I believe that getting in shape and staying fit is both a decision and a lifestyle. It’s difficult to live your best life when you are hauling around a lot of extra weight, not to mention the health risks involved. For this reason, striving to reach a healthy weight for your body type is a worthwhile goal and there is no better time to begin working towards that goal than today.

 Skinny vs. Healthy
For some, being skinny is the end goal and yes, it is quite possible to eat a diet of Twix, pretzels, grilled cheese, and pizza and stay skinny if your caloric intake is low enough. But the cost is great. I do not believe that sacrificing nutrition for the sake of weight loss is worth it. With so many health risks associated with a poor diet (heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes), your bone density, heart health, and bodily function is more important that your skinny jeans. Period. Furthermore, I believe that you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. Healthy eating and a healthy body actually work together.

 Shapin’ Up
We often look at slim figured people thinking “Well, clearly they have a fast metabolism!” or “They were sure lucky to be born with good genes.” While for some this is true, more often than not, slim people are slim because they work at it. I read an awesome quote the other day that stated “people who are leaner than you almost always have better eating habits than you do.” What a novel idea.

When it comes to getting in the shape you’ve always wanted, there is no shortcut. It’s all about cutting out the empty calorie junk and packing on the veggies and fresh fruit, lean protein, and whole grains. It’s about making friends with sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and dark leafy greens, learning how to cook squash and roast vegetables. Practicing the art of weekly produce shopping and healthy foods prep (think washing lettuce for salads, baking fiber-rich muffins for breakfasts, and air-popping popcorn for snacks.) Anyone can do these things, it just needs to be made a priority. We all have time for what is important to us. And I must say that few things feel better than fitting into your jeans, playing hard with your children, and feeling sexy for the love of your life.

 Grazing vs. 3 Square Meals
Everyone has a little different eating style on the continuum of all-day grazing and 3 square meals a day. I am definitely a snacker by nature. I prefer, hands down, grazing my way through the day over sitting down to a meal. This can be okay as long as the snacks are healthy and end up providing a proper balance of nutrients over the course of the day. However, for me, nutrition doesn’t just happen. If left to my own devices I will live off of cookies, cereal, and peanut butter toast. My moods, hormones, and cravings will probably throw some chocolate into the mix as well.

Because of this, I have found that planning out 3 square meals a day plus 2-3 small snacks keep my eating habits under control so that I know when and how much I am eating. This prevents me from “emotional eating”-eating when I am bored, stressed, and tired (you know rummaging through the kitchen searching for whatever tasty nibble strikes your fancy). Ultimately this plan helps me ward off those unwanted pounds and let’s me feel free to enjoy delicious food that makes me feel good. Another bonus is that when you do splurge, you can truly enjoy it. Your hot fudge sunday, sticky buns, or hamburger will taste that much better because there won’t be guilt involved, you will know that you can afford the treat and will return to your regular eating habits at your next meal.

 My Healthy Eating Goals

• Sit down to 3 regular meals.
• Plan in 2 healthy snacks between meals (e.g., an apple and string cheese between breakfast and lunch + greek yogurt with honey and cut up strawberries between lunch and dinner)
• Reserve desserts and junk food for special occasions and weekend gatherings.
• Fit in 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of veggies daily. (Go to mypyradmid.gov to get your own “MyPyramid Plan,” which will tell you your daily food group needs; focus on beefing up your daily intake of food groups you are short on.)

 Strategy

• Plan out weekly grocery shopping trips to stock up on fresh ingredients for healthy meals and snacks.
• Keep sweets and munchies out of the house.
• Drink plenty of water!
• Get optimum sleep (at least 8 hours for me)

Your game plan might look different than mine, but the point is that we all need one. For instance, perhaps you could care less about sugar, but love salty snacks or greasy French fries. Figure out what your “trigger foods” are and don’t tempt yourself by having them in the house.

This blog is here to help you live your best life as I aspire to live mine. Please use the contact page to share your healthy eating and fitness tips, as well as to ask questions. This blog is designed for you. 

Thank you for visiting!