Tips on Body Confidence & Creating a Healthy Lifestyle

It’s taken me 24 years to get to this point but I made it. I am the healthiest I have ever been, I love working out, and I am finally confident with my body after body shaming myself for years. I have been an athlete my entire life, I was a dancer, gymnast, baton twirler, track runner, and volleyball player. Being active has never been an issue, but y’all I LOVE FOOD!

I was always surrounded by girls that ate whatever they wanted and never gained a pound. We all have those friends right? It seems like as long as I can remember I was body conscious. Mainly because I had to look good in a leotard or twirling costume since I was a feature twirler for a major university and competed nationally. BUT now that I am out of college, no longer twirling, and working in the real world, I have had to be much more conscious about what I’m eating and more in tune with my fitness routine.

My biggest tip for anyone struggling with this is that it is all about BALANCE! Eat clean because it is good for your body. Eat well when you want to celebrate. And work out because it makes you feel good. The results will follow once you develop this lifestyle.

Over time and maturity, I have learned to accept that my body is DIFFERENT than anyone else’s. And that’s not a bad thing. We are all different. The thing I am most focused on is my health and the more I focus on this, the more I love my body. I have curves, I have cellulite, but I also have muscle, strength and a beautiful smile that I was blessed with my the Lord and my orthodontist lol! LOVE YOURSELF!!

Set some short term goals for yourself, buy some new workout wear, cook healthy meals, and hit the gym or trail. New workout wear can make a huge impact on your day. I feel like I live in leggings sometimes and it actually makes me more active. When I look good I typically have a better workout. See details below for this adorable workout outfit.

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Here are some tips for creating a healthier lifestyle:

Blend Your Breakfast

Smoothies are a great way to get nutrients into your body. I always make my own because I know exactly what I am putting in it. I saw a smoothie place put syrup in a smoothie once and I have not been back. My favorite is spinach, banana, milk, greek yogurt, and strawberries. Here is a full post on My Favorite Smoothie Recipes.

Don’t Drink Your Calories

Alcohol and lattes can consume your entire calorie limit if you’re not careful. Limit yourself to one cup of coffee a day and one glass of wine. Trust me, these are two things that I love and I will not skimp on my morning joe. I will indulge in one cup of coffee with my favorite french vanilla creamer every morning but no more than that. I try to only drink alcohol once a week as well. (key word “try”) haha

Water is Key

One thing I have learned as I get older is that dehydration is a real thing. It’s like having a hangover without having any alcohol. I try to keep a refillable water bottle with me at all times.

Limit Sugar

Y’all… it is in EVERYTHING! It is shocking how much sugar is everywhere. Be very cautious about this and read your ingredients for “added sugars”.

Buy Some New Workout Clothes

Like you needed an excuse to shop right? It doesn’t have to be some fancy brand like Lululemon (sorry I love you but I can’t afford you) but just something you feel confident in. My favorite places to get budget friendly workout wear is Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and for a bit of a splurge I love Fabletics.

Here are some workout products that I love:

Be Active

We talked about short term goals right? How about a goal of 30 minutes of activity 4 times a week. This can be walking, running, a fitness class, a home workout video (there are some awesome ones on YouTube). Then once you get the hang of that, bump it up to an hour, 4 times a week. You can do this!

Cook at Home

I can’t tell you how important this is. My favorite thing about cooking at home is portion control. If it is in front of me, I will eat it. Restaurants have such huge portions these days that you are probably over eating every time you eat out. Buy some lean meats and veggies and limit your carbs for some healthy at home dinners. I eat a salad with some kind of protein for lunch and a protein and vegetables for dinner. We splurge once a week and have a burger or pizza or my weakness mac and cheese!

Stick to Your Grocery List

A great rule of thumb is to stick to the outer part of the grocery store. This consists of produce, dairy, and meats. Everything in the middle is processed. Kind of like I said, if its in front of me, I will eat it. I don’t buy desserts or snacks anymore because I will eat those before anything. I have learned that if it’s not in my pantry, I can’t eat it.