And with this first blog post, I'm going to go ahead and start out by saying that I, Brittany, LOVE FOOD. It's no secret; just ask my friends. Eating could almost be like a hobby for me.  


Also, I'm a college student, and if there's one thing about college, it's that there are about a thousand opportunities to consume excess calories in a day, including the enticing dessert table in the dining hall (which happens to be strategically placed on the way to the exit door), the free food opportunities at campus events and various organizational meetings, the college parties and 24-hour eateries, and the midnight snacking that occurs during those dreadful late nights studying at the library. My first semester of college, I was all about eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. It took me almost 15 pounds and a chubby face to realize that yes, the "freshman 15" is very, very real, and that I wanted to quit my unhealthy habits before I got too carried away. Let me tell ya: it's hard to resist all of the sweet temptations. But, once you break that habit and realize how strong you feel, you don't want to go back. 


Here are a few simple tips on living a healthy lifestyle:

• Drink plenty of water! Make it a point to have 6-8 glasses of water a day. Drink one big glass before every meal, and you'll find that you'll be fuller faster and eat less!
• Cut out the sodas (yes mom, that means no diet sodas!). Sodas dehydrate you and they're high in calories and sugar! No bueno :(
• Stick to whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Whole wheat is healthier and keeps you full longer, whereas white bread with "enriched" flour (which basically means they strip the bread of all its healthy nutrients) is starchy and spikes your insulin levels (that's bad).
• Never let yourself get to a point where you're starving, because that leads to lots of overeating and regret! Keep healthy snacks handy if you know you will have to go a long period of time without a full meal. During meals, listen to your stomach and stop eating when you're full, not when you hate yourself!
• Set aside at least 30 minutes every day to do some sort of exercise! That doesn't mean you have to hit the gym for a hard workout every single day. Go out for a leisurely stroll or a nice bike ride!
• Find a health buddy! Mine is Rachel (: Having a health buddy keeps you motivated!

I wish you all good health and happiness!

-B