Never in my life have I been extremely overweight. I was blessed with a fast metabolism, but just like everyone else I believe there’s always room for improvement. Over the course of last year I found myself fixating on different aspects of my body that I didn’t like. That extra fat around my waist? Disgusting. Not enough muscle tone? Gross. Cellulite? Ew. Bloating? WHY.

This past summer I was dedicated to losing at least ten pounds and I did exactly that. I lost the ten pounds and for the first time in a very long time I was content with the way my body looked. But along the way I became so crazy I couldn’t eat anything without calculating the calories and comparing it with how many calories I had burned that day. I needed to workout everyday. I stopped eating bread, rice and pasta. Basically everything yummy I had to turn down. I mean I work at a pizzeria, can you say torture?

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight, cutting certain things out of your diet, and slimming down your portions. But, when dieting takes over your life it’s time to re-evaluate. I have finally found my happy medium between eating healthy, working out, and occasionally treating myself. For me, portion control is key and I try to make good choices as often as I can. It makes me happy to know that after a night out, I’m not afraid to go for that slice of pizza. You will not gain ten pounds from one slice of pizza one night a week. Go for it, have fun, and control your own life. Don’t let your diet control you.