When I say “diet”, I don’t necessarily mean an actual diet. I call it a diet just to keep it simple, but it really isn't all that simple. For the past couple years I have been going to the gym off and on and when I felt like it, I would eat pretty healthy. It was not until about a year ago that I decided to change my habits. I started going to the gym everyday and watched what I ate more closely. I kept up with it for a few months, but then summer came. My diet and gym days slowly went down the drain. Once school started back, I got back on track somewhat. It was so difficult trying to keep up with school, homework, work, and then the gym at the end of the day. On top of that, my food choices were very limited because of my diet. The holidays came and there went my diet once again. It was not until about a few months ago, I decided to stick with this “diet” and be consistent with it.
My “diet” is really just a lifestyle change. My diet is not temporary; it is forever. Forever seems so long and miserable, but once you get the hang of it, it isn’t so bad. Don’t get me wrong, it can be very hard at times. The hardest times come when your friends want to go out to eat, and they all get burgers and fries or pizza, and you’re stuck with grilled chicken and broccoli. When your family wants to have a cook out with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and lots of desserts, you have to fix your own food and stay far away from the dessert table. When you are at your favorite restaurant, and you want to eat your favorite item on the menu, you can’t because of your diet. It really can be the most annoying and frustrating thing ever.
I also have to constantly look at the nutrition labels of everything. I have to look at the calories, fat, carbs, sugar, etc. It usually takes me a while to pick out stuff at the grocery store or pick out what I want to eat at a restaurant because not everything you think is good for you, is actually good for you. I have to count my calories and make sure I stick with my goal each day. The app, “my fitness pal” has become my best friend. This is very time consuming, and sometimes I really hate it, but it’s worth it somewhere down the road.
Another downfall would have to be when everyone keeps asking, “Why are you on a diet?” or saying, “You don’t even need to be on a diet”. It is not so much that I need to lose weight or want to look better; it really is a lifestyle change to lower my risks for health problems later on down the road. I love pizza and wings just as much as anyone, but I don’t love putting myself at risk for diabetes and heart problems. Of course, majority of us want to look better on the outside, but it feels even better on the inside to eat right (even if you have to force yourself to eat it).
Eating healthy takes so much willpower and strength, and it can be so hard to stick with for a long amount of time. But when you overcome all of that, the rewards are incredible. I feel so much better when I know I have eaten a healthy meal or went a whole week without giving in to bad foods. If you do it right and stay consistent, the rewards are endless. Not only could you look better on the outside, but you could feel even better on the inside. It is very tough to do, but I did it and am still doing it and will do it for as long as I can, even when I want to scarf down fries and milkshake.