I did not want to go to the gym this morning. In fact, my biggest motivation for going was to keep myself from giving in to emotional eating. A combination of things played together last night, which I won’t get into for personal reasons, and I knew if I skipped out on my workout I would end up in old patterns easily. Also, before I move further, I want to acknowledge that I feel MUCH better already but still wanted to be real with you all on my recent emotional roller coaster. 😉

I’ve mentioned before that my journey to overcoming binge eating never fully ends. Using food to compensate for stress and other emotions is a natural tendency for me. However, every healthy habit I choose to make reinforces my desire to keep on a healthier, happier path…so gym it was!

I have my first 10K race this Saturday (holy cow!) and had one last speed session on my training plan before the race. Once I got going on the treadmill, I knew that the original plan that included only 1/4 mile recovery periods simply would not fly with me this morning. I always strive to complete my planned workouts (remember my spaztastic plan needs), but I also know the vitality of putting my body’s needs first. I ended up forming a compromise and kept the speed work but upped the recovery time between each interval. I ended up with this:

I finished my 4 mile run in 35:35…which is an 8:53 pace! Even lengthening my recoveries and dropping the speed a smidge on my last speed interval, I banged out the best pace I’ve ever seen for a 4 miler. Goes to show…modifications don’t have to lessen the effectiveness of a workout!

And even though my legs felt like jello, I went on to finish up the weights portion of today’s workout. I have to have my strength training!

I left the gym a new woman with my frustrations and sadness left behind in a puddle of sweat! I then continued my healthy decisions the remainder of the day to keep that feel good momentum going. Delicious, healthy eats included. Get a load of lunch!

That wrap is no ordinary wrap. It’s an explosion of flavah! I spread a whole wheat tortilla with a Laughing Cow blue cheese wedge. Then, I topped it off with mashed sweet potato, 1/2 cup black beans, and a drizzle of smoky BBQ sauce.

Three words. Yuuu. Uuuuuu. MMMMMM!!!!!!!! This savory combo even outdid my snack du’jour – an entire mango and Chobani pineapple yogurt. Bring on paradise!

As I ate this snack, I felt at peace again and also so proud that I had not succumbed to the pull to turn to food for comfort. Today challenged me more than any time I can remember in recent history. I was literally *thisclose* to binging. Only by the grace of God did I have the strength to turn away. Little did I know the quote from my devotional would hold so true for me today. “It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s all a matter of self-discipline”. Every decision brings us one step closer or one step further from the life we hope to lead. Today, trusting God gave me the strength to choose wisely.

• What healthy decision did you make today?
• PLEASE read this woman’s story and her display of hope and zest for life. Consider donating, as EVERY small act can add up to something amazing!

After getting home from the Fitbloggin conference Sunday afternoon, I quickly determined we had NO groceries. Promptly following that realization, I stated the obvious that I did not feel like grocery shopping and wanted to enjoy a low-key evening with la familia. Enter a pizza dinner out with my loved ones.

And I was eyeing the pizza like Baby B was eyeing that bottle of mommy milk!

Sometimes plain cheese is all you need for satissfying pizza. As long as it gets doused in red pepper flakes. I like some heat with my pizza!

While this dinner out with the family certainly tasted delicious, I could feel the effects of eating quite a few meals out and different than my normal choices starting to impact my body. I knew the only thing to do would be to jump right back into my normal eats the very next meal. Healthy eating can taste just as good, after all! Over the last couple of days I have crammed in the healthy and delicious goods as much as possible.

Breakfasts

oats with strawberries, raisins, and natural peanut butter

 
oats featuring coconut, dried cherries from Choose Cherries, and peanut butter 

Lunches

black bean wrap (with cheese, salsa, spinach, & tomato), carrots + hummus, and my free sample chocolate probiotic bar from Attune

 
sandwich (whole egg, spinach, tomato, Laughing Cow blue cheese), carrots + hummus, and a sliced apple

Snacks

 
yogurt bowl featuring Chobani peach, Erewhon Mixed Berry Crispy Brown Rice Cereal, and almonds

green smoothie (almond milk, frozen banana, spinach) and blueberry muffin Larabar

Dinners 

egg scramble (with mushrooms + onion + goat cheese) and sweet potato

delicious salad – details coming later 

After just two days I already feel so much better. I am so thankful that I now recognize how much quality fuel does for my body. I want to get back to eating foods like I show above…and not because I “should” or to “diet”. I used to have a really, really difficult time going back to healthier eats after a vacation or any time where I would “fall off the wagon” of whatever restrictions I had set on myself. I viewed eating in such a manner as a chore and not something to enjoy. I wouldn’t want to give up my “fun foods” and so I would often end up in an extra week or two of binging.

Now, just feeling the difference in my body motivates me to break out the spinach and oatmeal. And happily. Eating in this manner truly pleases me. It is no longer an issue to return to better-for-my-health meals (I hate using the term “good” or “bad”).  I credit that ease to finding ways to prepare meals so they taste good and working hard over the years to get more in tune with my body. Plus, it also helps knowing I don’t have to deny myself things like pizza for forever either…because each meal is just that – one meal. Dining habits don’t have to turn into a chain of overeating from going outside of standard meals for a couple days. I just remember that each meal is a choice. And I choose to eat what leave me feeling good – physically, mentally, and tastily.

• Is it difficult for you to jump back into healthier habits after being away from them for any length of time?
• What foods do you CRAVE when you get back to normal eats?