Edited by Sophia Savva
I literally ate a cookie for breakfast on Tuesday. A cookie. For breakfast. And I somehow managed to convince myself that it was healthy because it was an oatmeal cookie. I’m not sure if I should be more impressed with my own self persuasive abilities, or disappointed in my utter lack of self control! I mean really, Tali, things are getting out of hand.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time I have found myself in this type of predicament (although I think this may have been a new low, yikes). It’s that lovely time of year where the weather is still unbelievably hot (thanks, global warming), which means the school year is just beginning. And with it comes stressful sleepless nights wondering what you’ve done with your life and hoping you can actually do something with your degree when you graduate next year because OH CRAP this is your last year in the safety bubble of university. Is it just me? I think not.
Amidst these stressful—probably weekly, if we’re being honest—existential crises, we also have to balance classes, jobs, volunteering and other extra-curriculars. I mean, is it really a wonder I wolfed that cookie down and called it good?
But believe it or not, this summer, my dietary habits resembled that of a healthy, well balanced adult, rather than a sticky-fingered six–year-old raiding the kitchen cupboards. I was living with my grandparents, helping them manage things that aren’t so easy as they get older. I made dinner every night while I lived there. It was the first time in a little while that I was eating three meals consistently everyday, all food I made from home. I need to emphasize that I was not intending for anything miraculous to happen here, and was by no means trying to diet or watch what I ate. But here’s what happened:
I Slimmed Down
I’ve always had body image issues, as do many girls worldwide. So I am very acutely aware of changes in my body, and the way I look in clothes. Over the course of the summer, I noticed my clothes fit much better, my shorts were much looser, and my body seemed more toned. My belt fits on the smallest loop, for the first time in, like, years. (I’ve had the same belt since I was 13, so I notice when I fluctuate. Why a decade old belt? Because I like it, so please save your judgment!)
No More “I’m Bored” Snacking
I can’t be the only one who, when there is a moment’s pause in the craziness of life, decides to fill it with food. I eat when I’m bored, I know it’s bad, but I always have. BUT! I noticed that as the summer went on, I stopped this habit altogether. Because I was eating at regular intervals throughout the day, I never really felt the need to grab a snack, because my body always felt satiated. Don’t get me wrong, if I was legitimately hungry between meals, I would eat something. But I wouldn’t grab something from the kitchen just for the heck of it. This most likely contributed to the slimming down I mentioned.
I Ate Less
I found that as time went on, I was eating smaller portions, not because I was conscious of watching the amount I consumed, but because my stomach felt full sooner. The lack of snacking probably contributed to this, however, I also think that because my meals were more regulated, my body was beginning to learn my habits. Because I wasn’t eating all over the place throughout the week, instead eating regularly around the same time each day, there was no long waiting periods to amp up my hunger. Generally, when I’ve gone a long time without food, I overestimate how hungry I am, and eat way more than I should. But this wasn’t happening because I knew that I would be eating lunch or dinner shortly, at the same time every day.
The Science
Boost that Metabolism
Because I was eating regularly everyday, my body wasn’t going into starvation mode. What happens is, when your body senses that you haven’t eaten in a while, it registers this as starvation. This slows down your basal metabolic rate. Seems counterintuitive, but starving yourself is actually what is making your body hold onto the weight. So, because I was eating consistently, my body never sensed this “starvation,” which boosted my metabolism, leading to me dropping a few pounds.
Healthier Choices
I was eating food I had prepared all summer, instead of grabbing Timmy’s between classes. Because I consistently ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner, when I did hang out with my friends, I rarely felt the need to eat an unhealthy snack, because I had either just eaten, or was going to eat soon. The routine aspect of eating contributed to what I was eating, which made me make healthier, wiser choices overall.
How to Do This
I know that as school kicks in, I may be tempted to fall back into my regular bad habits. See “cookie for breakfast” if you’re having any doubts. But I’m really going to aim to eat consistently throughout the year, and I challenge you all to do the same! Here’s what we can do:
Meal Planning
Because I was responsible for dinner every night, I regularly planned my meals at the start of each week. This doesn’t have to take forever—just think of 3-4 different healthy, easy meals you can make, and write down the ingredients you’ll need before you go shopping. That way when you get to the store, there’s no ambiguity about what you should be buying (in other words, no impulse junk food grabs like you’re six years old). You can stretch the meals out, so save some for lunch or dinner the next night, or freeze your meals on Sunday or Monday, and just thaw them out throughout the week.
Bring Snacks from Home
The days when I would guiltily hit up Tim’s for my everything bagel smothered with cream cheese happened to also be the days where I forgot to bring food. Coincidence? Avoid impulsively snacking on unhealthy foods on campus by bringing healthy snacks with you! I love Kind bars, grapes, carrot sticks, and apples, but there are tons of options when it comes to healthier snacks. Go down the Pinterest rabbit hole if you don’t believe me. Plus, it’ll save you money on campus, and that is always a win.
Water water water!!
Lots of times when you do feel hungry between meals, it’s actually your body telling you that you’re thirsty. It’s weird, but also true. So bring a giant water bottle with you, and when you start dreaming of timbits and poutine, stop yourself, and just take a swig. Water has so many health benefits as it is, but it will also help you resist those unhealthy choices, between your routine meals.
Eat Consistently When You Can
You’re saying, Yes Tali this all sounds nice and pretty, but what about when we have class during lunch or dinner? I know, my friends, I have been there. That’s why Tupperware was invented. Sid’s Café also has microwaves available, so bring your food to-go! If your prof doesn’t allow food, then load up on those healthy snacks to tide you over until you’ll be able to make it home to the food you’ve prepared ahead of time. You can do this.
If you’ve made it to the end, thanks for sticking with me. Moral of the story is, putting down the breakfast cookie and eating at regular, consistent times may help you handle the stressy-grossness that is U of T a little bit better. Plus, maybe you’ll even get some new cooking skills under your belt, which is never a bad thing. And who knows, you might even drop down a notch on your decade old belt. Really, anything is possible.
References
https://truhealthmedicine.com/healthy-living/eat-meals-regular-times
https://www.livestrong.com/article/43876-eat-three-meals-day/
https://www.pinterest.ca/simplyquinoa/healthy-snack-recipes/?lp=true
Photo Credits
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/essential-guide-stress
http://alternative-doctor.com/weight-loss/how-to-slim-down/
http://www.urbanacupuncturecenter.org/10-foods-boost-metabolism/
https://sweatlab.ca/a-new-easy-twist-on-meal-planning/
https://www.kitchenstuffplus.com/ksp-flavour-up-glass-water-bottle-with-infuser-light-blue