Food = fuel

Somehow it has been three months since I posted… that is not okay! My last post was right before school started, so I had some extra time on my hands. Since then, I have been trying to find a balance between family, work, and my health. Let me tell you, it’s been a little tough. I have spent two of the last three months feeling down and out because there are many times I feel so overwhelmed trying to balance it all. I feel like I am finally in a good place and it’s nice to feel like myself again.

I left off with my Whole30 results and as I read back through them, I can honestly say that I am still enjoying many of those results. It’s truly amazing the freedom I have experienced in relation to my eating habits since I finished. I felt like a slave to the scale and calorie counting for SO long and I’m happy that I don’t have to live like that anymore. 

Something that has been on my mind a lot lately is being mindful about eating habits. By that, I mean eating for nourishment and energy. What has really changed for me over the past few years is that I plan my meals and snacks around what is going to fuel my body. I no longer mindlessly eat or use food as a reward/punishment and that has affected my health in such a positive way. I remember how lethargic and unmotivated I was when I ate like that. Now that I choose my foods carefully, my energy levels are up and stable. That’s a pretty impressive feat, especially with such a hectic schedule and a baby who still gets up a few times a night. I really started to notice this as I resumed my running. I started up again about two months ago and I noticed that I was much faster and my endurance improved when I was really dialed in with my nutrition. When I ate meals that were balanced in terms of protein, fat, and carbs and stayed away from grains, dairy, and sugar, my runs were MUCH better than they were on a day where I maybe wasn’t as strict. I also found that I was more likely to actually go for a run or go workout if my nutrition was on point. It’s a give/take relationship and I feel so healthy and strong right now because I am treating my body well.  If you constantly feel drained of energy or you hit that afternoon slump, take a look at what you’re eating. It’s possible that you are missing the mark nutritionally, which could be affecting you negatively. That’s not to say that there aren’t other factors to take into consideration . The body is an intricate machine that can be affected by many different things. But it’s always worth a shot. 

A lot of people comment about how time consuming it is to exercise, meal plan, etc. I think it's important to look at health as investment. The time and effort you put in determines your results. You can't complain about how you don't like how you feel or look and not be willing to put the effort in to change. It doesn't work that way. I encourage you today to take an inventory of your health. What is one small change you can make this week to make you feel better? Is it drinking more water? Moving your body? Cutting out sugar? Commit to something this week, just one thing, and see how it makes you feel. Chances are you’ll notice a positive change. Give it a try!