Can you smell that? It’s the smell of change, not to mention that lovely spring weather in the air! As we all know, Mardi Gras started about two weeks ago. This is also known as “Fat Tuesday.” This
is one of those days where if you are always getting down on yourself for overeating or having
sweets (stop that!), you can bask in the pleasure of not caring because this is a free pass day.
Coincidentally, Lent began the day after Mardi Gras. If you didn’t know, this is the religious
period when a believer gives up something in honor of Jesus sacrificing himself on the cross to
save us from our sins, which continues until Easter because that symbolizes the rebirth of Christ.
Lent is the perfect time to ditch the excuses and jumpstart your healthy living! I gave up sweets
and stopped drinking more than one cup of coffee a day. I also decided that I was going to eat
healthy and include all of the food groups, along with incorporating a workout into my schedule
every day.
Not religious? It’s okay to pretend if you feel like it will help you in slimming down to a sexier
you. Believe me, a ton of people jump on the Lent bandwagon in an attempt to better themselves.
No reason why you can’t jump on board, too!
Now, let’s skip ahead to spring break. All of you Oswego collegiettes™ are back at school,
grinding out homework and miscellaneous projects. If you’re like me, you’re probably wishing
you were still on vacation. I went to London this past break and yes, I broke my rules for Lent.
Hey, I’m on vacation! I needed to explore the country’s culture and soak everything in because
I don’t know when I’ll be able to go back. Healthy living isn’t about restricting yourself from all
of the foods you love, it’s about loving every food in moderation!
I realized I was going to break my Lent rules when I walked into the hotel and noticed it didn’t
have a gym. But I did so much walking around that it mostly made up for it. Then, I was exposed
to all of this new, yummy-looking food. I tried everything I wanted to and didn’t feel bad one
bit (and you shouldn’t either)! Like I said, my journey to weight loss isn’t about limiting my
choices. After all, when am I going to experience this again?
So tell me, what fun things did you do on vacation? Did you explore a new location, try a new
recipe, or just relax at home? Remember, we’re all in this together.
Today’s tip: Drink lots of water! Studies show that those who drink an 8 oz. glass of water
before a meal actually consume fewer calories. Not to mention you stay hydrated for your
workout!