Get Naked Friday – It All Starts With The Shopping Cart

Although it has been over a year, I remember my first day meeting with my personal trainer, Melissa.

I was scared, intimidated and certain that she was going to shove a strict diet down my throat.

Walking out of her gym that first day, however, I felt empowered, optimistic and ready.

The first day that I trained with her, she text me this picture.  This is a picture of her shopping cart at Costco.  Wow!  Talk about healthy!  Talk about inspiring.

My cart never looked like this.

She told me, “It all starts at the store.”

Ain’t that the truth!!!!  If I don’t have healthy easy choices in my fridge or pantry, things start to go south fast.

It all begins with what I put in my shopping cart.

Since that first day I met with her I think of this picture every time I go shopping.  I think, “What would Melissa say if she looked at what was in my shopping cart?”

Because of her infinite wisdom, I asked Melissa to give me a few shopping tips, that I could share with you, to help all of us make better choices at the grocery store.  

She says . . .

1. When shopping at the grocery store, try to remember that everything you need for a clean eating menu is on the outside walls of the store.  Going down the aisles for something other than toilet paper usually means processed food will end up in your cart.

2. If it lands in the cart, chances are it will land on the hips.   It’s much easier to avoid those tempting cravings at home if you don’t have the foods in the house.  So, bypass those items at the grocery store that you will regret eating later.

3. Always be sure to eat a healthy snack, high in fiber, before heading to the grocery store.  Shopping with a hungry belly can lead you to make some unnecessary purchases.

4. If you wouldn’t eat it, why buy it for the kids? So many times we say, “It’s for the kids.” When, in fact, the packaged snacks end up in our belly too.  Avoid the packaged snacks and fill your cart with veggies sticks, popcorn, trail mix, fruit and other healthy choices.

Though I definitely have my weaknesses, like the Meyer Lemon cookies I discovered yesterday at Trader Joe’s (just too good), I want to feel proud when I shop.  I want my trainer, my self and strangers in line behind me to think, “Wow, that is one healthy girl!”

Next time you are out at the grocery store, think of Melissa’s great tips and think about what her shopping cart looks like.  I guarantee it will motivate you to make good choices too!

Tammy

Married and Naked

Meet my amazing personal trainer, Melissa Delila Maher. She is a Certified Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Has an educational background in Kinesiology, specializes in Men and Women’s weight loss, Body sculpting, Children’s fitness programs and Prenatal-Postnatal training.

You can learn more about how to live a healthy lifestyle by following Melissa on Instagram @perfectionfitnessstudio

You can also check out her studio and subscribe to her monthly newsletter at  http://www.perfectionfitnessrc.com