Tips on Looking Good and Staying Healthy

When I was going through puberty I ballooned from being a stick thin fifth grader who ran marathons to gaining about thirty pounds in the sixth grade. It took me two years to shed the weight and looking back I did it in a less than healthy way, especially because my body was still developing.

I lost the weight by playing a lot of sports at school and severely controlling my diet. I often would drink lots of liquids and eat one meal a day - dinner. That usually was a salad and I barely ever finished it. It makes me wonder now how my body managed to survive. Once my body weight was at a more manageable margin for my size I returned to normal eating habits, having two to three meals a day. The weight was maintained but I wasn't too fat or too skinny.

College was awful as far as nutrition goes. Being away from home cooked meals meant a lot of eating out, and that meant a lot of fast food. McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, In and Out to name a few! I gained back another twenty pounds.

This time around I realized that looking good and staying healthy isn't about crash dieting for a few weeks just till the pounds shed off, because as soon as you go back to eating unhealthy foods the weight will come right back! Here are a few things that I've learned to keep the weight off for good:

CARBS - don't punish yourself by never eating carbohydrates ever. Just don't eat a plate of pasta every day. Carbohydrates are a great source of energy for our body but if your not an athlete chances are you won't burn it and it will just be converted to fat. So sure, eat a small plate of pasta every now and then.

MODERATION - this is one of the reasons why you don't see a lot of large European and Asian women. The servings are much smaller compared to what we get in the US. So if you go out, control yourself and eat half the portion you are served and take the rest home! Now you have another meal.

SNACKS - snacking has had a bad reputation. It's ok to snack! But its what you eat that makes a difference. If you consume healthier food such as fruits and nuts you will actually find yourself not as hungry as opposed to starving yourself till your next meal.

SUGAR - always read the nutritional labels! Watch out for sugar content, sodium content, and calories. Drink juices with low or no sugar. If you eat something that's fat free but high in sugar that is not going to help you.

EXERCISE - exercise is to help keep your body's metabolism working well. When your metabolism is high, your body will be able to break down food much better. For those who dislike going to the gym, there are other options like sports, yoga, pilates, aerobics, kickboxing, etc. You can even take dancing lessons, which is a great workout!

COOKING - cooking your own food allows you to control what exactly you eat. For example when baking use less sugar, or substituting with splenda which allows you to be more healthy and conscious about what you put into your body.

WATER - lastly and most importantly, drink water. Lots and lots of it. Water cleans our system out and is the best way to hydrate your body. It also helps increase your metabolism!!

These are some of the simple things I've adjusted in my own life and I have never felt healthier and more comfortable in my own skin. All in all it's up to you to make the conscious effort to change!