Why Blog?

Why blog?

 

I’m bacccck. I am crazy busy at work and crazy busy with the boys but I am back to give a quick update because I am truly overwhelmed by all your texts, emails, private messages, etc. Outside of the random comments here and there I didn’t realize that so many of you were actually following. But, more importantly I had NO idea that a handful of you are deeply interested and want me to share more about the how’s and the why’s of my new norm.

(So for those that are sick of my food posts... They are not for you...wink wink)

 

First, a little background for those that are jumping in.... I started a challenge April 1^st 2014 which was based on a paleo / Whole 30 diet. Sometime mid May I started to modify by slowly adding things back in my diet. However to be honest I really didn’t add much in except  adding in social drinking. I did have a few skinny margaritas this summer but for the most part my alcohol intake came primarily from wine or vodka and it’s basically just on the weekends here and there. Bread, grains, dairy, pastas, etc are still out. As hard as it may be to believe it’s not hard. I do not miss many foods that were a part of my regular diet. I feel sooooo much better and more than anything I feel like I am doing the best I can to be healthy and keep healthy foods in my kitchen. It’s all about planning and having the right foods on hand.

 

I don’t want this to be a long entry so I just have 2 main points I want to jump to.

 

1.       A couple of weeks ago I embarked on my summer vacation to the beach. I’ve been fortunate this year to have gone to Miami / South Beach a couple of time as well as Atlantis. All of those trips were before April. While I was working out consistently with a trainer and eating what I thought was really well I never felt GREAT in my clothes. I was really disappointed when I went to Atlantis and put on shorts from last summer only to find that they were snug and my tank tops hugged my stomach. I packed a ton of stuff for my trips but then I would go through several outfits at the hotel trying to decide what to wear and I never felt “great”.
      
       Well, this beach trip in July was the first time that EVERY SINGLE NIGHT I felt 100% comfortable in my clothes. But, before I discuss weight loss or anything like that I have to stress that it goes wayyyyy beyond that. Yes, I have lost weight. How much? I don’t know because I don’t step on a scale. Probably about 2 pant sizes. But, I felt great. I have energy. I just feel good in my skin. Maybe some of that comes with age. I don’t know, but I feel better than ever. Everything I put on seemed to hang right. Fit well. I felt good. That hasn’t happened since … maybe college.

      Also I worked out every single day. I use to pack workout clothes and they never came out of my suitcase. Now, getting a good sweat everyday is a huge priority. Again, it's not about the weight loss. But, about doing something for myself. About pushing my body and being grateful that I get up every day and do what I choose to do.

2.       This is the most important part of this blog. I brought my niece and nephew to the beach. I didn’t want to be a food Nazi  on our vacation so I was sure to pack our condo with a good mix of fruits/ vegetables and chips, crackers, cheese,  snacks, etc. However, on the 5+ hour to the beach I popped in a couple of Nexflix that discuss some of the principals that I try to incorporate and speak to WHY you should be reading labels and how BAD most of the ready to eat/ processed food is for you. They were really into the videos.  On the last day when we were packing up I could not help but notice that all the chips, cereals, and breads that I bought were not even touched. 3 containers of Pringles and 1 bag of Doritos were still sealed shut. Those were all the chips I purchased and NOT ONE TIME did the kids rip into them at the beach or at the condo while watching TV. Instead all the fruit was gone. The garbage was full of wrappers that had contained nuts, orange peels, banana peels, empty boxes of raisins, etc. I never said a WORD about the chips but for one reason or another the kids just reached for other foods. They did not eat totally clean all the time but they ate WAYYYY better than what I would have imagined and a total 180 from last year. So, the bottom line is that if help your kids understand why you are making certain choices and if you make good food options easy and available to them it is possible to change their eating habits.

I have lots more to say on this topic but this is enough for now.

My hope is that some of you can relate to the information I shared and realize that you are not alone in your journey... what ever that is.

 

Love yourself. Be comfortable in your skin. Educate yourself and be open to changing your habits. The food we eat today is not like the food we ate 10, 15, 20 years ago. Baby steps…..