Contradeating (contradict typical eating)

It's common in the workplace (or classroom!) to have the occasional birthday celebration or going away party. These celebrations usually consist of a cake, some cookies, other types of sweets, soda, lemonade, etc. So you walk into the party with the thought "no, I'm not going to have a slice of cake... I'll be good today". Five minutes later you see the rest of your colleagues enjoying a piece of cake and not taking a second to think about it. Well guess what? One piece of a Giant grocery store chocolate cake is 320 calories, including 38 grams of sugar. Keep in mind, these "parties" usually take place in the middle of the morning, say 10 am? Okay so you have your cake... But then what? You're full at lunch so you skip lunch. Well you just lost a HUGE opportunity to get nutritional value into your daily macros.  So because you ate cake, you have sacrificed your good calories for the bad!  

1. You didn't even realize... It's 10 am and you are eating cake!!! 2.  The sugar in that cake is making you crave more sugar and that's what made you eat that cookie on your way out the door 3. You need to break habits. 

Contradicting the typical society and habits of Americans, we all need to break the habit of 'eating because there's food'. You don't realize how quickly that piece of candy here, that piece of cake there, or that half a cookie will add up. Just because it's there (especially at 10 am), doesn't mean you need to eat it. Eat to live, don't live to eat. 

Aka plan your meals. Pack your lunch and bring snacks as back ups to put in the fridge or your backpack at work or school. For example, today I packed left over stuffed peppers from last night's dinner, a sweet potato, and an avocado. BUT, in case I needed a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, I packed a packet of Justin's Almond Butter, a small baggie of carrots, and an orange bell pepper. And you know what? Sometimes I just need something to chew on... And neither of my snacks will make me feel guilty or be harmful to my body if I chow down just because I want to. 

I thought I needed a snack, so I broke open the almond butter and four carrots... Turns out, the almond butter didn't even taste good... So I stopped eating it, walked my carrots back to the fridge in the office and continued with me work. I've already made progress not to eat just because I want to, but there's still a long way to go. 

My daily meals:

Breakfast at 7 am

Snack around 10-10:30 am

Lunch around 12:30pm

Snack around 2:30-3pm

Workout 5:30pm

Refuel dinner at 7pm

Snack after dinner (I'm working on breaking this habit-but only because I go to bed around 10pm)

Long term goal for you: break the habit of eating just because food is accessible. Plan your meals. Pack your snacks so you don't have to resort to that nasty cake or cookies. Or drink water instead!! You'll feel full, I promise!! I feel like I'm going to bust out of my dress because I'm full from sippin on my water 😄

Ps. I've already had over 2 liters of water today... Are you drinking your water? (3 bottles down for me, about 3 or more to go)

✌❤ and good health. 

Stay balanced. 

Be. Determined.

Determination.  It's easy (well...easier) when there are other people around to push you to your goals.  For example, in my mom's classes that she takes at Inspire there are at least 10 other women in the class pushing themselves to the limit.  And believe me... those women are determined... from TRX classes to boot camps, they are determined to do the best they can every day when they show up to class.  However, would some of those women be able to have that same determination if they were alone?  It's hard to say, but it makes it a hell of a lot easier to push yourself through when there is someone next to you working his/her ass off and encouraging you to do the same!!

Crossfit is another great way I've seen determination and motivation.  In the classes, the coaches are there to make you better, push you to your limits, and pump you up to get the work in as best you can.  Not only do the coaches help, but there are people there that are older, younger, stronger, faster, more fit, less fit, etc. than you, yet each person works his/her booty off to get better, stronger, faster, more fit, etc.  I look over in the middle of a WOD and see someone pushing himself/herself harder than me, and I guarantee my determination spikes and I get twice as many reps in than I was getting before.

Crossfit and Inspire are two new ways that I have been taught determination and they are both unique in their own ways.  I've been so used to soccer & speed/agility-type workouts for years, that Inspire and Crossfit have been eye-opening seeing so many different ages working their best to make themselves better.  It's amazing and it makes me SO happy to see older men and women starting to workout for the first time (or first time in awhile), because, honestly, it's NEVER too late to make yourself healthier and change your life and the way you live.  This not only has to do with working out, but in the field of nutrition as well... I'll get into that later. 

Anyway, the point to this post: DETERMINATION.  As I said before, Crossfit and Inspire make it easier to get your workout in and push yourself, but what happens when you're not working out with other people?  It's lonely...it's harder to push yourself...no one is watching...so why even workout, right?

Watch this.

Okay, so I know not everyone has a sport to work hard for, but I know EVERYONE is envious or jealous of someone they know, a celebrity, or a future (or past) "you".  You have that image in your head "I wish I was 5 pounds lighter" "I want to lose weight" "OMG! I want her body" "Dude, he's ripped."

So that's where determination comes in.  

