“Eat clean to stay fit, have a burger to stay sane.” – GiGi Hadid
Over the years, I have learned that diets don’t always work. Sure, you may lose a few pounds here and there, but as soon as you indulge just a little (because you’re human), you immediately gain the weight back. It’s so incredibly frustrating, isn’t it? I feel that the diet world has turned into a vicious cycle, and quite frankly, I’m not convinced that it’s worth it!
Life is way too short to be counting calories 24/7 or worrying whether or not you’ve “earned” a bite of your favorite dessert. Life is about living! As long as you’re eating healthy foods, the right amounts of those healthy foods, and allowing yourself the occasional treat, then you’re definitely living your best life and your body will thank you.
Here are some meal rules I live by:
- Veggies should ALWAYS cover half your plate. Want more? Go for it! Vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and some protein that will keep you fuller, longer. And the fact that they have almost no calories is an obvious plus. I keep spinach in my fridge at all times. It’s easy to throw in a bowl for salads and cooks really fast if I want it hot.
- Always choose LEAN protein. This means no processed junk like frozen meals and lunch meats that can have cancer causing chemicals pumped into them and an excessive amount of sodium. Sodium = bloat. No one wants that!
- You should NEVER be hungry, so stop starving yourself! Have some snacks for crying out loud! I usually like to snack on an apple with peanut butter or a rice cake with nut butter and blueberries or, if I need something extra fast, I will grab a Taos Bar from the Earth Bar! Yummy.
- Don’t eat the same thing two days in a row (unless you really like it!). This is a quick way to become disinterested in what you’re eating and reach for something bad.
- Allow yourself one cheat meal a week. It’s the only way I stay sane! And when I say cheat meal, I mean order that burger, add bacon, and get those fries on the side!
So, this is about the time you’re thinking, “This all sounds great, Taylor, but I have kids and a job. How do I make time for all this?”
I’m not going to lie to you, this process requires you to make the time and effort in any way, shape or form possible. I usually spend 1-1.5 hours on Sunday prepping food. It’s not a huge chunk of time, but I have to commit to it. In that time frame, I can make homemade spaghetti sauce and spiralize zucchini or make spaghetti squash pasta, grill up a ton of proteins (chicken, salmon, etc) that I can eat alone or make into fajitas/tacos for later. I also make a stir fry or bake a ton of vegetables, and finally throw a bunch of ingredients into a crockpot so I can leave and enjoy the rest of my Sunday.
Your life shouldn’t be about dieting. It should be about living a healthy lifestyle that is not only maintainable, but that allows you to lose weight, feel full and be happy! Make the effort, be conscious of meals, snacks and your grocery purchases. Become an anti-dieter like me!
Taylor Deeds
Woodside Personal Trainer
