Grilled Cheese (2 Ways)

Testimony of the Day

“I am a health and wellness professional and am exposed to various diets and nutrition plans. Through my own research, personal trials or client experience, I have a strong understanding of how one can gain control of their weight and establish a healthy relationship with food. Of course, not one nutritional profile works for everyone and I highly advise individuals to do their own research and application to find what fits for their lifestyle and goals.

As a pro figure competitor, I have run the gamut when it comes to using nutrition in order to strip away body fat while preserving muscle mass. For many years, I followed the advice of most competition prep coaches—six to seven meals a day with a typical mix of lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats adding up to near 1800 calories. The first few times following this stringent clean eating plan, with an occasional ‘cheat’ meal, worked wonders as my body responded in an expected way. However, as I tried to maintain this lifestyle it became less and less effective. I always felt hungry and unsatisfied, I experienced cravings—mostly for sweets, and emotionally I wasn’t feeling my best.  Worst of all, I wasn’t seeing the results I desired while preparing for another competition.  I hit a plateau in my process that I couldn’t seem to get around resulting in a disappointing finish on show day.

After struggling for a few more months trying to continue this way of eating, I began to pay more attention to what Maria Emmerich was posting on social media and then borrowed a few of her books from a friend. I was skeptical at first, thinking her method was very extreme but realized I had nothing to lose at attempting ketosis. I transitioned away from my complex carbs (sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa) slowly, eliminating one serving at a time and introducing more fats (butter, coconut oil, etc.). Once the grains were completely eliminated, I began to notice a change. This change was not only physical but emotional. I felt more satisfied with my meals, a reduction in cravings and overall balance with my mood.

My body responded in a way that was better than ever before. I never felt deprived throughout my most recent competition prep and did not follow a typical deplete the week before the show. My strength only continued to improve throughout the process, whereas in the past it always decreased during this process. After all other competitions, the following days or weeks are difficult finding a balance with ‘treats’ and ‘normal’ eating. This last time around, I felt a strong sense of control and minimal urge to stray from the Maria way. I was happy and knew that I had found something I could maintain, not only for show prep but for life.

I still continue to model my nutrition after Maria’s recommendations and have maintained my figure with more stability and less fluctuation. I don’t often feel as though I am missing out on anything and know that including plenty of healthy fats in my diet, rather than a focus on complex carbs, has helped this change occur. I am able to maintain high energy and strength to fuel my day and my workouts using ketosis.

To me, after reading and researching Maria’s ketosis method, it makes complete sense and will not be turning back!” Sienna

To get started on your transformation, click HERE. http://mariamindbodyhealth.com/my-services/