If you've known me for any amount of time, you know that I am IN LOVE with pizza! I love it so much that I created my own pizza blog called Everything and the Crust. I also love it because it is cheap, delicious, and easy; which are three attributes essential to the #collegediet. But this heaven on a metal pan has one major downside:
It isn't all too healthy.
A typical pizza comes loaded with fat, unhealthy carbohydrates, high sodium, and other dietary evils. It is also a high-calorie food. Despite these facts, countless UCF students flock to the on-campus Domino's, seeking their cheesy respite from the stresses of life and unknowingly pursuing the "Freshmen 15" in the process.
I know this because I am one of those Cheese-aholics. Crust Crazies. Dough-vout Followers. But I still stay healthy while eating pizza!
How do I accomplish this? Today, I am sharing my secret on how YOU can stay healthy while eating pizza (or any other unhealthy food!). It's really quite simple:
- Create a consistent workout routine
- Portion out your cheat meals.
- Pick one or two cheat days/meals a week.
- Find ways to ‘health-up’ your cheat meal.
- BE HAPPY with your eating!
My first secret is honestly the most important one to remember when eating unhealthy foods: create a consistent workout routine. Doing so allows you to offset the side effects of unhealthy foods, and even surpass them if you exercise more than you eat unhealthy.
I usually work out 5-6 days a week, and strategically eat unhealthy on my rest days (because when I rest, ALL parts of me rest). If you need some tips for creating a workout routine, feel free to contact me!
My second tip is something we’ve all heard at some point in our lives: “Portion sizes matter.” But it is so true! If you’re gonna cheat, try your best to control how much cheat is going on. For example, my typical limit for pizza is 1-3 slices. Being honest, I think even 3 slices is a lot for one person, but sometimes the food monster in me gets HANGRY y’all!
As you eat, just be mindful of the macros and calories that your body is getting. Know your limits, and (try to) stick to them!
My third tip goes hand-in-hand with the previous one, because portions truly don't matter if you eat pizza seven days a week. In fact, containing your cheats to certain days/meals even goes along with a workout routine. As I said, my cheat days are usually also my rest days, and specifically occur at dinner time.
Having a pizza blog has also helped me tremendously in setting cheat limits! Each week, I set aside a night to blog (and cheat). That one night is the only time I eat pizza, and it gives me an excuse to try new places, which is a win-win!
By setting constant days or times, you give yourself something to look forward to and don't allow your favorite pizza, burger, or pasta to impact your health goals.
But do all of these tips matter if you hate your eating habits? If your mental health is impacted by your physical health?
N-O-P-E.
It was hard for me to learn that eating should make you happy, and I suffered some major health setbacks as a result. Food at it's core is meant to nourish your body, but it should also nourish your mind and spirit.
This is the key to healthy living: finding a balance of healthy and unhealthy foods that you ENJOY, and that fit your needs and schedule.
I hope you enjoyed these tips! Make sure to check each week for a new blog, get to know me on social media, and most of all: HAVE FUN with your fit!
Until next week, keep living your story ❤️