By Kyla Cook |News Editor|

So my last entry was about what you should eat, and it probably seems like you’ll be cutting a lot of the good stuff you like to eat such as candy and chips, but I’m not lying to you … it is possible! The secret? 5-6 small meals a day.

Why the 5 meals? There are many different reasons and you can find them in many different magazines and books. But here’s one that’s simple enough: www.thehealthyeatingguide.com/6smallmealsaday.html

My main reason is it boosts my metabolism and keeps me from overeating. I’d rather have 6 smaller meals than one 1,000 calorie one from any restaurant. It’s hard to get started though, I had to force myself to eat every 3 hours. Now, I’m hungry by that time.

So here’s what a typical day looks like for me:

Breakfast: 2 whole eggs with 1/2 Farmer Johns smoked sausage link, 1 cup spinach, and 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded. I’ll also have around 3 cups of black coffee, which has shown to boost metabolism.

Snack #1: About 3-4 hours later I will have a snack. Usually it’s either a cup of non-fat cottage cheese or plain Greek yogurt with 1 cup of fruit.

Lunch: Another 3-4 hours later I will eat a turkey sandwich (sliced from the Deli counter) on whole wheat bread with 1 slice of sharp cheddar cheese and mustard. I’ll either have fruit, pumpkin seeds, or a salad with olive oil and vinegar on the side.

Snack #2: Again, 3-4 hours later I will eat something small, like a cheese stick and fruit, or a granola bar and veggies.

Dinner: Dinner is always basic, I have meat, some form of complex carbs, and veggies. Usually 4-6oz of chicken (baked or stove top), 1 cup of veggies, 1 cup of brown rice OR 1 sweet potato with 1 tbsp natural butter.

People have a lot of excuses when it comes to their diet. It’s expensive or it’s too time consuming, etc. If you really want to be fit and healthy, then you just have to do it. If that means waking up an hour early then fine. If it means sacrificing those shoes you really want to buy, then that’s what you have to do. You could even cook all your meals on Sunday and invest in some Tupperware!

When I get stuck in a rut because of any of the reasons above, I always say to myself: “I’d rather look good naked than have cute, but large clothes!” Works every time.

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Ronmerk | Flickr Creative Commons