1.Figure out what your body reacts to

My weight fluctuates pretty quickly. When I eat lots of sugar my body will tell me by acne flaring up and sluggish energy. When I eat greens my body tells me by detoxing my intestines internally. When I drink water my body tells me because I have more energy, less bloating, and my skin is a lot happier. When I eat carbs i see it instantly in my cheeks. Listen to your body. Take pictures of what you’re eating so you remember what made you felt good and what really didn’t. 

2. Get into a routine

Figure out a schedule the more routinely you live your life the happier your body is. Just like babies we put them on a schedule so their bodies get used to that and provide them with the proper energy they need for the day. Humans work better with consistency. I try to eat around the same time every day and sleep around the same time every night (midterms has been messing me up a little bit). 

3. You can treat yourself

Give yourself cheat items like pizza or a cookie that you can eat after a hard workout. You don’t need to deprive yourself of all things good in the world but know that you need to work hard to get things you like. My cheat items have recently been cookies but before it was Kettle Cooked Lays Jalapeño chips.

4. Find what things you like.

Some things I have found to actually like are brussels sprouts, green beans, broccoli, chickpeas and spinach. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT DONT EAT IT. I don’t like celery, carrots (*gag*). Just try more foods and figure out what makes you feel good. 

Same thing goes for working out. I am not a fan of running, but I have recently been going to a cycling class. I like it enough that every Tuesday night I’m there and I always feel good after I go. There are plenty of things to do, just open your mind up to the possibilities. 

5. Drink water 

The stuff of life. Drink it. Drink it a lot.

6. Eat smaller portions

This is pretty hard for me when I’m stressed but something my mom taught was to use smaller bowls. You feel like you’ve eaten a lot because you eat everything on your plate/bowl, but in reality they are smaller portions.

7. Change takes time

If you work out consistently and are eating consistently healthy then you should see results soon but not immediately. Every time you go to the gym or choose the healthier option, you are making change.

8. Know that if you treat your body right you’ll start to feel more confident 

Life is not about being smaller but about being healthy. If you’re like me, that’s a big realization that will change your perspective. I wanted to be healthier as opposed to being skinny. That’s why when I’m eating things that are healthier and they are still things that I enjoy and not things that I am forcing myself to do for the sake of my appearance, it’s easier to do. 

College is a hard place to be healthy with a lot of temptation around. Stay disciplined, but stay happy

JLee