31 Days of Latinas losing weight: Tip #29

It's been almost a whole month since we started our 31 Days of Latinas Losing Weight challenge and I am definitely feeling good about my results. How have you been doing? Have you been exercising a little more? Have you cooked more nutritious meals and even lost a little bit of weight? I sure hope so! Read on for Tip #29 to see how you can keep your results going.

Read more in ¿Qué más?: 31 Days of Latinas losing weight: Tip #28

I know this is going to sound like the most obvious news of the day but, trust me, sometimes it needs to be said. At the end of the day what really matters when it comes to weight loss is that you're eating less.

Although I am a big believer in eating nutritious food since it actually makes your body much healthier, in the end, the amount of calories counts for more than how much fat, carbs, or protein you're consuming. Now, this isn't a go-ahead to eat one slice of pizza and one brownie a day as your entire meal because it doesn't matter as much. It is, however, a go-ahead to give yourself a break once in a while.

What I mean by this is to not stress about every single thing that goes into your body. I also call this the 80/20 rule. In general, I know that I am a healthy eater. I drink tons of water, cook with healthy coconut oil, I fill half of my plate with plenty of dark, leafy greens and healthy whole grains and I try to exercise at least 20 minutes a day a few times a week.

Then, once in a while, I will allow myself something that I know is REALLY naughty. This past weekend that was pizza. However, since I know that when it comes down to it, it's the amount of calories that really matters, I made sure to pair it with a tomato and cucumber salad, with just a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar. I didn't stress myself out because I was having something unhealthy. Instead, I focused on how I was balancing that with a smarter choice and how I was going to not have any cheat foods the next day.

After all, you won't get anywhere if the stress and worry about messing up keeps you from eating your next meal with plenty of veggies. So, keep going and tune in for Tip #30 tomorrow!

Image via Corbis