I’d like to say I’m a FORMER fat kid, but I still get the urge to eat a whole bag of chips or row of cookies almost daily. Overeating was what made me fat as a child, and it is something that I think a lot of people can relate to – whether you grew up fat or were #blessed with high metabolism.
I cannot stress enough how important nutrition is, especially when paired with fitness. Fueling your body correctly helps you get the most out of a workout and gets you results reliably and more quickly than exercise alone. After all, the real work in body sculpting happens not in the gym, but in the kitchen and meal time.
I’m not sugar-coating this when I say: anyone can go an workout for an hour. It takes true dedication and commitment to keep working at a diet that feeds your body – without overindulging.
The holidays create the perfect scene for this crime. With cookies, chocolates, and tantalizing dinners tempting you with every waft of cinnamon and gravy, it is easy to succumb to temptation. I’ve crumbled under the massive cravings. And chances are, you have too. Here are a few ways to stay on track:
Log EVERYTHING
Nowadays, food logging has become very simple. There are probably thousands of apps for that, but the most popular is MyFitnessPal. MFP is great because it makes you feel super shitty for eating those leftover Halloween chocolate bars: If everyday were like today, you’d weigh 232lbs in 5 weeks. Um… thanks?
You can also kick it old school and keep a food diary. You’ll at least avoid the snide comments.
Prepare
If you know you will be heading to a buffet-style Christmas party/dinner with lots of opportunities to abandon your diet, eat before. If you feel full, you are less likely to be that jerk that ate four plates of turkey and mashed potatoes.
Preparation is also your best line of defense against lazy binge eating. Stay two hours later at work for a crazy deadline? Wave goodbye to your fav drive-thru, because you have a lovely prepared dinner at home that you made on Sunday! Meal prepping saves you time and money, allowing you to cook healthy meals that are diet-friendly!
Protein, BRO
I’ve been there. You find yourself wondering where the last hour has gone, as you stare at your grease-tinged reflection in the foil at the bottom of your Cheetos bag. You never felt full. You aimlessly ate that whole bag!
Maybe you aren’t eating enough protein. When I first got strict with my diet, eating 170g of protein made eating a chore. I felt perpetually full. You can get protein from all different kinds of sources:
- Protein powder
- Peanut butter
- Protein bars
- Chicken, Fish, Beef
- Eggs
- Greek yogurt
I love to even mix my protein powder with my Greek yogurt for an super protein snack. Protein fuels your muscles and also tells your stomach to kindly shut the fuck up.
If at first you don’t succeed…
Try, try again.
If you do end up overindulging, big whoop. Will that extra helping of stuffing matter 5 years from now? Probably not. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Dust yourself off and start fresh tomorrow.
If, however, overeating becomes a continuous problem, then maybe it’s your diet. I tried to eat clean, quit sweets cold turkey. Nothing ever worked for me. Instead, I find a structured, flexible diet works best for me. I can still eat the foods I enjoy as long as it fits my daily macronutrient goals. There are many other diets out there. Consider doing some research to find the magical fit for you.
Words with Form 