I’m Really Trying to be Healthy But it’s Hard Sometimes

Like a lot of students, my health and my weight changed a lot when I began my freshman year of college. In high school, my weight was literally never a concern of mine. I was working out anywhere between 1-4 hours every day. Because of my dancing, and with some assistance from my metabolism, I was able to eat basically whatever I wanted with little regard to my weight. It was a pretty great setup.

Then, I started college. With so many other changes, eating healthy and working out were low on my priority totem pole. I understand that sometimes your body just changes at that point in your life. Metabolisms change. But, of course, the drastic cut in my workout routine led to some pretty tangible changes in my weight and muscle mass. Then, I added in a couple new medications that affected my weight and appetite. My pants were not fitting as comfortably as they should have.

So, eventually during freshman year, I started going to the rec and paying a little more attention to what I ate. But I was going about it pretty wrong. I went to the rec and spent forty minutes on the elliptical, hoping it would burn calories fast. I paid attention to what I ate, but I didn’t make a lot of changes. And I was completely motivated by my waistband instead of my health.

I’ve also never been a super healthy eater. I’m not the unhealthiest person ever, but I tend to gravitate towards processed foods and carbs over fresh fruit and vegetables. I wasn’t giving my body what it needed.

Then, this summer, something went off in me and I realized how lazy I was being with my diet. I was eating what was convenient, which was often processed and tons of calories. I had the time and resources to make healthy choices and I wasn’t taking advantage of that!

Becoming healthier has taken a lot of time and mistakes to get me where I am. I wanted to share with y’all a few pieces of advice I have learned from the past year and a half. And remember, that I’m no where I could be. I will never have my own fitness Instagram. I am just a very regular nineteen-year-old girl trying to be healthier, in the same boat as a lot of my readers.

Find what works for you.

Now I’m back at school, and it’s presented its own challenges. I have had to make changes in my workout. I made a goal this year to conquer my fear of the weight room at the rec center. I eventually worked my way in there… and I haven’t looked back! I didn’t realize how much I love lifting weights! When I used to workout, I found myself counting down the minutes until I felt like I had worked out enough. Now, I can easily spend an hour at the rec, and I actually kind of enjoy it? There’s something really freaking cool about pushing your body and seeing it grow and change. Even in the three months I’ve started lifting, I’m beginning to notice a difference. It’s not huge, but it’s progress and I’m so incredibly proud of what my body is beginning to be able to do.

Don’t deprive yourself.

I still have a long way to go in the food department. I still eat too many carbs and too much sugar. But I’m learning to make healthier meals. My roommates inspire me to eat better. We eat a lot of chicken, ground turkey, vegetables, fruits, and so many avocados.  I’ve learned I will probably never be able to give up coffee or diet Dr. Pepper, and that’s fine, but I have to make other healthy choices to make up for that. I love to eat sweets—but I have had to learn moderation. And making healthy choices throughout the day allows me to treat myself to a piece of chocolate before bed!

Forgive yourself.

Do I still have off days? All the time. Sometimes I only work out three times a week, because I’m busy or I didn’t feel like going to the rec. I eat pretty poorly some days. I’m trying to learn how to forgive myself and not obsess about the one day I had two cupcakes instead of one. A few slip ups will not lead to an extra twenty pounds, as I so often catch myself thinking.

Take your time.

This process has been over a year and a half in the making. I’m still learning constantly. Learning to eat healthy will take years. To see the real difference in my muscles will take much longer than I’d like. While I have seen some changes in my body, I still have a long way to go before my stomach is where I want it to be and my legs look the way they did in high school.

I officially weigh the most I’ve ever weighed. 145 pounds. It’s taken a long time to gain the courage to say my weight out loud. It’s scary to admit our weight, especially when I know that a lot of people weigh less than me. But now, I am proud of my weight. I don’t want to say I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been. Because while I do weigh the most I ever have, I don’t feel heavy. I feel healthy. If anything, I am the healthiest I have ever been. But, I’ve still got a long way to go.

So, this has been a bunch of completely honest confessions from a girl who is a lot like you. If you’re trying to eat healthy and workout, just know that I feel your struggle, too. This stuff is hard. Try your best, find what works for you, forgive yourself when you mess up, and take your time. Health is a process.

#health #October2017 #life #college #goals #lessonslearned