By Deja Skipper
In my junior year of high school, I noticed something didn’t feel right. Every time I ate something fatty or any other not-so-good-for-me foods, I felt a tightness in my abdomen. I knew it was due to the unhealthy food I was eating everyday. Something had to change but I didn’t know where to start, so I decided to make a schedule for myself. First, I scheduled specific workout times each day. It was hard at first finding the energy to take myself to the gym, but once I got in the habit I felt much better. I knew working out would get me into shape but it wouldn’t be the only thing I needed to become healthy. One day when I was biting into the sweet, fluffiness of a chocolate chip muffin, I realized something. My solution was hiding in the muffin and other foods like it that I continued to intake. I decided right then and there it was time to cut back. It was not easy but then again when is anything in life?
Breakfast
What I used to eat:
Chocolate Chip Muffin, 364 calories
Jimmy Dean Sausage egg and cheese croissant, 410 calories
What I decided to try instead:
Oatmeal – Strawberry, 130 calories; Raisin, 137 calories; Maple Brown Sugar, 160 calories.
Cereal – Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries Fruit and Yogurt Cereal, 180 calories.
Lunch:
What I used to eat:
Macaroni and Cheese, 326 calories
Ramen Noodles, 388 with 1,820 mg of sodium!
What I decided to try instead:
Bologna Sandwich (Miracle whip, American Cheese, Honey Wheat bread), 276 calories
PB&J (Honey Wheat bread, Grape Jam, Peanut Butter), 217 calories
Dinner:
What I used to eat:
I already ate rather healthy dinners with my family, so this I didn’t need to change. I just altered my portion sizes.
When I’m on my own:
Chicken Salad (spinach, green peppers, onions, teriyaki grilled chicken, chipotle southwest dressing and croutons) or (lettuce, grilled chicken, carrots, french dressing), 105-250 calories
For family dinner:
Pork Chop, 211 calories Or Fish, Tilapia, 112 calories
Yellow Rice, 160 calories
String Beans, 80 calories
Dessert/Snacks:
What I used to eat:
Poptarts (Cinnamon, Chocolate Chip, Strawberry and Cherry), 210 calories
Cheeze Itz, 150 calories
What I decided to try:
Strawberry, Vanilla and Banana yogurt with granola, about 120 calories
Apples with peanut butter, 200 calories
I ate these healthier foods everyday. I completely cut out junk foods and continued working out. By week four I felt much lighter, less bloated and had much more energy!
APN 