It's summer, and while it may be too late to get that "summer body", it's never too late to get the body you want that will last more than a summer. Forget the fad diets, the juice cleanses, the hours of cardio per day, and start making little changes in your diet, that will eventually look like a lot of changes on your body. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my fair share of pizza and ice cream, but I also know how to balance that out with a balanced diet, six out of the other seven days of the week.
Eating healthier does not have to be miserable. In fact, unlike what most people think, it can actually be quite delicious, and doesn't have to be completely different from what you're eating now! It only takes a few easy trades of food to curb your cravings and get you on that healthy path. For example, here are a few things you can swap out: Instead of white bread, you can have wheat bread. It's so much better for you, and is less calories! Try trading in your white potatoes for sweet potatoes! Same amount of food, with an even sweeter taste and will leave you feeling less bloated than regular white potatoes.
When that sweet tooth gets to you, it's easy to head straight to the freezer and get out the tub of ice cream, but try eating some dark chocolate and fruit instead. Dark chocolate (in small proportions) can actually be very beneficial to your overall health, and pairing that with some fruit, which has natural sugars, is sure to satisfy your craving without you going over board!
We all know that when there's a sweet craving, a salty one won't come far after, so be prepared! Instead of reaching for that bag of potato chips that seems almost impossible to put down after, you should opt for some smart popcorn. There are all sorts of brands out there, but my favorite is Orville Redenbacher's single bag 100 calorie popcorn. I love it because it is only one serving, so that stops me from going after a second and third.
Stop worrying about the price too, we all know that eating healthier means your grocery bill might go up, but with that, comes body confidence that will also go up, because you will instantly start feeling better and healthier in just a matter of days when you start eating healthier! Trust me, it will be so worth it to pay a few more bucks for a healthier lifestyle.
Finally, we cant help but be social sometimes, which means we go out to eat, or were on the go and have to stop for fast food, but that doesn't mean we should throw our healthy eating habits out the door, and go for the Big Mac. There are still plenty of healthy options at restaurants or drive thru's that will still get you to your goals. Just pay attention to the menu's because the healthier/low calorie options are usually in the back of the menu - but they're there!
I hope this helps some of you to want to stick to a life style diet, instead of one that lasts three weeks. Eating well is so beneficial to one's overall health, and not to mention it will make you look better too! So try these helpful tips and I promise by next summer, you'll have the summer body that you'll also have all year long.
