BLOG 4 Playing to our Strengths

If I were to be 100% honest with myself in terms of my diet and exercise, well, of course I’m obsessive and inflexible. My line of work allows me to be this way, and my passion to practice what I preach embodies this lifestyle. Like anyone, I’m faced with temptations, stressors, emotions, and distractions, that threaten to interfere with my exercise and food intentions that I have when I wake up in the morning. After a long day of work, I probably could eat the entire refrigerator. When feeling like my husband or dad is upset with me, I could use a pint of ice cream. On a hot day of running outside with clients, a Slurpee would hit the spot.

When these voices of sabotaging make their presence known and come forth full force, I play to my strengths. For me, to bow down to the cravings and eat according to these feelings isn’t worth the guilt of eating the items that deter from my goals. That relentless guilty feeling is terrible and far surpasses any momentary satisfaction of the food. In fact, and my husband can attest to this, I’ll have to immediately go exercise until I feel like the calories have been at least subtracted a bit. It’s ridiculous, over the top, and like I said, “obsessive”, but that this the line of thinking that saves me from going back to the buffet line four more times. I don’t deny that I have come home from a date night with my husband that was supposed to be a “cheat meal” of mouth-watering pizza, and hopped on the elliptical while we watched a movie that night. Yep, what’s a Blog without total honesty, but my audience probably won’t deny that this doesn’t shock them. I’d rather have a salad and piece of salmon than a burger and fries, so I don’t have to have erratic elliptical thoughts on a Saturday night.

Then there are the snackie foods, so help me ruler of the portion control world. Just one or two of any snack that comes out of box or bag you can reach in, seems to call my hand back again, and again, and again…. and now it’s empty. Solution?? I don’t even buy it. Of course I want my yearly dose of Thin Mints, but the box is gone in two attempts of sticking to just four cookies. I like to think of it as avoiding being a failure. Pizza?? You might look at me and think I’m full off two pieces. Ha! A medium is no problem for me…. all eight slices. Instead of cleaning my plate, I’m cleaning my box. Sickening too think that much would be sitting in my stomach. It’s baffling how food has power over us.

I think that clients and people in general look at me and think I have a shake for lunch and salad for dinner and I’m totally full and happy with that. NOT!!!! I have totally thought about going to Taco Bell on a late cancellation by a client and taking that hour to have a few soft tacos and get off my feet. I daydream about Dairy Queen and what having a donut might be like. I’m human, but I’m far too competitive to lose to these thoughts. Just typing these foods brings is taunting me. However, I know how many steps, bicep curls, and burpees I’d have to do to counter act those choices. No thank you.

Eating the same items each day (it’s not boring to me), having a time schedule, and buying individually portioned out items (yogurts, cottage cheese, etc.), keep me in line. I have one meal per week that I can have anything I want, and two times per week I will have frozen yogurt. For me, that works. I use my Fitbit and My Fitness Pal to monitor my intake and output of calories. Having a meal replacement shake for lunch just doesn’t work for me. I’m hungry 15 minutes later. Even having a salad hardly cuts it. I like food, but I’m fully aware of my weaknesses and I don’t want to be a failure, so I play to my strengths of planning, not buying or having items that I can have no less than…. well the whole bag in my house, and eating every 2-3 hours to feel satiated.

Take a moment to think about your strengths and weaknesses, and work to improve on small strategies that are sustainable and realistic. In the meantime, I’ll be your Probation Food Officer, because let’s face it, food is never going to be a non-factor. I’m here to check in with, report to, and crack the whip if needed. I’m not having any repeat offenders at Every BODY’s Fit. Once that weight comes off, it’s going got stay off!!!!