Like most college students, I am a fan of saving as much money as possible and enjoying every slice of pizza available in the closest vicinity. I never had to work out or diet as a teen, I persuaded myself that my metabolism was invincible and that I better eat all of the cheeseburgers I could before I got old and chunky. Little did I know that no matter how fast your metabolism is, eating junk food at every whim will inevitably pack on the pounds, cause breakouts and make you feel sluggish. Last semester I was so guilty of grabbing a quesorito for lunch or ordering Domino's any chance I got. When I came home for Christmas break, I was shocked to see that I had gained so much weight. I decided that second semester I was going to turn my life around and get a handle on my nutrition and fitness goals.
I know what you're thinking, "Ugh healthy food means like kale chips and plain squash," but I promise it's totally doable. Once you realize that food is fuel for your body, you become aware of what you put into it. If all you feed yourself is a combination of Goldfish crackers, Oreos or Jimmy John's, your body will not be functioning at it's maximum. Surprisingly, healthy food is relatively cheap compared to spending $15 everyday at on-campus restaurants. It's very easy to fall into what I call "the convenience trap." Especially if you live in a dorm like me, it's tempting to order in or head to the closest food source. If you can make a simple trip to Walmart for a minimum of 15 minutes, you will have healthy snacks that will last you for weeks. If you feel like this article is talking directly to you, join me in eating healthy and clean for not only your body, but your mind.
On a weekly basis, my daily eating options look something like this:
Breakfast: Light yogurt, multi-grain cereal, oatmeal, raw apples or pineapple, Udi's gluten-free breakfast burritos.
Lunch: Turkey and lettuce whole wheat wraps, hummus and baby carrots, Babybel mini mozzarella cheese.
Dinner: Grilled chicken, raw broccoli with light ranch dressing, green beans, Lean Cuisine dinner, spinach salad
Snacks: Raw apples, grapes, Skinny Pop popcorn, Nutri-Grain bars, hummus and pretzels.
If I go out to eat with friends, I try to find the healthiest option, whether that be a grilled chicken plate, a salad or cooked vegetables. (This is really hard to do when your friends order fried chicken and french toast at Cracker Barrel, but stick with it!) Also, I cannot stress the importance of drinking water. I used to be an absolute fiend for Dr. Pepper, I'm talking like three or four cans a day.
Once I stopped that madness, I have noticed that my skin is much clearer and my teeth are whiter. I also use an app called MyFitnessPal that helps you track calories and log your daily meals. This is really useful to keep up with fitness goals, and is a great tool for looking up healthy menu choices at restaurants before you go out. If you really hate shopping and you go to Auburn, I have found that the Plains 2 Plate dining in the quad is really great, and so is the Veggies To Go restaurant if you're ordering off Tiger Town To Go.
Combine these eating habits with working out at the gym three to four times a week and you are on a great track towards feeling better and looking ten times hotter in your formal dress. The more you eat like this, the more you don't want those greasy foods you used to crave. Believe it or not, but I can look at Panera mac and cheese and walk away. It feels fantastic to start this semester on the right foot, and I encourage you to do the same!
