Ever find yourself wondering, “Why”?  “Why am I not feeling my best?” “Why am I not maintaining a healthy weight?”  Well, many of my clients have asked these questions and I thought it would be useful to share them with you.

1. You Eat a Small Breakfast

Your first meal of the day is the most important. Instead of rolling out of bed with a cup of java, opt for a well-rounded breakfast around 500 calories. A breakfast comprised of a scrambled egg, two slices of whole grain toast with nut butter, a small glass of OJ and a cup of fresh fruit fits the bill. If this sounds like too much food to you, spread it out throughout your morning. Have your egg and toast at home and save your fresh fruit for when you arrive at the office.

2. You Skip Meals

We’ve all heard the “I’m too busy to eat” complaint, but you’re only doing damage to your body and metabolism by skipping meals. Stretching too much time in between meals can easily cause you to overeat later in the day with less healthy options. Try to go no longer than four hours without having something to hold you over. Opt for trail mix, apples with nut butter, whole grain crackers with string cheese or air-popped popcorn sprinkled with chili powder.

3. You’re on a Superfood Craze

Just because it’s called a ‘Superfood’ doesn’t mean you can eat endless amounts. Even good-for-you items such as dried fruits, avocado and nuts can wreak havoc to your diet if you go overboard on the portion sizes. Be mindful when eating these foods and be sure to portion out single-servings into Ziploc bags or Tupperware for easy use. Eyeball or measure out your salad dressings, nuts, nut butters, oils and dried fruits to ensure you aren’t overdoing it.

4. You Don’t Watch Your Eats Saturday and Sunday

Weekdays tend to be scheduled and organized, therefore many of my clients have their structured meals mapped out for them, however, once the weekend hits-it’s downhill until Monday morning. Make a game plan that allows you to enjoy your weekends without over indulging. Plan ahead your meals and read the menus before getting to the restaurant when eating out. Plan where you want to save and spend your calories throughout the week, instead of simply Monday thru Friday. Don’t avoid your favorite indulgences, instead plan ahead and if you know Aunt Rosie’s going to be making her famous cheesecake, plan to have a sliver and maybe take a walk afterwards or curb your sweets intake for the rest of the day.

5. You Cancel Out Your Workouts

Just because you ran two miles on the treadmill doesn’t mean you can scarf down 2 pieces of pizza and a soda with fries. Many of us rationalize, “I just exercised, now I can splurge,” however, that’s not the answer. If you think you’ve earned a treat or snack after your work-out be sure to reach for healthy fare with lean proteins such as a Greek yogurt, beans and hummus. Pair these with vegetables and fruits for an easy and quick go-to snack that won’t cause damage to your diet.

What are your “Why” questions?