New Years Resolutions

Well everyone, it is the last day of 2015!! I've come to the conclusion that new years resolutions are just a bunch of BS. You want to lose weight? You can make that your resolution at any time of year! All of this "new year, new me" crap is getting old. From now until mid January is the time where the gym is overly packed with people who think that they are going to stick to a goal to lose weight for a week or 2, and then go back to being a couch potato. I'm not falling for all of that nonsense anymore.

This year I have no resolutions about losing weight or being healthy because I do that all year-round. The only resolution I have for myself going into 2016 is to be the best version of myself that I can be =). Another resolution I have is to be more active and into my blog! This is really a passion for me and I want to be able to show my followers that living a healthy lifestyle could be fun, easy, and also interesting!

I would really like to know what some of your resolutions are for 2016! (Sorry if I ruined your losing weight resolution but I'm sure you can come up with something better than that!)

Monday Blues

Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a bit, I was out and about exploring India! (Well maybe not exploring too too much, but I got to experience some really cool things.) You know I brought my gym clothes with me too! Lots of people like to make fun of me or think I'm crazy for going to the gym while I am on vacation, but exercising is what I love to do, and if there is a gym, you bet your ass you'll find me there! Especially since there is no way I am going to eat super healthy while I'm away, at least going for a run or to the gym for 45 minutes will make me feel a little bit better about myself. Now of course, a lot of Indian foods are made with heavy creams and what not, but they just taste so good that I couldn't resist! I did eat lots of seafood and fruits and veggies as well. Having something for dessert every couple of nights, helped to satisfy my sweet tooth. Now I am back to reality and ready to kick my tushy back into shape at the gym as the new year quickly approaches!

Self-Control

Some of us have it, some of us don't. I for one, wish I had as much self-control as some of the people I surround myself with. It is just not in the cards for me when it comes to food. Around this time, is the worst to not have self-control. It starts off with the Halloween candy, then Thanksgiving dinner, then you have Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years! The best advice I can give, as I have mentioned in previous posts is to keep everything in moderation. The cookies and the cakes...all those good sweets and fattening foods can be controlled!

The best ways that I know how to eat in moderation, or not eat cookies or chocolates at all, is to trick myself into thinking that I am full, drink lots of water, or just simply keep reminding myself of that beach bod I would like to have. If I could do it, anyone can do it. If you're like me, and you just can't seem to give up that one cookie or candy or bagel, you've had your eye on, just remember that it's not going to kill ya if it's just a once in a blue moon type of thing. Everyone needs to reward themselves at some point, whether it is around the holidays or on any given day!

I also gain weight pretty easily, so that is another factor I take into consideration when I'm around such good food that I know I shouldn't be eating. I usually ask myself... "Do I really need this piece of cake, or that donut someone left in the kitchen?" When I'm really craving it, I will go in for the kill, and majority of the time i'll regret it. I don't want to be that hard on myself, and I shouldn't have to be that hard on myself. I guess once you get yourself into a routine, you don't really crave as much junk as you usually would. For me, it usually takes some time to get into a strict routine, but once I have it down, it really works!

I would love to hear some of the weird ways you guys control cravings, so please feel free to leave your comments!

My story...

So a lot of my friends and colleagues have been asking me why I have decided to start a blog. I am no writer or english major, that's for sure, but I decided to start blogging because I want to be able to help people and inspire them. I am not an expert, but for the most part, I do know how to live a healthy lifestyle without being too strict on myself.

I was never overweight growing up, but I was also never super skinny. Once I reached my senior year in high school, that is when I started partying more. I knew I had to prepare myself for college and start letting loose, so that is exactly what I did. Once I started school, I was going to the gym throughout the week, but then I sort of just stopped, didn't care much to work out. I was probably going out almost every night, eating really late, and just not caring. I guess at the time, I did not realize how big I actually got. Eventually I knew it was time for a change. I pledged my sorority, started exercising, stopped eating late, and slowly but surely, the weight started to come off. From the middle of my freshman year until end of sophomore year was the biggest I have ever been. I thought to myself "how did my friends not tell me?!" Since they were with me every single day, they did not notice, but once I started looking at pictures of myself, I was unrecognizable. Till this day, I keep my student ID in my wallet as motivation. I still cannot believe how much weight I gained! Talk about the freshman 15.... more like the freshman 40 for this girl!

After looking back at pictures of myself, I knew that I NEVER wanted to go back to being that size or looking like a blob. I made sure that I went to the gym every single day from that point on. Even being hungover from the night before, I made myself get up and get to the gym. I even stopped drinking for a period of time because number one, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did when I was a freshman, and number two, I really just wanted to see how my body would react/change to not drinking. Well, let me tell you, it worked! I started to feel soooo much better about myself and the way I looked. Once I decided to start drinking again, I decided to do so in moderation. I would drink maybe once a week, but it wouldn't even be anything crazy... maybe just a glass of wine or a vodka club. Sometimes I wouldn't even drink if I went out on a Friday or Saturday night with my friends. It sounds hard, I know, but if you have a goal in life and you are determined to stick to that goal, you will see that after some time it is not very difficult to achieve it.

If you can afford a trainer once or twice a week, I definitely recommend doing so. If you are looking to strictly lose weight, then cardio is the way to go. Once you get to your goal weight, it is time to start toning your body and start lifting weights. You don't need to be a bodybuilder, and you also don't need to lift really heavy weights, but lifting at least 30-40 minutes a day, really makes a difference. I knew nothing about weights and toning, but after working with a trainer for a few months, I started lifting weights, and again I saw an even bigger change in the way I looked.  I started using muscles I never knew I had, I started to see results. I even started growing an ass which is something that i've always wanted (and believe me, it takes a lot of time and patience!).

