TGIF, Readers! Am I right?

If you’re like me, you LOVE eating in Phelps! To me, it’s more than just the food, it’s the people you’re with, the big picture windows, and the community that’s formed there. Ok…let’s be real, all those things are great, but the main reason we actually go to Phelps is to eat.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Phelps is great – they always have very diverse food options to fit everyone’s style of eating, and most times, the main line options are pretty amazing, making choosing what to get super simple. But other times, there just isn’t anything that’s going to hit the spot for you that night. That’s what has happened to me the last few times I’ve gone into Phelps, so I figured I’d give you a little list of food options that can get you through almost any meal if the main meals don’t fit your fancy!

1. Yogurt. Most people don’t know that Phelps has extremely yummy vanilla yogurt by the salad bar closest to the ice cream machines. Mix this with raisins, craisins, walnuts, granola mix, chocolate chips, fresh fruit or even Oreo pieces, and you’ve got a great addition to your meal that’s healthy too! Since I’ve discovered this, I eat it at every meal, no joke.
2. Mexican Soup. This one involves a main ingredient that has to be served in Phelps in order to make it – Black Bean soup. Once you get the Black Bean soup, you can add all the Mexican toppings you want – sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chip and have a different twist on a regular soup. I love Mexican food, so I’ll definitely be trying this one soon.
3. Speaking of Mexican food, you can take advantage of the Mexican station as well. I’m not a huge meat lover, so what I do is I ask for a plain tortilla and add all the vegetables they have. This gives me a quality veggie burrito that leaves me wanting more. Honestly though, sometimes I get a second one.
4. The baked potato bar. Most people don’t know that every day Phelps has baked potatoes to add to your meal. Right next to the soup station, the baked potato bar has butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and anything you could want on a potato. It’s a nice starch addition to any plate.
5. Fruit Salad. Every day, Phelps has fresh fruit. This gives the perfect opportunity for someone to make a healthy salad and be healthy, while also mixing it up with your food options.

Hopefully these were some helpful eating tips! This was just part one, so stay tuned for the part two where I’ll tell you about more different Phelps options. Have a great weekend, readers, and stay healthy!

Until next time!

I started the title of this post tempted to stick an “easy” in between the words “five” and “step”, but then I realized I would have been typing to deceive, not to inform or encourage. It’s not easy; it’s never been easy. It’s a commitment, one reaffirmed everyday, from the second your feet touch the floor in the morning to the second you fall asleep at night. It is a promise made between the person you are today and the person you can be tomorrow.

1. Start. Just start. Throw yourself into it. Don’t give yourself time for doubt and second-guessing to settle in. But do not be reckless. Get a check-up if you have pre-existing medical conditions. You are, after all, in this to change your life for the better, not put it in danger.

2. Don’t overthink it. Don’t spend every moment of every day thinking about how much weight you might’ve lost the day before or how much you might have gained back after eating a meal. Anxiety drowns out optimism. If you make a bad dietary decision and have a donut you know you shouldn’t have indulged in, A-OK. Commit yourself to getting through the rest of the day; life’s hard enough without burdening yourself with petty regrets. Invest all the energy you might’ve wasted worrying into action on the streets or in the gym; strive to outpace the person who gave in to weakness in the past and race towards the stronger, better you of tomorrow.

3. Don’t make a scene of it. It’s tempting to declare your intentions to the world, to tell everyone you know on and off social media that you’re really going to make the change this year. And there’s really nothing wrong with that. In fact, it seems like a good way to commit yourself to your efforts and have others hold you accountable. But it can also have the unintended effect of making you anxious and even paranoid. Suddenly its feels as though your friends and family are actively judging you, zeroing in on you waistline for any signs of improvement or regression. This could very well not be the case; they might accept you for who you are, thick or fit. But strange things happen when the body is deprived of the caloric intake it has grown accustomed to over the years. The body and mind are placed under a great deal of stress; it becomes all too easy to discourage oneself with thoughts of being judged or scrutinized. I would advise anyone dieting or planning to diet to tell those one knows best; tell those you know will love, support and even encourage you. You’ll need them, because there will be times (and they might be many) where your strength shall fail you, and you will need the support and encouragement of those closest to you.

4. Ease into it. Don’t get overzealous. It’s easy, tempting even, to start that first jog or lift with a pace that will tire you out quickly. Do not burn yourself out on the first day or week; that’s an excellent way to begin doubting yourself. Leave no room for pessimism by starting out at your pace. There’s no race here, no competition. Just you and the body you have invested time and effort towards making comfortable place for yourself. That is the real goal here; to become comfortable with the body you’ll be spending your life in. There’s no yardstick to measure yourself against, no imaginary hierarchy to climb. There is only you, and the standards you have set for yourself.

5. Self-restraint does not equal deprivation. Possibly the biggest fear of anyone contemplating a diet is the thought of having to do without a favorite food. Most people picture bowls of steamed vegetables and tofu when they think “diet”, and then almost immediately think of all their favorite food sitting in a big red circle with a bar drawn across it. The thought of doing without for months and even years is hugely discouraging. Its also hugely unnecessary. No one said stop eating your favorite food all together, even if they are high in saturated fats and sugars. You don’t have to give up donuts, pizzas and fried chicken legs cold turkey (no pun intended). Just eat less of it. Limit the amount of calories you consume. I would advice potential dieters to drink lots of water or fruit juice before every meal; I’ve found it limits the amount of food you are tempted to eat. Go for natural sugars found in fruits. Eat fiber; its an excellent hunger suppressant and gives one a feeling of fullness. You might find you like new and exciting dishes you once considered “strictly vegetarian”. Dont be afraid to broaden your horizons.

And that’s all I have to say about that.