I was recently involved with a dance audition that was grueling and competitive. The audition required me to have stamina and strength, yet be very lean. This means that I couldn’t just starve myself to lose weight. I had to lose weight in a way that wouldn’t disintegrate my muscles, so I had to feed my muscles with protein and good fats. I lost 7 pounds within a month (which for a girl who is 5’2 1/2″ is a lot!), and I was still eating 3 meals a day.
Quick Synopsis:
1. High Fat: I ate a diet that was high in SATURATED FATS. This includes: avocados, coconut oil (used for cooking with eggs, and stir fry), and almonds.
2. High protein: I ate hard boiled organic eggs, turkey jerky, scrambled eggs, white fish, salmon, turkey ground, skinless boneless organic chicken breast, grass-fed beef, and protein powders in smoothies.
3. High volume of vegetables: I put vegetables in my meals every chance I got. I stuffed spinach into my protein shakes, ate bowls of salads, put spinach and zuchini squash and asparagus in my stir fry, roasted vegetables, etc. I cooked and ate vegetables with coconut oil or I ate them raw in a salad or protein smoothie.
4. Very little fruit: I ate enough fruit to satisfy a sweet craving I had. For instance, I would have a plum after I ate my hard boiled eggs (because I hate the taste of hard boiled eggs!!). Or I would have a handful of blackberries or raspberries in my smoothie. Not too much!
5. Organic, Single Origin Coffee: I can’t live without coffee, so I had coffee everyday.
6. interval (anaerobic) training: My exercise routines consisted of intense pilates mat-work (check out my videos online), and cardio intervals, which would either include dance, sprints, or stairs.
