My name is Sarah and I am 23 years old. I live in Washington, DC - one of the fittest cities in the country, and a city I am truly in love with. Although I am a Canadian by my passport, I am a true American-loving gal! Iowa will always be the place where I grew up - and ironically the state I met the love of my life 12 years later!
Being fit and staying healthy has been engrained into me since I was a young teenager, but it doesn’t mean I am not still learning everyday! I started Weight Watchers along with some friends after gaining the 10 lbs first semester of freshman year of college. I was devastated that I had to go on such a diet - the one my mom started years back! I kept it quiet from everyone - and then the pounds started melting off. I have followed this ever since - although not as strict.
I have tried a lot of “diets” and although they work, they also stop working! I realized that I may be losing weight, but it wasn’t by eating the healthiest foods. And by that I mean eating no fat or no carb foods isn’t necessarily beneficial to my body and my life.
At the end of March, I therefore decided to try something new. Something I knew may work - but was always scared to try. I would be eating more calories, fat, and carbs than I ever had before. But I was trusting this.
Clean eating - the idea that we should eat everything as natural as possible. The less packaging the better, the less sodium the better, the less ingredients the better. There are many long definitions but this is what helps resonate with me.
Many fats - like omega 3’s and omega 6’s - are essential to a healthy balanced diet. So are good carbs - like whole grains. I never thought I would allow myself a jar of peanut butter in the fridge - but now I do. Best diet ever, right?
I think the biggest motivator behind my change in diet “plans” was my goals at the gym. I am a gym rat. I love love love my gym. It may sound crazy, but I am there twice a day most days of the week. Morning for fasted cardio and evening for weights. There is no better feeling than coming home from a run or finishing a difficult spin class, of having a killer tricep workout.
After starting to incorporate weight training into my routine, I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t seeing the definition that I was looking for. Building muscle is key to burning fat and keeping my metabolism up. I then realized it all was in my diet. Diet wont work without working out, but working out wont work without a complimentary diet. That means lots of protein, complex carbs, lots of vegetables, and of course healthy fats. That is clean eating. Abs are made in the kitchen.
In my blog you’ll find clean eating recipes, workouts, and all the fun stuff in between. I hope to show you how easy living a fit life is - even in a country bound to be chunky - and how fun it actually is (I know, right?!). Enjoy!
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