I love to eat healthy and work out but- I also love McDonald's.

If you're anything like me, you enjoy eating healthy foods and staying active... but, you also enjoy it when you make the bad, regrettable decision to give into your relentless cravings and end up at one of the following: McDonald's, Taco Bell, Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A, or pretty much any fast food restaurant that is known for its' fried, greasy, painfully delicious foods. It's not like I eat fast food very often, but I definitely indulge in it more often than I should.

Now, I've always been a big believer in using the word "health" rather than "skinny." To be honest, I hate, hate, H-A-T-E it when I hear people say things like, "I just want to be skinny!" Or, when someone says, "Ugh, that girl is so skinny, it's so unfair." I consider myself to be a nice person, but when I hear girls use those phrases, it makes me want to slap them back to reality. We're all built differently, some skinny and some curvy, and we should embrace our natural figures rather than try to fight them.

This is really just a side note but I think it's an important one when discussing food and fitness. The point I'm trying to make is that "finding balance" doesn't necessarily mean finding a way to be a size 0 and still eat delicious food. It means finding a way to stay healthy and active, while still enjoying the foods you love so you don't feel deprived. I'm not claiming to be an expert by any means because, like many of you, I'm still trying to figure it out myself. I just want to share my own experience and some of what I've learned with you.

First of all, start your day by getting active:

I have a bad habit of hitting the snooze button more than once in the morning, so I don't always have time to get in a full workout routine before work. However, even if I only have enough time to run a quick mile, do a short set of jumping jacks or jump rope, or practice 15 minutes of yoga, I can tell you with certainty that it makes ALL the difference. It's okay if you have to save your full work out for a later time because you can't manage it in the AM, but you don't want to skip activity altogether. Trust me, if you're able to go for a quick run or walk or whatever it may be before you start your day, you'll feel so much more energized and motivated to eat healthy for the rest of the day.

Don't feel guilty when you do indulge, just try not to overdo it:

As I've gotten older, I've noticed the toll that certain foods take on my body. I've never had to worry about what I ate or how much I ate when I was younger because my metabolism always worked in my favor and it seemed impossible for me to gain any weight. Of course, that didn't last forever and now I have to find ways to manage my cravings for foods like cheeseburgers, potato skins, and mozzarella sticks. I think one of my biggest weaknesses is when the weekend comes around because if I eat healthy Monday through Friday, I look at the weekend as my reward. The problem with that mindset is it makes you feel like you can give into any indulgence you want for two days straight, which is not a healthy habit at all. If you want to have some donuts on Saturday morning, I say go for it, but then try to cook something on the healthy side for dinner that night. One trick that has been helping me a lot lately and one I've come to rely on is an oldie but goodie: cook and eat healthy foods disguised as junk foods. This could be spaghetti & meatballs with zucchini pasta, banana and egg pancakes, or lasagna made with zucchini. There are so many delicious, healthy recipes out there nowadays, the possibilities are endless. I love trying different ones because I love all different kinds of food, and the thought of eating only grilled chicken and veggies all week long to stay healthy makes me want to vomit. It's a great way to enjoy what you're eating and avoid the awful feeling of deprivation.

Don't let stress be the reason you give in:

Stress is my biggest weakness when it comes to unhealthy eating habits and late night snacking. I understand that an overwhelming amount of stress can make it difficult to stay motivated and some days it makes you want to give up altogether. I have had plenty of those days and they always lead to nights full of chocolate and cheese doodles. However, lately, I've been making a serious effort to view my stress as my motivator rather than my downfall. If I find myself stressing out over money, my relationship, my family, my career path, or whatever else is feeling out of control (honestly the list goes on and on), I start to think about what I do have control over. And, nine times out of ten, I realize that that's my current well-being. When I think about it in that sense, it gives me all of the motivation I need to put down the cheese doodles and start planning my healthy dinner recipe and workout routine for the next day. I know this is much easier said than done, but it's all about making progress at your own pace.

Finally, don't hate yourself if you end up at the drive-in...

Let's be honest, it's going to happen. We all have days that beat us down so badly we end up relying on that quick drive-thru run to give us hope again. When I hear people say that they are "completely grossed out by fast food," I can't quite tell if I envy them or if I feel sorry for them. I mean, what's a life without a big mac every once in a while? It just doesn't make any sense to me... Anyhow, it's going to happen and it's okay if it happens, as long as it is only ONCE in a blue moon.

Overall, it's important to remember that we are all different, so we are all going to find balance in different ways. You need to experiment with different foods, workouts, and focus on your own end goals. Eventually, you are going to find a balance that works for you and hopefully it will make you feel as healthy, energized, and confident as ever.