I remember it like it was yesterday: Every day on my way in to work as a television reporter, I would stop at the local gas station to grab myself a 44-ounce Mountain Dew.
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t That all by itself doesn’t sound like the best health choice, right? Well, add to that my decision to make those 44 ounces my only sustenance for the entire day. Each and every working day of my first two years as a reporter was fueled solely by 44 ounces of that soda. That’s it. I wouldn’t have anything else before arriving at the station and I wouldn’t put anything else in my system until I got home, after 10 p.m. at night. Ahhh… somehow I survived on 22-year-old logic. Not my best or brightest move.
t It is hard to believe that was 20… yes 20… years ago.
t Clearly, my logic has shifted since then. As a mother of two and full-time business owner, I make smarter and healthier choices. I have two small people who are relying on me to be the example they need for healthy eating and healthy living
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t Admittedly, I’m not infallible and like many of you am juggling a crazy schedule, both mine and that of my small people. Between sports, school and work deadlines, it can feel as though “eating right” is just one more thing on our to-do list, but I’ve found the more I’m taking care of me, the better I feel, the more I get done and the happier I am.
t Here are my six best tips for keeping my diet on track.
1. Drink plenty of water
t I’ve found that reaching for water first thing in the morning, before every meal and when my body tells me I want a snack can often curb a craving. It also does wonders for keeping me from being dehydrated.
2. Always eat breakfast
t You’d think skipping a meal would mean losing weight. Less food going in equals fewer pounds on you, right? Well, that’s not quite the case because when you don’t eat early in the day, you will be hungrier leading to more snacking and frequently more weight gain.
3. Keep easy, healthy snacks on hand
t I love Fiber One bars. They are portable; I can keep them in my desk, in my purse or even in my car which means I’m never “starving” or reaching for something unhealthy when I’m working or at my kid’s games (ahhh – the concession stands are the worst!)
4. Track it
t Use an app like MyFitnessPal to keep track of what you are eating and how much. Being accountable and actually seeing the quantity of daily food you are eating allows you to see progress and changes you might need to make.
5. Prioritize You
t What do I mean by this? I mean make sure you are getting enough sleep and spending at least a portion of each day moving. Pick your poison: walk, run, jump, do yoga, go up and down the stairs in your house… whatever you choose to do, just make sure your heart is pumping and you are getting the sleep you need.
6. Avoid the temptation
t When you do your weekly grocery shopping, avoid buying the foods that make it hard for you to stay on a healthy track. If you are tempted to binge on sweets, it is a good idea to keep those to a minimum.
t Disclosure: This post is part of a collaboration between Fiber One and SheKnows.
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