I know sometimes we think and feel like it’s impossible to be healthy, whether it be eating healthy or just living and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle. As a college student, this can be very hard to even start and much harder to maintain. But it’s not impossible!
I’ve lost 35 pounds in 4 weeks. Yes that’s a crazy number, and some would view that as unhealthy, but I have discussed this with my doctor and multiple nutrition and fitness specialists. The way that I accomplished this wasn’t dangerous way or in any way unhealthy.
1. I sat down and started writing down my goals and everything I wanted to accomplish.
I knew I wanted to lose at least 50 pounds in the next few months. I didn’t know that I would start dropping weight the way that I did.
I knew I wanted to start working parts of my body that I know I neglect almost all of the time.
I knew I wanted to stop going on Instagram and wishing I looked more like this person or wanting that lifestyle.
2. I planned how I would accomplish these goals, both long-term and short-term.
Every goal that I wrote down, I made sure that I developed a reasonable game plan. My short-term goals were the harder ones to really grasp a time frame for because I knew what I wanted, and I knew I wanted it right then, but everything takes time. The long-term goals were easier to set a time frame for.
3. I put my plan into action.
I signed up for Pilates classes. I take Pilates classes at Core Aspirations on Magnolia. Let me tell you, this is one of the best studios I’ve found in Tallahassee. The staff is super friendly. My favorite instructor is Liz. She takes extra time to make sure you’re comfortable and that the exercises we’re doing fit you. This studio is very inclusive and doesn’t leave anyone out. The instructors all give you one-on-one time when you’re starting out. This is a studio that I won’t be leaving anytime soon.
I put my workout schedule into motion. I work out at the gym anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half a day. Sometimes, when I get carried away, I do 2 hours. I bought new workout clothes that not only made me feel more confident, but they were super cute too. Adding a little change helped overall.
4. I started eating better.
Instead of just continuously snacking while watching a show or trying to study, I started sitting up while doing things and not just lying there. Then, I wasn’t tempted to want to eat and lay down.
I started eating more often. It’s true, eating more actually helps you lose weight faster because then your body doesn’t feel like you’re starving it in-between your bigger meals. I eat anywhere from 5 to 6 times a day. Usually, it’s breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, then a snack. If I feel like it’s a day to treat myself, I eat some dessert I’ve been craving. I’m pescatarian, so my diet is usually harder to maintain, but it’s definitely maintainable.
Breakfast: I usually eat some oatmeal, and I’ll sprinkle some fruit or a scoop of peanut butter in it. I eat the freshly ground peanut butter usually from Fresh Market. I think their peanut butter is the best because you can see exactly what you’re putting into your body.
Snack: My first snack of the day is usually a protein bar because I usually take two Pilates classes in the morning, which leaves me needing to replenish my body after burning away anywhere from 400-600 calories.
Lunch: Most days, I will eat a salad made of romaine, cucumbers, shredded carrots, Colby Jack cheddar cheese, tomatoes, two boiled eggs and about three ounces of shrimp. These leave me feeling full longer, so then I’m less likely to want to grab for a random snack.
Snack: This is usually anything I’m really craving. I love coconut chips, bananas, grapefruits, oranges, peanut butter or sometimes even a chocolate bar.
Dinner: Usually, my dinner would be seafood as my main component with a vegetable and something else that was low in carbs.
Snack: Since this is usually a snack that I would use to replace dessert because you don’t need or have to feel like you should eat dessert every day. I’m not saying you have to deprive yourself of dessert, that’s not what I’m doing. I just go for the healthier dessert options. Instead of a trough of ice cream, sometimes some chocolate and fruit.
5. I Took healthier steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I took a break from social media. We often don’t realize how much we compare ourselves to those around us, and it’s very unhealthy. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to Instagram models or fitness gurus because yes, they look good all the time, and they’re always showing off their bodies on social media, but that’s their jobs. They dedicate their lives to living that way, but that’s not everybody. You don’t have to feel like you need to be exactly like them.
Instead of letting anything negative get to me, anytime someone said something negative or was doing something that put off negative energy or vibes, I removed myself from the situation. I stopped letting other people’s drama and destruction interfere with my life because it’s honestly not worth it.
I promise you, it’s not hard when you put your heart, mind and body into it. Dedicate yourself to make a better you, for yourself, not for anyone else.
6. I start every month off with a new quote.
This month my quote was: “New month. New beginning. A chance to start fresh. Fall in love with taking care of yourself.”
I can tell you, this quote inspired me to really pay attention to myself, and not others. I have personally grown so much already from this, I have started accepting myself for who I am, and I began realizing that no matter what people say, that shouldn’t change how I feel about myself. I’ve had next to no mental breakdowns or panic attacks and my hives have stopped.
All in all, I can say my confidence is better, and I feel like a boss babe. I’ve taken control back of my life. I’m not exactly where I want to be yet, but that takes time, and I’m a work in progress and happy about it.