I've been really busy with my new job and haven't had much time to post a new recipe, so I thought I'd let my good friend David Berry show the blog some love... literally! You may already know him as a fitness pro, but he's also a very talented and extremely savvy writer who focuses on a topic we can all relate to - relationships! And we can all use a little insight there, too...

The Healthy Dating Plan
by David Berry

We’re a month into 2013, if you can believe it, and that means that our New Year’s Resolutions have already been challenged – or ditched altogether. And I’m not talking about food, either. I’m talking about guys, girls!

If you’re a reader of The Fit Cook, then you’re obviously awesome; and keen on taking care of yourself. Well, consider me The Fit Dating Guru. And for the sake of simplicity, I’ve got three things to share with you regarding you and your love life in 2013.

One. Keep your standards high. Dating isn’t like picking between one or two-ply sheets of toilet paper, so why are you still wasting your time on assholes? You know who you are; you know what you have to offer. And just because you haven’t found ‘him’ yet doesn’t mean that you should start compromising your core beliefs just to fill an imaginary void in your heart. Be confident in yourself and wait it out. You’ll be glad you did.

Two. Give him a chance. I don’t know who ‘he’ is, but give a guy a chance to prove you wrong. Okay, he’s short *cough*cough*. Or maybe he’s a bit nerdy. Guess what? That doesn’t make him any less capable of being an awesome guy. He might not end up being ‘the one,’ but he might surprise you. And in the process, he might open your eyes to a world of guys you never noticed.

Three. Be the best version of ‘you’ that you can be. I can’t speak for all guys, but I can speak for quite a few when I say that the most attractive woman is the one who’s living a life filled with passion and purpose. Whatever it is that defines ‘you,’ go out and do it, either professionally or for fun. If you do? You won’t need a guy to complete you – but you’ll want one to join you. And what’s better than that?

I’m under no illusion that these three tips will revolutionize your dating life and land Mr. Right on your doorstep, but it’s a start. And let’s be honest – you kind of deserve it. Go out and get the love that’s coming to you this year. And visit me on www.iamdavidberry.com to check out more of my blogs.

Introducing Guest Blogger #2, my good friend and biggest fan (although he will never admit it!), David Berry. David is here to introduce the fitness element into The Fit Cook blog, because pairing a healthy diet with a consistent exercise routine always equals awesome results! If you have any questions for David, write them in the "Comments" area below and David will be sure to get back to you in a timely manner, or else! ;) 


How to Begin an Exercise Routine...
and Stick to It!
By David Berry, NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Congratulations! If you’re reading Luisana’s blog, you’ve likely chosen healthy eating as a key element to living a healthy life. So why am I here? To talk about another major element – exercise!

I know, I know. ‘I hate doing cardio’ or ‘I don’t have time to go to the gym’ are knee-jerk reactions when it comes to exercise. Or maybe you’re actually a wannabe fitness nut but aren’t sure how to get started. What should you do?

My name is David Berry, and I’m a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Day in and day out, I work with individuals from all walks of life, in all levels of fitness. And I help them make positive changes that work for the long term. Not just a week or a month, but years down the line. I’m talking about total lifestyle change.

Staying Fit with the Freedom
By Brianna Collins

Upon entrance into college, I became starkly aware of the new freedoms that came along with living away from home. With the lack of curfew and supervision, came a surprising new freedom I hadn't thought about before: food. 

There were no longer family meals to attend to or homemade lunches to bring to school. My meals were consistently made by restaurant equipment rather than hands of conscious of health. Nights were later and schedules were less defined.