By Reynaldo Mena
For Tatiana Pacheco, entrepreneur and owner of Andrea’s Healthy Kitchen, there are no valid excuses. If you want to lead a healthier life, it’s all about embracing it as a lifestyle.
“It’s mostly mental. The physical aspect is a reflection of your thoughts. If your thoughts are positive, you’ll see a balance in your life that will be reflected in your body,” says Tatiana Pacheco.
She herself has achieved a significant transformation that has yielded the benefit of a more productive and healthier life.
“I used to drink a lot of beer and my eating habits weren’t the best. I like sweet bread and tacos and all that food. I had to balance my life, I don’t exclude them, but I try to keep them in check,” says this businesswoman.
For instance, Tatiana Pacheco tries not to eat after 6 p.m., eats a light breakfast, and balances her lunch.
“On the weekends, if I have an event, I try to eat some protein during the day to balance what I will be consumming that night at the social event. A balanced meal should have– protein, carbohydrates. If we commit to that balance, it will become a habit in four weeks. We won’t feel the old diet anymore,” she says.
She mentions that before, due to the inconvenience of finding food that satisfied her needs, she had to carry a lunchbox.
“People used to see me as weird. Well, that’s gone now. I don’t need a lunchbox,” she says.
For people prone to cravings, she recommends drinking plenty of water and eating small portions of the craving.
“I love tacos. I eat them, I don’t exclude them, but I have them once a week, not daily. I also love bread and enjoy snacks a lot. To avoid them, I prefer not to go to the local markets, my mom takes care of that,” she adds.
“Many times, we confuse hunger with cravings,” she says.
She also recommends a workout routine of at least 45 minutes.
“It works very well for me. That’s my time; I have a busy day, and I know those 45 minutes are mine. It’s good for my mental health as well,” she adds.
She shares that she also has her tough moments, where pressures and stress get to her.
“And that’s okay, you don’t have to avoid them. What’s not okay is trying to solve them by eating, that’s the preferred excuse,” she says.
She mentions that money is not an excuse either.
“Imagine, if you stop eating meat, you spend less money. Vegetables are very affordable in supermarkets. Eating healthy is inexpensive,” she adds.
TATIANA’S THREE RULES
1.Make it a lifestyle, not just a diet.
2.Focus on solutions, not problems.
3.Ask yourself how much you love yourself. If you want to change, you’ll change. If not, you never will.
Tatania Pacheco “If you have a dream, you should not give up, that is not an option.”
