I’ve gotten several requests to do a post covering some of my healthy eating tips. Most of you guys know that general wellness is a really big and important part of my life, and it has been for several years!
I’ve been hesitant to do this post, mainly because:
- I am not a nutritionist, therefore take everything with a grain of salt. If there are specific health issues you’re looking to solve, talk to your doctor!
- Everyone is different, and what works for me/makes me feel good may be different for you.
- I AM NOT PERFECT! I eat pizza! And chocolate (almost every day)!
That being said, before I get into some of my tips to live a healthy(er) lifestyle, I want to challenge you to STOP thinking about weight loss if that’s why you’re reading this. If your resolution for 2019 has anything to do with a number on a scale, reevaluate it. Hell, if you’re ballsy enough, just GET RID OF THE SCALE for 2019!
Why? Because you are not defined by your weight. Because the way you FEEL is so much more important than how much you weigh. I’ll share a quote from a book I read recently called “Health at Every Size” (which I highly recommend, btw) that really struck a chord with me:
“Many of us have a disturbing preoccupation with food and an intense fear of being fat. Instead of eating for enjoyment and fuel, we regard food as our enemy, as a test of our resolve and willpower– and even moral superiority. Instead of moving for the sheer joy of feeling our bodies and our power, we view exercise as a workout, our penance for eating or weighing too much. Instead of putting our energy into thinking about how we can improve the world, we obsess about how we can change our bodies.”
Try to reframe your health goals to be about YOU, not your weight. I guarantee the second you take the scale out of the equation and truly focus on the way your body feels, the journey to a healthier lifestyle will become so much more enjoyable and rewarding!
Instead of focusing on losing, try to focus on what you might gain! A boost in your self confidence, better sleep, less mood swings, more productivity, less irritability…the list goes on! Whatever your health resolution may be, make sure it’s about YOU, feeling good in your own skin, and adding more self love and acceptance.
Now let me share some of the things I typically do to help me stay on track with keeping my body feeling good! Read on…Papa John is involved.
- WATER! Nothing is more important than staying hydrated. The benefits are endless. I bring my 32 oz. Hydroflask with me everywhere I go. I personally make it a daily goal to try to drink four of them (which is a gallon!)
- Educate yourself on how your blood sugar works, and how to keep it in balance. I highly recommend reading the book Body Love by Kelly Leveque. It really opened my eyes to what I was missing in my diet to keep my glucose levels in balance. If you are someone that always needs a snack between meals, or always experiences an afternoon crash, you might want to read her book! She stresses the importance of what she calls the “fab four” at every meal: protein, fat, fiber and leafy greens. The book also has tons of really great recipes as well!
- Always keep your fridge stocked! I go to the grocery like 5x a week. Kidding…kind of. They know me at Giant Eagle. I always try to keep lots of fruits, veggies, hard-boiled eggs, and hummus in our fridge so that when we need a snack, we have the option to grab a smart choice, instead of potato chips or a cookie. I like to keep a big gallon-size Ziploc bag of cut up veggies in there at all times– I’ll use carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, etc. If I have them cut up, I’m way more likely to actually eat them.
- Eat a smart breakfast! This will set you up to make good decisions the rest of the day, and will also prevent you from getting overly hungry once you’re thrown into the craziness of your work day. I typically make a protein smoothie for breakfast and it keeps me full until lunch. I usually use spinach, 1/4 avocado, chocolate protein powder, collagen peptides, chia seeds, inulin powder (fiber), nut milk and ice. Also, try not to load your morning coffee with a ton of sugar. Instead, use a clean nut milk (I usually use Calia Farms almond milk) or Nut Pods.
- Think ahead. Pack a lunch the night before so you’re not in a position to eat out for lunch every day, or eat the leftover office donuts for lunch. If I know I’m going to be out running around all day, I’ll bring some wholesome snacks with me to make sure I still eat, but am not tempted to run through Wendy’s because I’m about to eat my arm off. A few of my on-the-go snacks lately have been hardboiled eggs, Epic siracha chicken jerky, an apple or banana with an almond butter packet, a handful of trail-mix or almonds, or RX bars.
- Try to eat something green every day! If you’re someone that hates green things or is afraid of them like my son, try adding a handful of spinach to a smoothie. YOU CANNOT TASTE IT, I promise. You can also try something like Amazing Grass products— it’s green superfood powder that you just stir into a glass of water and it’s delicious!
- Avoid alcohol as much as possible. This one is a struggle for me because I loovvveee red wine, and I also want to have a social life. But when I don’t drink any the night before, my sleep is better and I feel so much less foggy/more energized to tackle the day. I try to limit drinking to the weekends and avoid it during the week…but…sometimes I fail, ha. I’ve also started to try different things to help me wind down at night instead of drinking wine– I love peppermint tea, Natural Calm magnesium powder, and I just started trying CBD oil. Will let you guys know how that works for me!
- Make it a goal to sweat a few times a week. It doesn’t have to be some ridiculous hour-long hardcore workout! Just get your blood pumping and get some endorphins pumping through your bod. You’ll never regret it! Running and exercising is truly a mental health practice for me. It is something that really helps me with keeping my anxiety at bay, and is like my own therapy. It’s also crazy how creative I am when I am in the zone on a run– I am constantly thinking and brainstorming! When I was still working, I’d do my best prep for a presentation when I was out running. Something about the silence and the time alone with nothing but your thoughts can be so therapeutic. That’s just what works for me! I know some people hate to run, which I understand. Try going to a class if you’re bored with your typical routine or you’re feeling unmotivated or intimidated.
- Take a probiotic. It will help to keep your digestive tract in check, and keep you “regular.” A lot of people I know also swear it has helped them tremendously to fight bloating and clear up their skin!
- Learn to listen to your body. Once I started to do this, I started to feel so much more in balance in every aspect of my life. Try to get in tune with it by paying attention to the things you’re eating and the way they make you feel. Some say the best way of doing this is to try an elimination diet (something like Whole30). You eliminate several food groups that typically cause people problems (sugar, grains/gluten, alcohol, diary, legumes, soy) for 30 days. The idea is that you cleanse your body of these things, and then slowly reintroduce them to see how they affect your body. Something this drastic is not for everyone, but doing it really opened my eyes to certain things I have sensitivities to. I now try to avoid dairy and grains because I realized they really screw with my digestive system, and I probably wouldn’t have realized that not having done Whole30.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s all about balance and moderation! I eat chocolate every single night because I want it and I love it. Why tell myself I can’t have it? Because it’s “bad”? No! It makes me happy and I enjoy it. Do I eat an entire candy bar? No, I eat a few pieces and I’m satisfied. On Friday night when I am worn out and don’t feel like cooking, do I order Papa John’s? Yes. Do I eat 6 pieces? No. I’ve learned to find a balance. Maybe I have 2 pieces, and then a big salad on the side so I’m full. Or maybe I’ll homemake a healthier version of pizza when I’m craving it, like using Simple Mills crust and lots of veggies. Don’t avoid your cravings, or tell yourself you “can’t have” something. That will just lead to you feeling deprived and might cause you to want to binge eventually. Everything in moderation!
No matter what your New Year’s resolution might be, I hope that it’s something that will make you a better version of yourself! Always remember, no “diet” or pill will ever make you more ENOUGH than you already are.
<3
