Melissa Paris Fitness

Living in the city isn't easy, especially when you work hard, play hard and are living the single life. There's no doubt that you've got a tough fight ahead of you when it comes to eating right, finding time to work out, staying motivated and taking time out for yourself. Single Ladies? We've got your back on this one! Read on for Part 1 of our comprehensive guide to healthily conquer it all.

STAYING IN & MEALS FOR ONE
Microwave meals for one? Gross. Sushi Take Out? Okay…but expensive, and let’s face it, ‘healthy and nutritious take out’ is hard to come by.
When you’re short on time, it’s all about the prep. I know it’s hard - but it works! Easier said than done - but if you take time to do a quick run at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods before hand - you’re body will thank you for it.

You might also argue that one of the negative things about stocking the refrigerator is that if you haven’t had time to prep or cook, the fresh veggies go bad really quickly.Which is why I’m all about broccoli, beets, carrots and zucchini. Why? When roasted they last longer.
The same applies to protein, chicken and eggs are a great and easy option as opposed to fish - which has a VERY short shelf life if you’re buying fresh.

TIP:
Steamed veggies because of the high water content get soggy, they may not be appealing after a few days of being in the fridge.  I like to chop up my veggies and sprinkle some extra virgin olive oil, pepper, and dash sea salt and bake on 375 for 40ish minutes (depending on thickness of veggies)
ROAST YOUR VEGGIES

You can make a few pieces of chicken or boil some eggs and they will stay for a few days keeping you “on the wagon” and also save you a few bucks on Seamless.
BAKE CHICKEN. BOIL EGGS.

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WINE IT UP
We all know that while delicious, cocktails and mixed (hard liquor) drinks are chock full of calories. What’s the point in eating healthy all day and then drinking the equivalent of a cheeseburger. I know it’s hard to resist BUT guess what - you don’t just have to stick to tap water and ice. Oh and avoid the Vodka/Soda myth - it’s no better than a rum and coke!

TIP
My clients know that I’m not a calorie counter.  I am a quality counter. So when it comes to alcohol in general TOO much is never a good thing.  But I do favor my red wine over hard alcohols because of the anti-oxidants!
Whether it’s a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz, Malbec, Zinfandel, Sangiovese or Barbera, there’s a vine for everyone. GET INTO REDS. ADD FRUIT OR ICE TO MIX IT UP.

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BFF MOTIVIATION
When there’s a Real Housewives of Beverley Hills marathon on Bravo - it’s tempting to ‘watch just one more’ - before you know it, you’ve lost 3 hours and know the intimate details of Lisa Vanderpump’s rose bush trimming. Don’t get sucked in!

Before moving in with my husband, I lived with my best friend. We were motivators for each other. From running on the West Side Highway to boot camp classes together.  It WAS GREAT because on those mornings when I may have slept in vs. getting an ass kick workout in, she would walk down the hallway and motivate me to get out and get going!

TIP
CALL YOUR BFF AND CREATE A WORKOUT SCHEDULE (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) and PLAN WITH GOALS (get stronger, lose weight, tighten your booty).

I hope you’ve taken away some useful pointers - stay tuned for PART 2 next week, where we’ll be covering - what to eat on a first date, how to get a good workout without a pricey gym membership and how to REALLY relax.