Finally, I’m looping back on one of my most asked about topics!! I wrote a post on this topic over a year ago, but since then a few things have changed, let me get you guys fully up to date on my wellness journey. I call it a journey because it’s always changing. As I’m writing this, DC is still in full lockdown (quarantine) so some things have been adjusted, but I’m going to write this out in a way that makes sense during and post-quarantine.
Let’s start with food, because as my dad always says, 80% is what you eat and 20% is working out. I have learned the hard way that this is pretty damn true. You can run all day every day, but if you’re eating like shit, you won’t see the results you crave.
Intermittent fasting & food:
Intermittent fasting means different things to different people, the following is my take on it. Let me say this right now, I’m not a dietician nor am I a nutritionist, by any means, so this is simply what I’ve learned works best for MY body.
Monday through Friday I practice intermittent fasting in a 16:8 ratio. This means I stop eating 16 hours of the day and only eat within an 8 hour window. 16 seems like a long time to not eat anything, but when you break it down it’s actually pretty manageable. Most weekdays I’ll wake up, have black coffee (no calories are allowed during that 16 hour window) and water until noon. The first few days may feel tough but it gets easier. At noon I’ll usually reach for a ONE Protein Bar, favorite flavor is cookie dough or cinnamon roll, and fruit.
Some other lunch options I tend to go for:
salad from Sweetgreen, love the thai ones
oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar
Chick-fil-A nuggets, no fries
reduced fat turkey bacon egg white sandwich -Starbucks
Between lunch and dinner I’ll usually grab a snack:
banana and almond butter
bell peppers and black bean dip
Siete chips and salsa
Dinner:
lots of salmon in different varieties
spaghetti squash
taco salad
honey nut Cheerios and almond milk
I’m not a huge cook and tend to be more of a picker so it’s really tough to write out exactly what I eat in a day. If you go to my Instagram, I have a food highlight with some dinner ideas.
To make fasting easier to track I use the Zero Fasting Tracker app.
I loveeee me a glass of wine or spicy margarita, but I try to only drink alcohol on the weekends. I notice when I drink less I deal with less bloating and have more energy.
Fitness:
I’m pretty into working out, but that wasn’t always the case. I didn’t get into running until junior year of college, and that was only because I gained 15 pounds in a summer (yup, ONE summer… two months…. don’t even know how that’s possible). I first gained a ton of muscle through BBG by Kayla Itsines, a 12 week workout program you can download on your phone. I’ve gone back to this workout a few times, it’s especially great for traveling because it requires minimal equipment. After BBG I started Orange Theory and loved the environment! This was my first real experience with a workout class in some time and I forgot how much better I perform with structure. After a year of Orange Theory I wasn’t thrilled with the shape my body was taking. I think I was doing too heavy of weights and the rowing was broadening my shoulders more than I liked. Also, I found myself so ravenous after each class, I was going 4-5 times a week, which lead me to overeating. Last year I was introduced to Barry’s Bootcamp, a fitness chain comparable to Orange Theory, and fell in LOVE!!! Barry’s is a 50 minute HIIT class that switches you between treadmills and floor circuits. After a few months, I found myself still gaining strength but leaning out more. Before quarantine, I was doing Barry’s 3-4 days a week and running/ doing my own floor workouts the other 1-2 days. My body needs cardio to stay lean, and running has become super therapeutic for me, so I try to get in runs 4-5 days a week. If you’re not near a Barry’s studio head to their Instagram, they have tons of workouts up on their IGTV. Some weeks I’ll go to an Orange Theory or pilates class, but for the most part my fitness routine stays pretty consistent. I’ve been asked about the Peloton and my thoughts on it. Personally, I’m not super into spinning, but with quarantine my options are limited. If you don’t have time to go to a gym, or you love spinning, I would highly suggest getting a Peloton. I would’ve gone for the tread but they aren’t delivering during quarantine.
Hope this helps you guys and please remember that every body is different. What works for me may not work for you!
