Ugh. You know what I really hate? This time of year. It’s after the holidays so I’m now sporting some extra pounds, but this time, it’s on top of some quarantine weight that I’ve gained during the last year, too. Every year I say that “this is the year I’m going to get back on track!” and “I’m going to eat so healthy and lose so much weight and exercise until my feet fall off!” But we all know that gets soboring. Chicken and steamed vegetables is great the first few times, but sometimes I’ll look down at my sad piece of chicken and start dreaming about a cheeseburger.

Well, these are some things I’ve found that I think will really help me stick to eating healthy so I can lose weight because I’m going to keep itfun.

Motivation is key

Obviously. But I’m not talking about those motivational posters of the kitten hanging from a tree that’s telling you to “hang in there”. Unless that works for you, no judgement here! If you’re struggling to stay motivated, you could:

Schedule workout sessions with your friends

You’re less likely to bail when you have other people waiting for you. And if you’re anything like me and my best friend, you can pass the time by talking about boys, how annoying the dog in the next apartment is, and by making fun of each other (I promise, we do it out of love). Consider joining a weekly yoga or spin class together - turn your weekly brunch dates into weekly workout dates.

Make it competitive

Joining an adults-only sports league, competing in a race (remember color runs?), and doing a bootcamp are all fun ways that you can also feed into your competitive spirit.

Prepare yourself

Setting out your workout clothes the night before and putting a motivational message on your phone alarm will help you get going in the morning.

Get moving

There’s so many things you can do that keep you moving and aren’t specifically exercise!

• Go dancing
• Take a walk before dinner
• Go one more time around the block when you’re walking your four-legged friend
• Volunteer
• Clean your house
• Explore your own city with walking tours

Eating healthier

Remember that chicken I mentioned earlier? Yeah, just because we’re eating healthier doesn’t mean it has to be boring!

Start a vegetable garden

I feel like anything that I grow just automatically tastes better. And I love cooking with vegetables from my garden. Right now, I’ve got garlic, tomatoes, peppers, and a bunch of herbs like basil, parsley, and cilantro. It’s great to be able to just grab what I need and have fresh ingredients.

Take a cooking class

By taking a cooking class, you can learn new ways to cook the same old dishes. They’re also helpful for learning how to meal prep, and the best part? Cooking can burn about 100 calories each time you do it.

Plan a theme menu

Spice up your cooking - literally. By planning out theme menus, you’re not only expanding your cooking repertoire, but your steamed vegetables will taste different with each theme! Italian week can incorporate a lot of tomatoes. Greek week? Hello salads! Have a mini fiesta with some avocado dishes. Theworld is yours for the tasting!

Cook for your friends

I know that when I’m catching up with my girls, we usually end up going somewhere where everything is fried and I miiiiiight drink a little too much. Put an end to those bad decisions that you try to justify by saying it’s not an everyday thing, and cook healthy meals without messing with your social life! Pro-tip: invest in some fun serving dishes, like theDivided Side Dish Set.