Bites over Burpees

I started this blog to help people live a healthier, and therefore happier, lifestyle. With summer here, I decided to dedicate my first post to helping you get your ideal beach body. People usually think that when it comes to losing weight, the best way to shed pounds is to hit the gym as much as possible. While exercising is very important, weight loss is mainly driven by cutting calories and eating healthier foods. That being said, it isn't about starving yourself; I want to stress the importance of eating the right amount and types of food. Heavy or healthy, 30 minutes of rigorous exercise is hard for anyone. On average, it burns around 350 calories, which is the equivalent to cutting out just two 16-ounce sodas a day.  The average American eats 2,674 calories a day according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The healthy amount of calorie intake is around 2,000 for the average woman and about 1,500 to lose a pound per week. There are many calorie calculators out there that will give you the exact amount of calories that are good for your body type. I use the one in my Fitbit app, but if you do not have a Fitbit, an app called My Fitness Pal is just as effective. In both of these apps, you can write down and track what you are eating in order to make sure you don’t go over your recommended calorie count. While monitoring your intake is important, it is even more important that you are eating healthy rather than just less. Instead of going out to eat or ordering in, try making more meals from home. As you cook and smell the food you are preparing, your body is triggered to release enzymes that coat your stomach, allowing for better digestion. When you order in or get prepared meals, you don’t allow your body enough time to prepare the acids in your stomach that help digest your food, leading to poor nutrient breakdown. Another benefit from cooking your meals at home is that it allows you to monitor what you are eating. You know exactly what is going into your body and you’re more likely to cook something healthier than if you ordered from a favorite fried food restaurant. The beauty of eating clean is that once you start making small changes, you can feel the difference fairly quickly. You'll notice you have more energy, your body feels cleaner, and your skin will be clearer. Eventually, you'll no longer crave the unhealthy foods of your past, and find substitutes that are healthy but still satisfy (don't worry--we aren't saying you need to swear off of chocolate; that'd just be impractical!) A great way to start your clean eating lifestyle is to create a meal plan, where you can outline your meals for the week, as well as food prepping over the weekend in order to balance both healthy living and your hectic work schedule. So, to recap, exercise is important but eating the right amount of healthy foods can help you meet your weight loss goals. More importantly, you will feel better just by eating natural, clean foods.