So by Lifestyle, you mean like FOREVER forever?
As a low-grade insomniac I get the opportunity to lie awake at night and stress about things. My typical anxious thoughts about money, kids, spouse and my latest faux pas of the day were driving me nuts so I tried to think about something calming: The Gym. Ahhh.
As I pictured the gym and thought about all the Lululemon fashions, my mind wandered to my closet where I recently donated all my plus-sized clothes. Every woman I’ve ever spoken to who has done the yo-yo diet thing has the same secret fear: we will gain the weight back. For me getting rid of all my bigger clothes was a big deal because it meant I would no longer allow myself to even have the option of “fat jeans.” It meant that I was committed to a new lifestyle, one which did not permit me to binge eat or make poor nutrition choices.
It has been difficult for me to wrap my mind around the concept of clean eating being a “lifestyle” choice, because lifestyle implies forever. Can I really eat clean forever? Am I really ok with eating salad and a protein shake at a birthday party when everyone else is eating pizza, chips and cake? If I decide to have a cheat meal at a social gathering, am I willing and able to immediately get back to eating clean the very next meal instead of it turning into a cheat weekend? Can I do this without a bikini competition serving as my impetus to stick with the meal plan?
Although I really love bodybuilding competitions; love the process and enjoy the show; I don’t want to depend on them to keep me healthy. I don’t want them to become a crutch for me. I really and truly want this lifestyle to be my new norm. This past month has been more stressful than most and I’ve been finding it difficult to not fall into my old patterns of self soothing through junk food.
You know how people tell you to ‘take it one day at a time’? Well, this week I’ve had to take it one meal at a time. I’ve been staring at my clean food, not wanting a bite, and saying aloud, ‘food is for fuel.’ Sometimes the green bean wins; sometimes it doesn’t but I’m still dedicated to make it work.
How about you? How do you stick to healthy habits when you just don’t want to?
Lisa
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I hear ya. I just keep trying, when I fall off.
How is the diet going for you? I spoke to Daniel and he can make a customized plan for you if you are interested. Let me know and I’ll give you his contact info.
Thanks, Lisa that would be great. I’m only going OK as I’m not as dedicated as I should be. My husband on the other had has been doing great! I’d love a custom meal plan from Daniel. It might keep me on track.
I have to check with him again. I think he’s holding off on clients for now while he’s training for his next show. It’s tough staying on track. I’m going to have my last hurrah’s tomorrow with a chocolate bunny and then it’s 12 weeks of show prep for me. My posts might get grumpy.
I’m beginning to understand the one meal at a time concept. Good news is I stuck with your meal plan and came back from a great weekend weighing 5 pounds less than what I did when I started this Thursday. I didn’t have a drop of wine this weekend. (A miracle.) That said, I’ve given myself one night a week when two drinks are allowed. That way I don’t throw the baby out with the bath water if I have one night of cheating.
GREAT!!!! I’m so proud of you!! Same thing as above – Daniel said he can do a meal plan for you. I’ll get you two in touch.
When I was a kid my mom would never let me drink sodas, which, at the time seemed like the greatest injustice. Every time I would beg her to let me buy some from a kiosk on a bus stop (we have those in Ukraine), she would say, and I quote, “I am not buying you this poison”. When I got a little older, I rebelled for a little while and used my lunch money to buy a can once in a while. Every time I took a sip, however, I couldn’t help by hear these words in my head. The older I got, the stronger the mental connection I made between sodas and poison became. Rewind couple years forward and today, every time I think about taking a sip of Coca Cola, I can’t help but imagine my liver melting.
My mom would say very similar things about junk food, especially salty snacks, so I ended up never craving those either. Unfortunately, she has always had a pretty sweet tooth, so cookies, chocolate, ice-cream and other yummy deserts were still in…with the exception of a few random sweets such as Mars, Bounty, Snickers, Twix against which she’s had an unexplained vendetta. As you can guess by now, I don’t like these either 🙂 Anyway, what I am trying to say with all these rambling is that perhaps one can condition herself to literally afraid of putting the bad stuff into her body. Then eating 100% for the rest of her life is not a challenge at all. I don’t even think it’s that difficult if one considers what we are being fed by all these giant corporations.
Moms have more powers than they think – and I think your story just illustrated that perfectly 🙂
It is tough. I’m finding it a little tricky to keep ‘Walking my Talk’. And Doing it everyday, every meal, every workout. (See, I’m feeling guilty for not making it to the gym this morning!) I’ll keep cheering for the green bean to win, and see what I can make happen the rest of the day.
That’s where I’m at. Speaking of that – I better go to the gym!
I just think of it as a process. Even though I’m not happy about my weight today. It is a full 5 pounds less than where I was at this time last year. I really don’t like the size of the clothes and would love to get rid of them.
Congrats for being healthier today than you were a year ago! When you get rid of your fat clothes it will feel like a weight is lifted off your back.
I try to keep it sustainable. The wiord yoga means “union.” The practice of yoga, the physical and very importantly, the philosophical aspects, have kept me on an even keel and helps me keep things sustainable. I don’t fixate on weight. I eat well, most of the time, and do not go to any extremes. I want my life to work and I want all the pieces to fit together. I may not be ready to compete in any sort of competition, but I have been able to maintain a healthy weight and be reasonably fit by weaving my eating and exercise habits into my life so that it works. I walk every morning, at least a mile, rain, sun, snow or ice, practice and teach yoga often and I swim regularly. I do these things because they feel good and I feel good when I do them. If I feel like I am gaining a little wait, I cut back on whatever I feel I’ve been indulging in(probably wine and chocolate) and do a little extra. It sorts itself out once the habits are in place.
I mean *weight*. 🙂
Good for you! It sounds like you have a good balance between nutrition, exercise and a few indulgences. That’s what I’ve been striving for.
I am in a battle within myself to stay on track. I should start donating clothes as motivation to stay on track.
Do it. It’s a way of telling yourself your only option is to be fit. 🙂
I’m a one meal at a time girl myself. Try to plan but as long as I keep staples of good stuff around I’m less tempted by the bad.
It’s good to keep yourself surrounded by healthy food.
Thanks for being so candid. I think everyone of has had weight issues has these same worries. I find that yoga has reduced my cravings, and takes me to a happy, anxiety-free place, along with support from friends and family. Best wishes on your journey.
Thanks 🙂 I’ve been meaning to get back into yoga again. I’m doing a class at the South by Southwest event this weekend. Balance is a good thing 🙂