I have an amusing memory from marathon training with my husband just a month or two before we got married. We had finished a drizzly 22 mile training run and we were exhausted, cold, and extremely hungry. After dinner we ended up at a diner in New Jersey. Trying to be Miss Healthy I ordered some fruit for dessert and my husband got what at the time seemed to be the most delicious piece of chocolate cake. As we sat eating our dessert I scooped a large dollop of his chocolate frosting and ate it. He gave me a sideways look and I said, “For better or for worse right?” His response was priceless, “Yes but it doesn’t have to be for worse!”
Fitness and healthy eating routines are kind of like marriage. They should be a life long contract. We often hit the gym or eat healthier foods after we have been at our worst. Gained a few pounds? Enjoyed too much holiday deliciousness? Feel out of shape? Those are easy reasons to jump on the healthy bandwagon.
But so many times we often reach our goal weight or start to feel better and we start to slip. “It’s okay I can skip the gym today, I’m back to my goal weight.” Or we look at the scale and see a number we are happy with and we figure what the heck, a donut can’t hurt. Right?
And this is how we end up on the forever cycle of diets and gym memberships and self loathing. We work our hardest when we feel our worst. And we treat our bodies the worst when we are feeling our best. A vicious cycle for sure!
Instead we need to look at our health in much the same way as we would a relationship. Through good times and bad we need to stick with it. When our jeans are too tight and when we fit into those pants we’ve had since high school we should continue our fitness routine. Whether we despise the number on the scale or we love what we are seeing, we should continue to eat those healthy foods. By doing so we can sustain that level of fitness. And with that level of fitness comes the endorphins and happiness. When we stick to fitness routines we feel better about ourselves and are more apt to make better choices in what we eat and how we treat our bodies.
Even better, as we continue to exercise and eat well, we can allow ourselves those times when we have a burger and fries and not feel guilty about it. We know that most of our choices have been wise and we can enjoy an occasional treat.
The benefits of sticking to a healthy lifestyle year round are endless. We are more likely to be happy, less likely to get sick, our relationships tend to be happier and we feel better about ourselves. Aren’t all of these great reasons to stick with it for better or for worse?
Fitness/health isn’t a destination, it’s a lifestyle. But it is a rigorous lifestyle that requires discipline. I think it’s okay to slip sometimes and indulge.
Sometimes I over indulge in running miles and pay the price with sore muscles!
If you give up and go back to donuts for breakfast, what can you expect?
Cheers – Andy
Exactly. And you are so right. I over indulge on both ends and pay the price both ways. You are right it is a lifestyle and not a destination!
It’s so true. My body is so much happier when I’m following my healthy lifestyle choices, and in turn, my brain is happier too. 😉
That is a great point. It does just bring better overall happiness.
Thus my thoughts on instantaneous “challenges.” They are great as part of an overall plan, but that is the thing–you need also have long term goals both to guide you but also to help with any obsession and destructive behavior if you mess up.
I’d totally share my cake with you. But let me offer the ice cream. That has to be given with permission 😀
I totally understand that with challenges. I think they are helpful if it teaches you a new habit that you can then incorporate into your routine. Now about that ice cream…. 🙂
yes, yes, and yes!
I realized this in an interesting way when I decided to quit sugar for “only” and year, and at the start of this year thought I would eat it again. Then, all the reasons I quit sugar to begin with: cranky, weird mood swings, unsatiable appetite (not hunger mind you, appetite), funky energy that had my heart beating a mile a minute when merely sitting, sweats, (and some weight gain), came up again. So, I decided rather than constantly ending in a cycle where I give it up, dig in, loathe it/myself again, I’m just going to go without it. The slight choices in discipline make things better/easier in the long run.
Oooh thanks for sharing this. What a perfect example. I could use you around here to break me of my sugary habits! Love that you found that it is just better to stick with it long term. Congrats!
All very true! It does take discipline to hit the gym or run several times a week when you have all the commitments of work, family, friends, other hobbies and just general life to fit in as well. But I’d rather swap a few hours in bed for exercise endorphins, jeans that zip up smoothly and generally feeling good about myself! And yes, once you eat healthy 95% of the time, you can enjoy a few drinks, or dessert, or whatever tempting delicacy is being waved at you by people that do’t understand how hard you work to AVOID such things. But overall I guess the “meaning of life” is to be happy and enjoy yourself, so we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves for the little lapses. See them as treats that we deserve.!
All great points. I also believe that when you make it part of your life you find it more enjoyable to exercise and eat well. That maked it easier and more fun to stick with it.
Could not agree more with you! Consistency is key with fitness.
Consistency is the perfect word for it!
Such a great and true post! I agree very much! Living a healthy lifestyle means #1- accepting yourself for who you are, #2- realizing that living a healthy lifestyle is a journey, and #3- that it’s okay to make mistakes and to sometimes indulge in foods that you love and to to back off exercise when you need a break. Have a great Friday!! XOXO
All wise words. Thanks for sharing Kristin!
Great advice. It’s okay that I had two doughnuts and a piece of cake today…. Well I am running tomorrow and it’s Friday so don’t judge. 🙂
I totally get it!
Wow, this is a really great post! The lead-in was so perfect!
Ha ha! Thanks.