My Struggles with Food and Exercise - And How I Solved Them

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths.

-- Steven Wright

I'm going to get on with posting my favourite recipes SOON (look out for the post on a gorgeous curry that's always a family favourite), but for this post I wanted to talk about something I've always struggled with: fitness.

See, there's nothing I love more than food. I enjoy everything from a Big Mac and chips right up to Michelin Star restaurants, and I wouldn't stop eating if that was an option. The problem is that I also want to take care of my body.

That's why I've always had a constant battle between enjoying my favourite hobby (because that's what food is to me, and I suspect to you too if you're reading this blog) and remaining healthy.

I admit that I haven't solved this completely yet - but I've picked up a few tips along the way. Here's how I manage to enjoy food without feeling guilty, yet remaining a reasonably respectable weight:

• Make exercise a daily part of your routine. Sounds simple doesn't it? But we all know it's hard to exercise daily. And by exercise, I mean the kind that gets your heart pumping and your body sweating - walking or yoga doesn't count (not that they aren't good for you). I tried almost every type of exercise - swimming, weight lifting, running - but the thing that I managed to stick to was using a cross trainer. I bought a York Cross Trainer (which I love) and exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes with it each day. It's low impact too, which is great for the joints.
• Cut out the mindless eating. Each day I have a direct choice - mindlessly eat snacks (I'm a sucker for biscuits) and then feel guilty when it comes to eating meals, or avoid junk food altogether when at home so I can enjoy the meals I cook. When it's put like that, there isn't really a choice at all.
• Don't obsess about weight. I used to weigh myself at least twice a week. Now I probably check my weight once per month. It's just as accurate and a lot less stressful. If I've gained, I just up the exercise and try to reduce my intake.
• Reduce portion sizes. This is a hard one - but vital! I used to eat huge portions, so it's no wonder I got quite "large" at times. Now I try to serve myself small portions, but savour every bite.

Here's the bottom line: if you're a foodie like me, "dieting" isn't an option. So do more exercise, cut out needless calories, reduce your portion sizes...and enjoy your food!