In my case, it's soccer.  This summer we had homework to do... prove to our teammates that we are working hard to get to the next level.  We have a (private) Facebook page where we post our "What Did You Do?" (WDUD) videos.  As I do my daily workouts, I have the competition of my teammate doing one more workout or one more sprint or one more tire flip than I did... so what, right?  They don't know I didn't do my 120's or didn't run my 20 yard sprints... so why should I do it?

Photo borrowed from Crossfit 717

BECAUSE WE ARE A TEAM.  We work hard individually so that, together, we can accomplish our goals and get to the next level.

Now, how does this translate to the "every day" person or someone who doesn't have a team or a teammate to work harder for?  Do it for yourself.  Be determined to get up and go for a walk, a jog, a run, a bike ride, or get your friends to go play volleyball.  Pick up that dirty tennis racket in your garage and invite a friend to go play tennis.  Just get up and move, because you sitting there reading this blog will give you knowledge and (hopefully) some motivation, but guess what?  That's not going to help you lose those 5 pounds or get her body or get the body you've always wanted.  

I know, I know... it takes serious motivation to get up and move.  It happens to me ALL the time.  I'm like 'do I really want to go run 10x120 yard sprints?' No, obviously not...you're kind of crazy if you like running those. BUT guess what?! I do it.  Sunday morning I laid in bed after I woke up for 1 hour before I got up, got dressed, drove to the high school, and knocked out some 120 yard sprints, bleacher runs, and an ab workout.  Believe it or not, after I workout, it just makes me want to do more and more because I feel amazing knowing how hard I'm working and I crave more.

Ultimately, it's other people's motivation and determination that has taught me to be determined and get to the next level.  It's amazing what you can accomplish.  So after taking the time to read this post (thank you by the way), get up and go for a walk...clear your head and think of a goal you'd like to accomplish.  From eating healthier, losing a few pounds, or just feeling better about yourself!  Make a goal and write it down and put it somewhere where you will see it everyday.  You can even set a reminder on your phone using the app called "My Diet Coach" (this seems to be more of an app for girls, but hey guys who says you can't use it!).  This app allows you to set daily reminders to drink water, your goal, etc.  

Your typical Coca-Cola.

Make a goal for tomorrow: drink more water.  Replace your daily soda (ingredients to the right...EW), lemonade, etc. with two glasses of water. I'll let you in on an important tidbit... when you think you're hungry...you might just be dehydrated.  Everyone should drink AT LEAST 8x8oz. of water/day.  I switch up my water bottle every week (to shake things up), but it helps having a cabinet full of water bottles.  Anyway, I drink about 3.5 Liters of water per day (6-7x24oz water bottles).  It also helps to have a straw to drink out of, it makes it easier and faster to get your water down.  So try it... drink more water to give your body what it's actually asking for... more water, not more food!!!

P.S. the only drinks I drink are water, Komboocha, and Almond Milk on occasion. 

Also, could you just wake up five minutes earlier and scramble yourself some eggs instead of eating your normal sugary cereal?  You do realize that the added sugar in your cereal is causing the hunger 1 hour after breakfast right?

Until next time, stay balanced people.

Signs.

I take everything as a sign these days.  From a simple trip over a stick, to my shoulder bothering me in a pullup, or even an email- every little thing is a sign.  God is trying to guide me and I trust that his guidance and will are leading me in the right direction. 

Yesterday, my dad told me that he won't eat those frozen pizzas (that have been in our freezer for over a year) because he's disgusted by the long list of ingredients on the back. He gave credit to me for helping him realize that 'it's actually not food if there's a list as long as my forearm on the back of the box labeled "ingredients"'.  That, to me, was a sure sign that I had helped someone and made an impact on his life.  Knowing that I've helped someone for the better of their well-being, makes me so happy (especially since it's my dad!). I've changed my own life, and I want to help others take steps in the right direction toward happiness and GREAT health.  

Like I said in a previous post, I think blogging my thoughts, links, epiphanies, etc. will not only help you, but it will help me as well.  So guess what?  A sign came to my inbox this morning telling me that I'm 100% in the right direction.  I've read countless nutrition (Paleo specific) and fitness blogs and educated myself through their work, links, and books.  Throughout my exploration, I've signed up for some weekly emails.  The two that I read and enjoy the most are Civilized Caveman and Cave Girl Eats (you can sign up for their weekly emails too!). 

So, today (email Monday), Liz from Cave Girl Eats gave me a huge motivation and sign (thanks Liz!).  Just look at the subject of this email:

"Why YOU should be blogging!"  If that isn't a sign- I don't know what is.  Her email stated that basically she has learned so much through blogging and has helped herself, as well as others (obviously since she's already helped me!).  Lucky for you, and for me, this blog will be random rants of educational (or not) information that I find interesting or meaningful to one and all.  Hopefully my blog will help you in someway that you will pass on the information you learn to others.  If you take the information I share with you, and share it with just one more person (or all your Facebook friends), just think how much of a difference WE can make. 

For today, I leave you with this:

Thanks for reading.

Until next time, stay balanced.