How I Stay Fit Even with Fast Food and Alcohol
This post isn’t for you if the thought of eating a french fry makes you sick at the impurity of it all. I’ve been mocked for stating it’s fine to eat candy, that carbs can help you lose weight, and that six-pack abs aren’t necessarily healthy.
I’m not flawless in any way. My family eats frozen (sometimes more). The world’s clean eaters are probably thinking I’m unqualified to give health and fitness advice. I understand if that describes you.
But pay attention to what I’m saying. I’m 44 years old and trying to figure out how to raise two active kids with a husband that travels on a weekly basis. I spend my weeknights driving to tutoring, dance, and guitar lessons. In addition, I’m juggling the pressures of working and building a freelance business.
I’m equally as busy, stressed, and fatigued as the people I work with. I wish I could claim I consume kale smoothies and fresh salads on a regular basis. I’m afraid I can’t. Despite the fact that I don’t always get things perfect, I manage to stay in shape. I’ll never guarantee that anything will work for you just because it worked for me. But here’s how I handle things.
What I get mostly right with food
I follow a flexible diet, which means that nothing is off-limits, but I keep track of my daily calories. I keep track of how much protein, fat, and carbs I consume. When I’m on vacation or for a particular occasion, I don’t keep track.
I set a goal of 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. This means I consume a lot of chicken breasts, eggs, turkey, and lean ground beef (all of which I enjoy). I also eat a protein smoothie every now and then to fill up the gaps.
I presently consume between 220 and 240 grams of carbohydrates per day. My carbohydrate intake will fluctuate depending on my workout volume and objectives. I’m currently trying to reduce a few pounds gradually. I’ll cut my carbs to roughly 150–180 if I want to lose weight quickly.
White rice, Dave’s Killer Bread, fruit, pasta on occasion, and veggies make up the majority of my carbs. In fact, I don’t consume nearly as many vegetables as I should, so I use Athletic Greens to make up for it. I also consume V8.
To keep my hormones in check, I maintain my fat grams over 50. I’ve now gone up to 70–80 grams. I use olive oil in my cooking. I enjoy dark chocolate and eat a small amount every day. The remaining ingredients are eggs, butter, milk, and cheese.
What about those frozen meals? I’m not sure what to say. Stouffer’s lasagna is perfect for some nights. If we want fast food, I try to order the healthiest option available (although I can never bring myself to order the salad). That’s usually a grilled chicken sandwich or a hamburger for kids. I almost never order fries. I focus on eating slowly and thoroughly, so I’m satisfied when I’m done.
We have potato chips and sugary cereals in the pantry (gasp! ), but I don’t find them appealing. My children eat them because I want to teach them about moderation rather complete avoidance. I weigh out a single portion and stop there if I do consume them.
You won’t have moments where you want to eat anything and everything in sight if you aren’t hungry and are consuming enough protein and fat.
I also limit myself to one or two days of drinking per week. And, because hangovers are so unpleasant at this age, I rarely overindulge.