Well, there you have it, my weight loss story in a nutshell. Please do not hesitate to share yours! I would love to see how some of you have accomplished your weight loss goals =)

TGIF!!

                                       

Don't be afraid to indulge a bit this weekend! It's holiday season, which means it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to have self-control with family/holiday parties and colleagues bringing in crap that they baked the night before.

I will be the first to admit that as much as I try to have self-control around the holiday's, it is never easy. Especially for someone who enjoys sweets as much as I do! What I like to do is talk myself out of more than 1 dessert (which surprisingly works). One cookie or piece of candy isn't going to kill you, so don't be too hard on yourself! Enjoy sweater weather (unless you are escaping the cold and have to be in a bathing suit, then you are exempt from this statement). This is also the perfect time to start working out! The sooner you start, the sooner you will be ready for the summer and have that awesome beach bod you've been wanting.

Carbs aka The Enemy...

Why do we hate carbs? Well that's easy, because carbs make us fat. Not so fast... carbs are the fuel we use to exercise, they help us build muscle from insulin stimulation. Carbs are the energy our body and brain need in order to function properly. If you are looking to build muscle, then carbs are not the enemy.

On the other hand, if you are looking to lose weight, carbs may not be your best friend, but should still be used as fuel in order to properly function. For me, I am always trying to stay at a certain weight, but I noticed that if I do not eat some form of carbs, I feel more tired and weak. Therefore, I try to eat my carbs in the morning or early on in the day.

For breakfast, I either have an egg white omelette with turkey (or turkey bacon; still a great form of protein and provides less fat and sodium than regular bacon), spinach or avocado in a whole wheat wrap or just as an omelette. I also eat oatmeal sometimes to boost my energy. It is not low in carbs, so I usually eat it when I know I will be working it off later at the gym. Buying instant oatmeal has way more carbs and sugars than if you were to measure out and make your own. Oats are a good source of important minerals the body needs. You can also add some fruit or chopped walnuts/almonds if you are looking for a little bit more of an energy boost to kick-start your morning!

Lunch is usually my downfall because I am usually spending too much money on something I can make at home and have more control over what is going into it. Working in Manhattan, I am exposed to soooo many different types of food places. I try and stick to a salad or a sandwich at times. The less carbs the better, but I am not going to beat myself up over a piece of bread with turkey lettuce and cheese. Salmon is also a really good idea if you like fish. It is an Omega-3 fatty acid, which is a polyunsaturated fat. Other healthy foods that contain Omega-3 fats include flaxseeds, walnuts, soybeans, shrimp, tofu, beef, soybeans, and a couple of others.

Dinner is usually suggested to not eat many carbs since it is night time, and you only have a few hours until you go to bed. Grilled chicken is the best route to take in this case with some mixed veggies. Sometimes I will eat half a baked potato or a yam to hold me over a bit more, and also so I don't snack after 9pm.

I am a HUGE dessert lover, so not eating something sweet at least once in the day is very unlikely for me. I try to eat some dark chocolate if anything, just to satisfy my craving, but i'll also eat a cookie or a couple of M&M's if I am feeling a bit daring. There is no harm in satisfying your sweet tooth or hunger for that matter. Everything just has to be done in moderation.

What are your favorite foods to eat?!

Maintaining a Healthy Diet/ Lifestyle

So as many of you may know, it is not easy to maintain a healthy diet, especially if you are super busy at work or school. There are so many ways to maintain a healthy and balanced diet while having a busy schedule. For starters, take your Sundays into consideration to go food shopping to prepare meals for your busy week to come. Not only will you be saving money, but you will be eating much healthier than if you were to go out and buy lunch. YOU are in control of what you are cooking with, such as oils and what not. Portion controlling is also a MAJOR factor if you are looking to lose weight or maintain a balanced diet. You should always pack little snacks with you to last you throughout the day. I usually keep almonds in my drawer at work, or some Wasa bread and organic peanut butter. Most people (especially people who love food), have an acquired taste. Now don't get me wrong, I LOOOOVEEE FOOD, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and eat stuff that you wouldn't normally eat. Eventually you'll get used to it ;).

It takes some researching and trying different recipes in order to really figure out what you like and can get used to eating. I have some friends who are picky and very particular with what they eat, but after a while, they decided "enough is enough, I want to get healthy and lose weight!" And that is exactly what they did. I have met the pickiest of eaters, and let me tell you, she has done a fantastic job keeping off the weight and trying all of these different low-carb recipe's. You need to have the time as well to put together these types of meals, but if you are motivated enough to lose the weight, then you will find a way to do so. Don't think that you can stay on a low-carb/carb-free diet forever. Carbs are fuel and energy for the body. We need some sort of carbohydrate in our daily routine to keep us going! I will be posting more, in detail, foods and healthy eating routines.

Stay tuned for more tips and upcoming recipe's....

Hello, it's me.....

Hey everyone! So I figured since I have been extremely into fitness and nutrition over the last couple of years, that I would start writing about it. I want to share my experiences with you guys, and also  get to know a bit about you and your own personal experiences! No, I am not a certified dietitian of any sort, but I am in the process of getting certified for nutrition, and really like helping the people closest to me with any fitness goals they may need help getting jump started.