Today was unsurprisingly easy — just like almost all first days of diets. The first day is when you’re the most motivated, the most excited and the most willing. The first day is when you count your calories consumed and your calories burned, and when you walk by Geovanti’s and the smell of grease sort of grosses you out — but only sort of.
This semester, I’ve had a lot of first days of diets. From trying out the caveman diet to swearing against late night takeout, I’ve made multiple sad attempts at starting a healthy lifestyle. But why haven’t I stuck with it? Why did my new-week resolutions fizzle out somewhere around mid-afternoon day 4 or 3, or — let’s be honest — as soon as I got a craving for One World breadsticks? ($3.50 for all of those carbs? Hands down, best deal on campus).
Throughout the day, while following the SELF Magazine Jump Start diet and Jillian Michael’s cardio plan, I thought about the reasons why my efforts rarely lasted longer than Justin Guarini’s career. I came up with three reasons: a lack of commitment, the temptations of Green Street and my busy schedule.
I wasn’t actually committed. My attempts at a diet were often spurred by emotion and easily remedied in other ways. Whether I was fed up with having a hard time picking out clothes for the day or just feeling insecure, I was able to find simple, immediate solutions (usually sweatpants and a Blue Moon). While I thought I was ready to make a change, I wasn’t prepared for the hard work that it would take.
I live across the street from Chipotle and Flat Top and Noodles and Panera and… The temptations of Green Street are seemingly endless. It’s as if behind every door on those seven blocks of glory is a smorgasbord of delicious food, begging to be consumed. Just walking to class is a challenge with so many desirable indulgences at my fingertips. Living just a block away makes takeout quicker and easier than ever before.
I’m too gosh darn busy. I work about 25 to 30 hours a week as the Features editor for the Daily Illini, I write and copy edit for Her Campus Magazine, I write for Impulse Magazine and I hold leadership positions in several other organizations on campus. Oh, and I’m also a student. Keeping up with all of my commitments is exhausting enough; just the thought of working out has not been appealing. Also, with limited time for planning meals, grocery shopping and cooking, eating healthy did not factor into the equation. Taking care of myself was the last thing I ever worried about.
While I let these things stop me from being healthy, the bottom line is that excuses are for pansies and I can’t let my hectic schedule, my place of residence or my general lack of dedication set me back anymore. I need a plan (by tomorrow, day two) to help me overcome these constant barriers. Any suggestions? Tweet ‘em at me! @SamGetsHealthy.
Dreaming of (low)Fat Tuesday,
Samantha
Ps. My lunch today was fantastic! I made myself the Homemade Pizza recipe from Jillian Michael’s Fat Burning Meal Plan:
Top 2 halves of a whole-wheat English muffin each with 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, 1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella. Broil until cheese melts. Serve with 1 cup grapes, 3 Brazil nuts. Only 455 calories!
(I had strawberries instead of grapes and substituted tomato sauce for chopped tomatoes, but the calories remained about the same).