This post is brought to you by Health Warrior and Megan Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support IjeomaKola.com! #HealthWarriorWay

If you regularly watch my Instagram stories, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been working out hardcore for the past six months. Sometime around my 26th birthday, I realized my body didn’t look the way I wanted it to. To be honest, producing more fashion content – like this post – and seeing my body on display made me take a good look at my shape and overall health. So I did what most people do when they’re trying to tone their body – I joined an exercise class.

Aside from whipping me into shape for my wedding so I could dance for a good 5 hours, my bootcamp also taught me some important lessons about nutrition. Even though I’m a public health researcher, I’m also Nigerian, so I grew up eating a plate (or two) full of rice, plantains, and stew (aka oil blended with tomatoes). As an adult, eating four servings of rice in one sitting doesn’t exactly disappear off your body, even if paired with a hefty serving of vegetables (trust me, I tried). After examining my eating patterns, my nutrition coach encouraged me not to necessarily eat less, but to eat whole grains, foods high in protein and fiber and low in sugar, and foods made from real ingredients.

After the first few weeks of working out, I still didn’t find myself making any headway. Then I realized that my trusty on the go snack – a granola bar – has 12 grams of sugar and only 3 grams of fiber. So what I thought was giving me energy was just giving me a sugar rush!

Then I came across Health Warrior Chia Bars. They are healthy snack bars made from chia seeds, a superfood that is high in fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids. At just 100-110 calories, they have way less sugar than most other bars, only 4-5 grams. Yet they still taste great! I like the coconut flavor in the morning either right before or after working out, and the dark chocolate or chocolate peanut butter in the afternoons when I’m starting to get bongry (bored + hungry = when you’re hungry because you’re bored lol). The chia seeds that make up the bar expand a bit in your stomach, keeping me full for longer than other bars. There are tons of other different flavors to try, like mango, coffee, and banana nut!

By exercising three to four times a week and eating healthy snacks, I’ve not only lost 10 pounds, but I’ve also increased my muscle mass and become more energetic. Ya girl can now do 15 pushups without stopping for a breath! Most importantly, I can still enjoy my snack bars without feeling like I’m compromising my health and fitness goals, thanks to Health Warrior.

Have you tried a chia snack bar? What flavor sounds most enticing?

This post is sponsored by Health Warrior and Megan Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support IjeomaKola.com!