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I can honestly say that I had the adventure of a lifetime. This past semester, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. For the past four months, I got to not only live in Florence, but also travel all around Europe, see amazing places, meet amazing people, and – of course – eat amazing food. From the pizzas and pastas of Italy, chips, guac, and mojitos in Barcelona, Trdelniks in Prague, gelato in Florence and everything in between… I’ve definitely eaten it all! I wouldn’t trade any bite, lick, or sip for anything #noregrets, and honestly wish I could be eating all of those amazing foods again.
But since I’ve been back in America, reality has finally set in, and I have been determined to lose some of the weight that I gained while studying abroad – and trust me, there was a good amount to shed. I’d rather have the memory of my amazing meals in photos and memories than in numbers on a scale…
So, I began my journey back to a healthy weight at the beginning of the summer and it’s been hard, to say the least. I’ve definitely had to test my self-control (throwback to this past weekend when I had to turn down a Levain Cookie – ugh). But I’ve been keeping it positive by reminding myself that this is my chance to really change my eating style and love how I look!
Wanna know my secret? Well, to be honest, there is nothing new to what I’ve been doing. First of all, just the sheer change of consuming pizza and pasta basically every day to eating a balanced diet helped me shed some of the weight at the beginning. But other than that, my diet has consisted of a ton of vegetables, fruit servings, and lean protein. I’ve cut out carbs (which we all know does the trick), lowered my sugar intake, and introduced more exercise into my routine. It’s not computer science, it’s just willpower.
So if you wanna try it out, here’s what a typical day looks like for me:
Breakfast
8 oz. protein shake with an added shot of coffee for flavor – and energy! I usually include a work out after breakfast.
Lunch
Salad with unlimited veggies and 3-4 oz. of protein (usually grilled chicken), and a bit of olive oil and vinegar or lemon for dressing.
Snack
A serving of fruit (I usually love a nectarine, a cup of blueberries, or a plum!)
Dinner
Another serving of lean protein, usually with a salad, and grilled vegetables (I love baked cauliflower!)
Dessert
More fruit!
So if you’re tired of the quick fixes just not working out, and want to say bye to fad diets, try this out and see what you think. I bet you’ll feel more energized and cleansed, and lose a couple of pounds while you’re at it!
Make sure to check out 10 Dramatic Celebrity Transformations You Have To See To Believe and SOS: What To Do Right Before You Need To Be In A Bikini
