Skinny Girls With Fat Genes Can Enjoy Mexican Food Too

Writing With A View!

     Wouldn’t it be great to look out as this view to write everyday?  Well, this view was my privilege last week, and this post has been in the works all week.  Unfortunately, I never could get past the title!  The view was so beautifully breath taking, and there was such a cool, pleasant breeze everyday, that I was way too distracted to write.  So I guess while a view like this is a wonderful luxury, it would not be conducive to productivity, for me anyway.-:)

    My family, along with my niece’s family, vacationed in Destin, Florida last week.  We had so much fun, and the weather was perfect!  I have vacationed on many beaches including Hawaii, Mexico, and The Bahamas to name a few.  No where have I ever enjoyed such beautiful beaches as Destin has to offer.  The sand is literally like sugar, and the emerald waters are crystal clear, cool and clean.  I will be including highlights from our trip via pictures throughout this post.

Sweet Cousins!

Cousins!

    This trip was all about cousin bonding.  Boy did they have a lot of fun!  The giggling was abundant, smiles plentiful, and 24/7 entertainment was in full force!

    Now on to FOOD.  I love Mexican Food.  Growing up in Texas, how could I not love Mexican food?  It is everywhere, and it is sooo good!  I also love family traditions.  One of my family’s traditions is every Friday night during the school year, we go to the same Mexican Restaurant here in Birmingham, Cocina Superior.  It is as close to Texas Mexican Food as I can get.

    There is a myth floating around out there that skinny girls can’t enjoy Mexican food.  Well, that is simply not true!  You just have to know what to order, and exercise some moderation.  If you are having an all out cheat day, ENJOY!  I can almost bet with certainty that you are gonna leave feeling miserable, though.  Since I like to eat Mexican Food so much, I had to figure out ways to enjoy it while making it more figure friendly for a skinny girl with fat genes.

    Here is my “Go to Mexican Food Routine.”  No chips!  Sorry ladies and gentlemen.  I know they are good, crunchy and salty.  They make you feel so good while you are eating them, but all the while all that salt, sugar and flour is bloating your belly and expanding your waistline.  Sometimes, I will give in and have a few chip (2 or 3) but I do mean a few!  My husband makes fun of me, but here is my compromise.  I love the salsa, too.  Salsa is actually very healthy and good for you.  I politely ask for a spoon and my own bowl of salsa, and I eat it with a spoon.  I am every bit satisfied and I am not going to leave feeling miserable!  Call it weird if you want, but finding what works is a big key to success in anything.

    Next, I have my meal down to a science too.  I always order chicken fajitas.  Sure, I could order a salad, and have on occasion, but who wants to eat salad at a Mexican Food Restaurant?  This girl sure doesn’t!  I ask for my chicken fajitas prepared with no butter-make sure they understand that, even if you have to repeat it several times.  Also, no rice and skip the tortillas.  NO TORTILLAS, I know!  That is no fun, but honestly, compare how you feel after eating them to how you feel not eating them.   I think you will see the trade off is a good one.  I get a plate and top my chicken with the grilled onions and peppers, (love them!), lettuce, beans, shredded cheese, (go light here), salsa, a little guacamole and tomatoes.  I cut it up and enjoy it and I never feel deprived or unsatisfied.  This allows me to leave feeling full, but not greasy, bloated and uncomfortable.  Oh, one more thing…do yourself a favor and skip the margaritas.  I usually opt for water or un-sweet tea, but if I must have alcohol, I go with a low calorie beer.

    Occasionally friends, go enjoy Mexican your way, but really pay attention to how you feel afterwards.  Then try it my way and compare how you feel.  I promise once you feel the difference, and see it on the scale, you will look at this as a good thing-not deprivation.

    One of the biggest parts of being successful at loosing weight is being able to eat the foods you love in a way that is going to still help you achieve your goal.  Don’t think you have to give up good food to be thin.  Don’t think you have to go hungry or never eat out to be thin.  Think how you can be creative and have what you love along with the benefit of feeling good and getting healthy.  It is all possible, you just have to get creative!  Are there some things you have to give up-YES!  After going without them, however, you will discover that you feel so much better that you really don’t miss them at all-I promise!

    I would love to hear from you about how you take your favorite foods and restaurants and get creative for the purpose of healthy eating.  Share your ideas friends!

    Until next time, here’s to kicking those fat genes to the curb in favor of clean, satisfying and healthy eating!  Go enjoy you some Mexican Food this week.  Just remember the SGFG, (skinny girl fat genes), way!

You will be jumping for joy because you feel so good!