHT.
Junk food is food high in calories but low in nutrients. Soda, chips, sweets, low fiber pastries, fried snacks, low fiber carbohydrates were all qualified as junk food during this challenge.
In all, 48 participants signed up, with their personal dietary goals and fitness targets the for the 30 days period. This challenge was not designed for overweight persons only, it was opened to all who wanted to start or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
For more accurate results, Avery’s Bio partnered with RDSALI for professional dietary guidance for participants of the challenge. Participants were each provided with meal plans based on their individual body composition and respective ages.
In just 30days the participants had unbelievable changes that blew our minds. Just 30days of simply avoiding unhealthy snacks and sticking to a diet plan, a very simple step anyone can take.
Most of the participants expected a detox, feeling lighter, better looking skin or Stronger immune system etc . but to the surprise of those who followed the diet plan and exercise routine to the letter….they loss up to 7kg in just a month.
This could have been your story! BUT….you did not sign up!
Meal from RdSali meal plan :Vegetables & Tuna
Waakye with vegetable sauce + salad
Boiled potatoes with sauteed vegetables
A support group platform was also created to aid participants through the journey. On this platform we shared how our days went, temptations encountered, victories, weekly weight changes and so on.
Support is also very vital during such journeys, you need someone/people you can identify with – who share your vision/aim, understand your struggles and are ready to journey with you.With such a support system you are assured of reaching your goals because you have someone to pull you up when you down, encourage you to push harder and share their tips/tricks with you.
Below are some exciting and inspiring testimonies from past participants.
Fosuah in her kente dress – she loss 6kg in 4 weeks
“Before junk free October, I was a size 12 in jeans and now size 12 is loose on me. I made this kente dress about 8yrs ago and it did not fit me anymore but now it fits perfectly. I followed our RdSali diet plan strictly and exercised regularly thanks to everyone for helping me get back in shape. I’m still in the challenge though it’s over, my target is size 10 and I know I will get there with all the new knowledge I have acquired”
…….. Fosuah
“I took the decision to go on a weight loss journey a week before this junk free October challenge. This challenge has helped me a lot in my weight loss journey. Even though I couldn’t follow the meal plan strictly, it gave me an idea of foods to eat and how to portion them. I exercised 3times a day for an hour and half to 2 hours after work. I include more vegetables and fruits in my diet now. In fact when I see junk food now….I just look elsewhere. Thank you Avery, Sali and Coach. This is not the end of the journey. With hard work, determination and persistence I can achieve my goals”
……..Dadylina
“I started out late but still managed to catch up and follow. Thanks to the RdSali diet plan and exercises from our coach. I was able to achieve some personal goals, one which was to lose a few inches around my waist and another to stay alert of certain foods I take in by keeping a fitness journal. I owe it to you all Sali, Avery and coach Clifford for the encouragement and time taken out of your busy schedules to help us. Thank you so much”
………Sasha
