There’s A Reason It’s Called A Diet, And Not A Livet
I believe that there are two types of people in this world- there are those who eat to live, and there are those who live to eat. Which one are you? Personally, I have, and always will be, a person who lives to eat. I love food, but with that being said, my relationship with food has evolved over the years, and at this time in my life, is the best and healthiest that it’s ever been. The reason for this change, you ask; I stopped dieting, probably forever.
“But Lexie, what do you mean you became healthier once you stopped dieting? That doesn’t make sense. I don’t get it, yadda, yadda, yadda.” Well darlings, just LET. ME. TELL. YA.
Over the past year or so, I have come to terms with the fact that (in my opinion) health cannot always be measured by a number. To me, there are many things that contribute to becoming “healthy.” I believe that optimal health can only be achieved when mental, physical and emotional health are all in sync with one another, and I was unable to achieve such synchronization while restricting myself to a diet, so I stopped.
Ever since my sophomore year of college, my roommates and I would diet together, and more often than not, they were fad diets which made us miserable, but yielded fast results. One in particular, which was our go-to, was a plan that we referred to as “the hell diet,” because that’s what it was- literal hell. Once we decided that we’d, once again, admit ourselves to the torture of this diet, we’d spend weeks on end eating nothing but chicken, vegetable and fruit. Was it terrible? Yes. Did we care? Not really. While I did enjoy constantly being thin enough to fit into my “skinny” pants (you know, those ones from high school that you keep around hoping that someday, you’ll fit into them again- we all have them), I did not enjoy feeling constantly miserable and hungry, only to gain back all of the weight I had lost, plus some, when we’d eventually give up and go back to eating a normal amount of food again.
When senior year rolled around and one of us decided that it was time to start the diet again, I decided to protest, explaining to my friends that I was sick and tired of treating my body like literal shit. I was tired of the obsessive-compulsive mindset I would fall into, literally every time. I was over feeling guilty about eating, I was just over it all. It wasn’t physically, mentally or emotionally healthy, and this was something that we all agreed on.
“Why don’t we just try to eat healthier?” I suggested… maybe that would work? I wanted results that were sustainable, and if that meant it would take a little longer, I was willing to do it, and this became something that we would all later come to agree on. No more dieting, it’s time for a lifestyle change.
And so we did it. We did the research, we worked together, and we made a conscious effort to help each other live a healthy lifestyle that didn’t make us completely miserable. Personally, I have made some big changes in my life regarding the things I eat, but these are changes, which have proved to be easy, sustainable, and effective long term. Here are some of the changes I’ve made.
1. Stop cooking with oil:
Did you know that one tablespoon of oil has about 120 calories? Growing up in an Italian family, olive oil was used in everything, and my parents literally have referred to it on multiple occasions as “liquid gold.” And yes, a little bit of oil is okay, and even good for you, but I was consuming it every day, and I was using too much. If you’re looking for a simple was to cut some excess calories from your diet, cooking without oil is a simple way to do it, and I promise, you won’t even miss it. Roasting, sautéing, baking, all can easily be done without oil, trust me, I do it every day, all you need it a little water. Invest in some decent non-stick pots and pans, and you’re good to go!
2. Learn to love black coffee:
If you’re an avid coffee drinker like me, you’ll agree that cutting coffee out of your diet is just simply not an option. However, if you can trade in your sweet and creamy morning Joe for a simple black cup, this is another easy way to cut calories. A cup of coffee with cream and sugar can have more than 50 calories, while a cup black has only two, and is equally as delicious. My favorite way to drink it is iced, with a sprinkle of cinnamon!
3. CUTTING CARBS IS NOT THE ANSWER:
I always thought this was the simple solution, and I wish I could go back and slap myself for this. But news flash, basically everything is “carbs.” The trick is finding the healthy ones. Ditch your white bread and rice for more nutritious, wholesome and substantial carbs such as quinoa, ezekiel bread, oats and sweet poatoes. Not only are they healthier for you, but they will also keep you much fuller for much longer.
4. Eat when you’re hungry and snack wisely:
If this means eating more than three meals a day, who cares? This seems like an obvious tip, but for me, this was something that took a long time to learn. Clean and slice up tons of fruits and veggies at the beginning of the week, and you will feel more inclined to reach for them when hunger strikes throughout the day. At the same time, stop eating when you’re full. If that means eating an entire bag of baby carrots, so be it. I know that all too well, and I have the permanently orange palms to prove it.
5. Hit the gym:
Cardio endorphins are real, people. You’ll look better and you’ll feel better. I make a point to go at least every other day, and while the hardest part is actually getting myself there, by the time I leave, I’m always happy that I went. Find a support system, whether that’s a friend who will physically get up and go to the gym with you, or the one that will always be there to answer your “please convince me to go to the gym” text with “remember that new bikini you bought and that boy you’re trying to impress?”
Lastly, and probably my most important piece of advice, is a quote from my sister (side note, she’s a registered dietitian, so we can listen to her) – everything in moderation, even moderation. So like… if you NEED ice cream, get it, just don’t get it every day.
Eat well, live well, bee well.
XOXO,
Lexie
BB
