How I learned to live a healthy lifestyle, and how I maintain it.
This post has been sponsored by General Mills. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you told me one year ago that I’d be 50+ lbs lighter, working out with a personal trainer, and training for a half marathon, I would have laughed in your face.
Truthfully. And not in a mean way, most likely out of nervousness and also out of doubt.
It’s not that I didn’t want to be active or healthy, I honestly didn’t believe I was that out of shape, but I was. So, I kicked it into gear and here I am. Feeling much better, inside and out. Here are some of the smart swaps I made in learning to live a healthy lifestyle.
Track your food
Tracking my food was key in my losing 50+ lbs and really understanding how much and what I was eating. I honestly didn’t think I ate that terribly. Until I saw it written down. Until I realized how many calories I was taking in vs. burning while exercising. Then, I knew I needed to make some changes. I love using the free app, My Fitness Pal, to keep track of what I’m eating. I can’t rave enough about how helpful it is to keep a food diary of sorts.
Instead of crash dieting, I started to eat good-for-me foods. I learned I needed to eat more protein, less sugar, and fewer carbs. Your needs may be different than mine, but you won’t know until you start to take a look at the foods you’re eating on a daily basis.
One of the easiest swaps I made was finding tasty and good-for-me snacks to have on hand, like LÄRABAR Fruit & Nut Bars. I picked up a few different flavors at my local Publix—one of my favorites being the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar, SO good! It’s like a dessert in bar form, without any guilt or hesitation that I’m giving into a sweet craving. And being that they’re vegan, gluten and dairy-free, and made with fair trade certified ingredients it’s a win-win-win!
If you’ve got a Publix near you, grab yourself a coupon for $0.50 off 2 LÄRABAR bars at your local Publix between 10/1/18 – 10/31/18. And if not, well, you should still check them out!
I love having LÄRABAR bars on hand, especially because I’m typically on the go (like…pretty much everyone). I keep them in a handy spot in my kitchen so when I’m running out the door to get to personal training or a meeting, I can grab one to take with me in case I get hungry. That also prevents me from stopping for food when I’m out. Knowing exactly what’s in the food you’re eating is
much easier when you’re eating out less—just a tip!
Get moving
I know, I know, it’s much easier said than done. So, I’d like to challenge you to start out small. Just start somewhere. Perhaps it’s taking a 30 minute walk each night or a casual bike ride. Start somewhere and work your way up. When I first started running, I could barely run for one minute straight. It was HARD, but I worked at it. I didn’t give up. And just last weekend, I ran my longest training run—5.5 miles! All on my own! That felt good.
Invest in yourself
Personal training is expensive. Going to a gym can be expensive, but it’s important to invest in yourself. I’ve seen the biggest changes come from working with my personal trainer. I’ve learned a lot about fitness and about myself. If you’re really looking to challenge yourself, allocate some of that money you spend on frivolous items each month (for me, it’s clothing. Can you blame me if I want the latest fall collections? Sorry not sorry) and put that towards a fitness fund.
Make living a healthy lifestyle fun!
If you’re miserable, you’re not going to stick with it. You’ll hate every moment of it and that’s just not ideal. Personally, I found that fitness classes and working out with a group really motivates me. So, I started going to November Project (a worldwide free! fitness group) and signed up for a kickboxing gym. Yes, me. Kickboxing. I was petrified! But I pushed myself to do it and ended up loving it. Now I’m at the kickboxing/strength gym 5 times a week. And I look forward to it! That’s what keeps me coming back. Well, that and all the changes I’ve seen. My clothes fit better and I feel stronger. It’s a win-win.
What swaps have you made to lead a healthy lifestyle? I’m always looking for tips on mindful/intuitive eating and fun activities to get moving!
ps. These bars are so good, even Clover wanted in on the snack. But I think you’re better off enjoying the bars, not your dog.
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