A big thanks to Anne @ Love Mint Chocolate Chip for this amazing guest post and for doing this for me at the drop of a hat! Anne is a fellow SMU food blogger and I just can’t get enough of her adorable blog. She’s got an infectious positive outlook on life and each of her posts brings a smile to my face. Basically, she sums up her blog as follows:

“Enjoying life to the fullest while trying to maintain a healthy balance between food, fun, fashion, fitness and ALWAYS saving room for dessert”. 

Love her already? Here she is:

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Hello there!

I blog over at Love Mint Chocolate Chip and am absolutely honored to be doing this guest post for Natalie! I love her blog and we have so much in common AKA our love for food:)

I am about to start my senior year at SMU!! Gosh time has flown. After gaining close to 40 pounds my freshman year (I am 5’1 and y’all this was just not a cute look) for the past 3 years I have really been around the block and back with trying to figure out how to live healthy in college and still have fun!!

A few tips I have learned along the way:

1. Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead.
My motto is: “Failure to plan is a plan to fail.” Think about your meals! Plan your clean eats for the week. I like to use Sundays to grocery shop and prep meals for the week.

Get a big thing of chicken and grill it for the week, cut up fresh veggies and fruit, make some healthy snacks… Whatever you have to do to prepare for the week!

Take snacks to class. I am totally that girl who will whip out an apple, some almonds, a granola bar, etc. Don’t let yourself get too hungry or you will binge later.

2. Set time for exercise. 

Put it in your planner and act like it is a class. If you have it set in your schedule, you will be less likely to miss!

If you feel overwhelmed with school work or too busy with extra curricular activities, do a quick run around the block. But, “I don’t have time” is not an excuse. Everybody has 20 minutes! You will feel better, function better and be an overall more enjoyable person to be around.

On the weekends grab your friends and go find something active to do! My friends and I love to try out new classes together, go on walks or find fun “active” activities.

3. Save your splurges for the weekend. 

Eat clean throughout the week and get in at least 4 good sweat sessions and then go have fun on the weekends!

There is no reason to miss out on anything because you are too worried about eating healthy. And I promise, you CAN find plenty of healthy options almost anywhere.
Just look at the menu beforehand and find something that sounds healthy and more importantly, tasty!

You deserve a treat every now and then.

4. Moderation is key. 

This goes with everything and in college, particularly with alcohol. A few drinks is not going to kill your waistline, just watch what you are drinking.

Skinny margaritas, vodka and soda with lime and light beer are great options.

5. Late night smartly! 

The problem is not necessarily the alcoholic drinks themselves, it is what we choose to EAT when we have a little happy buzz.

If you feel hungry or have the munchies when you get home, try to stick with something that will feel satisfying but won’t ruin all your hard work.

My personal favorites are pop chips and pirates booty popcorn. Grab a handful, drink a bottle water and GO TO BED.

And if you do happen to go through taco bell or what-a-burger… Don’t beat yourself up! It’s okay if it only happens once in a while.

Don’t forget… You will NEVER get these 4 years back!! Do not waste them in the gym.

Everyone gains a little weight at some point in college… Just get back on track, surround yourself with people who make you happy and enjoy life. Do not forget to live it to the very fullest.

Thanks again Natalie for having me! Come visit me over at my blog!

Have a happy, healthy, YUMMY
day!!

Anne