Happily Flawed Blog

Fitness update #8 : Nutrient dense food adventures and eliminating empty calories

Sunday, 9 March 2025

a black woman with pink hair making a smoothie

This time, I think something has finally clicked. I've been sharing my fitness journey for quite a while, which has primarily revolved around stubborn weight gain.

For breakfast, I've been having smoothie bowls and incorporating high fiber foods throughout the day while eliminating empty calories whenever possible. I'm also still committed to a no-alcohol lifestyle, allowing myself a drink only once every couple of months.

During the first two weeks, I felt extremely bloated—like BLOOOOOOOOAAATED. I decided to stick with it and thankfully I noticed something significant: I no longer had sugar cravings, and I didn't experience energy dips between meals. A snacker is what I thought I was, but it turns out I was just hungry for nutrients.

Early February, I bought myself a blender because I wanted to return to my daily habit of juicing vegetables and fruits. However, I had heard that juicing removes all the fiber, so blending seemed like a better option.

To tackle the bloating, I've been drinking mint and fennel tea, which works really well. I also did some research on TikTok and discovered terms like "satiated" (thanks Abbey) and "nutrient-dense." I learned that eating empty calories and ultra-processed foods spikes insulin, which prevents the body from burning fat during that period. Now, I make it a point to eat my vegetables first and aim for whole grain carbohydrates.

I have stopped buying my weekly Burger King and McDonalds. I even baked myself some whole grain carrot and banana muffins! When I do have processed food. I eat my vegetables and protein first, as I hear this reduces glucose spikes.

I feel good—less lethargic and less tired. I have balanced and consistent energy.

Let's hope this works. Stay tuned!

What about you? How's your journey going? In the comments drop me a line.

( Just a quick note—this blog post is based on my personal experience and isn’t meant to be a recommendation. I'm not a doctor, just someone sharing.)

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