1. You really do deserve that cookie.
2. Sometimes you are going to slip up. That’s life.
3. If you don’t plan ahead, you are more likely to slip up.
4. You never know if you like it unless you try it!
5. Sometimes spending the extra money to have it sliced/peeled/picked/packaged/WHATEVER for you, can be worth it.
6. Eat lots of small meals throughout the day to avoid a pig-out.
7. Drinking lots of water makes you realize how thirsty (and not hungry) you actually were.
8. When you want to munch on something bad, chew gum instead!
9. No matter what you eat – good, bad, whatever – someone will judge you. Let them.
10. Moderation is everything.
11. Lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats are where it’s at.
12. Small substitutions make a world of difference.
What about you?
Jennifer is a 27 year old personal trainer living in Connecticut. She is "Coach Jen" at 
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
These are all great!! My #1 rule is to never let myself get too hungry. When that happens I will pig out on anything in sight, healthy or not!
.-= Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries´s last blog ..wake me up before you go go =-.
I definitely agree with you on water. Thats something I don’t pay enough attention to. I also agree with you on people judging what we eat. It’s a dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t situation.
.-= Alex @ IEatAsphalt´s last blog ..The Skinny in Grocery Stores =-.
I learned that putting good things in my body makes me feel so much better, when I do eat something with alot of sugar such as icecream it makes me feel yucky : p oh I do indulge in icecream dont be fooled but I def feel its effects on my body!
Love you!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..PROOF and LOVERS! =-.
Have fruit or veggies at every meal. They fill you up and make you feel great!
.-= Liz @ lizrunsdc´s last blog ..Keeping it fresh =-.
Twitter: nicoleculver
June 1, 2010 at 8:21 pm
I love your rule #5, it is SO worth it sometimes to just spend the extra money. We have many of the same rules, especially sometimes we just do deserve the cookie
I love this post, great idea 
.-= Nicole @ Making Good Choices´s last blog .. =-.
Twitter: lauryannraik
June 1, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Couldn’t of said any of this better myself!! What a great post!!
I learned eating well grown food, from healthy soil, REALLY makes a difference in not only taste, but how I feel!! Also, cooking more…and taking as much time enjoying a meal as you took to prepare it!!
My favorite rule is rule #1
xo
.-= Laury @ thefitnessriot´s last blog ..Chèvres sur les Vaches =-.
I love these 12 points! You are so right about all of these and I have to agree with all of them
.-= Erica´s last blog ..I am still here! =-.
Those are great things to have learned!! And all great food rules to live by!
.-= Emilyeatsclean´s last blog ..Best egg scramble ever! =-.
I totally agree on the water! Thanks for the great advice.
.-= Ashley´s last blog ..Thai-tastic =-.
Number 9 is so true. When I first became a vegan (before deciding to be a vegetarian), my friends would constantly make negative remarks when we went out to eat (they ordered ice cream once, and said “Hide if from Crystal, she’ll think you’re gross” ugh!). It is definitely something I have finally learned to deal with.
I really need to learn some moderation.
.-= Crystal´s last blog ..Foxy =-.
Twitter: AMYSRANDOMNESS
June 2, 2010 at 8:27 am
I’ve definitely learned the hard way about planning ahead! If I’m looking in my refrigerator with no idea what to eat for dinner, I’m in trouble!
Now if only I could conquer the moderation thing…
.-= Amy B @ Second City Randomness´s last blog ..And then the sky opened up. =-.
These are all great rules! My number one – eat BEFORE you’re hungry! I try to eat every 3-4 hours that way I never get to the point where I inhale everything my eyes see lol
It’s incredibly true about the cookie. It really is okay from time to time. Indulging from time to time is not weakness. In fact, it’s strength to be able to think, “You know what, I stuck to my workouts all week. I’ve been eating healthy all week and have felt good about myself. Right now, I’m craving this cookie. I’ll let myself have one.” The other extreme is deprivation that leads to binging, and that ain’t a pretty thing.
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