Eating healthy is hard, right? YUP. It is so easy to get obsessed over the types of foods we put into our bodies and it is hard to stop eating junk food. I understand that only eating healthy can easily become an unhealthy obsession. A lot of people struggle with following a realistic and long-term diet. I am not a medical professional or a practicing nutritionist. But I was an elite athlete, trained by olympic level coaches, and I am USFSA figure skating coach. I graduated from the University of New Hampshire, in May 2019, with a major in Communication and a minor in Kinesiology. I attended many kinesiology courses that included athletic training, sports media, and nutrition. So, I would love to share a few tips that helped me along the way. If you have a different perspective, I completely respect that.
For starters, avoid "trendy diets" that cut out specific food groups entirely. This topic may be controversial because going vegan is becoming popular for many reasons. Going vegan does have a positive impact on the environment. Anyone can find encouraging documentaries on the internet about the vegan or keto diet plan. The list of trendy diets available to follow online are endless. However, I believe going cold turkey on specific food groups can potentially cause digestion problems, eating disorders, or other health problems. But, only if you do not know what you are doing. Following a vegan diet plan works for some people, but is not for everyone. Some people need to take iron or protein supplements while they are following a vegan diet plan. If you do decide to go vegan after speaking to your doctor, make sure you are following a healthy and satisfying diet plan. Explore your options.
Personally, I only support cutting out meat, fish, or carbs from a diet if a medical professional advises you to do so. Do not fall for diets that are short-term "fixes" because that can end up causing more harm than good to your body. If you only want to go vegan because you think it will help you achieve unrealistic beauty standards, that is a RED FLAG. If you are concerned about your diet for health reasons, I recommend speaking to a nutritionist or a medical professional. Depending on your body type, fitness goals, and if you have any underlining conditions, a medical professional will be able to recommend realistic diet options that will work best for you.
You should never feel guilty for skipping a workout and it is very important to have a healthy relationship with food. Never deprive yourself of foods you love because that can lead to binge eating or an eating disorder. It is OK to have a slice of cake for dessert, even if you didn't workout on that day! Please be patient and kind to yourself because no one reaches their fitness goals overnight, or even in a few months. Depending on your genetics and what your personal fitness goals are, it might take years to achieve them. Let's be honest some fitness goals, like having an twelve pack, is not a realistic goal for many people. Think of your body like a car; it needs fuel to run.
Do yourself a huge favor and get over the number you see on the scale because it does not matter nor define you. Fitness goals are more than just about how you want to look in a bikini. It is not healthy to put pressure on yourself to look a certain way. Don't forget that it is normal to notice that your weight fluctuates. In fact, throughout the day, your weight will fluctuate a little bit. But, depending on your body type it is hard or impossible to stay super muscular for long periods of time. So if you are looking at old photos from the summer of 2015, and you notice that you were way more toned or muscular back then, cut yourself some slack. The body changes over time and there is more to life than spending hours obsessing over working out, and I bet you look great!
All body shapes and sizes are beautiful. :)
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