As the time to pull out the marvelous gowns and the glittering shoes approaches, we must first bring out those sweats and running shoes.

However, in addition to exercise, healthy eating can be just another expense to the already large list of essentials for prom. An Harvard School of Public Health study finds that it takes about $1.50 more a day to follow a healthy nutritious diet as opposed to an unhealthy one. This essentially adds up to about $550 a year. But, when you think about it, it is actually worth the price to invest in this type of diet. If you didn’t, that same amount of money, if not more, would be spent in unhealthy ways.

I feel so much better dropping $20 a week at the grocery store for brown rice and veggies, than I did when I’d blow double that on fast food all week. I just see it as an investment in myself and my well-being. Now as much as I’m all for getting healthy, it truly can be a struggle and not just financially.

For quite awhile now, I’ve restrained myself from the beautiful world of fast food and ice cream. I can’t say that it’s been easy. There are days where I hear the cry from that McDonald’s down the street and don’t know if I have the self-control to resist those McNuggets. Even though I usually do, what I’m trying to point out is that it’s not going to be easy. It’s a hard, mental journey. You have to really want to live and be healthier to follow through with it. You have to constantly ask yourself, “Is my desire to be better less than a momentary want for processed food?”

Then, we have the physical element. The just as hard, if not harder, effort you put into roll out of bed toward the gym. The gym isn’t necessarily essential to being more fit, though. For my daily cardio, I love to just reach for some comfortable shoes and hit a trail.

Lastly, what I believe to be the most important element of all is support, and I’m not talking about that Nike sports bra. Even better, you need a good friend. If I didn’t have the people in my life that I do now to support all my crazy goals, I have no clue where I’d be. Actually, I’d probably be at McDonald’s. However, there are days where I’ll go and get ice cream or be too exhausted to go for my not-so-daily run, but that’s perfectly fine. Because my best friend will always be there to encourage me to go just a little farther the next day, or better yet, run with me. After all, what’s a trail run if you don’t have someone to step on the ugly, creepy spider for you? When it all boils down, it’s about your own dedication to what you really want. I don’t just want to look nice for prom. I truly want to get into the habit of a healthier lifestyle. So until it’s time to put on that gown, I’ll faithfully reach for my beat-up running shoes and head to the organic foods aisle.