First, have you read my July “Move it in the Morning Challenge”. My goal for July will be to get in the habit of exercising in the morning 4 out of 5 days during this week! Can’t wait for the challenge.
So, lately, I’ve been questioning everything I used to believe in terms of fitness, health, and food.
I used to be very regimented in terms of workouts. I lifted weights anywhere from 3-5 days a week depending on what specific plan I was on. I did anywhere from 4-6 days of cardio (most around 30-40 minutes) with varying intensities. Some days I would call a 7 (easy), other days were 8 (moderate) and 1-2 of those days were a 9 (intense). If I missed a day on my “plan”, I felt guilty. I was scared my body would all of a sudden lose all the muscle I gained and I would soft and pudgy automatically. I enjoyed this regimen for about a year b/c it was so new to me, but it quickly got old.
Let’s go to food. I ate 6 small meals a day. But never felt satisfied, always felt hungry bc these meals were so small. Even if I WASN’T hungry for a meal, I ate anyways b/c it was part of the plan. I ate tons of whey protein shakes and not many healthy carbs or veggies. I wrote in a journal and would label each day as “Good” or “bad” according to how I ate.
This was how I used to eat: (taken from an old journal)
Meal 1:
4 egg whites with salsa and green peppers
1 apple
1 tbsp pb
slice of ezekial with sugar free jelly
Meal 2:
Whey with flax oil
Meal 3:
Ground turkey burger with a veggie medley
Meal 4:
Whey with flax oil
Meal 5:
Protein crepes plus slice of ezekial (protein crepes are egg whites mixed with protein powder)
This way of eating wasn’t at all healthy or balanced. And If I didn’t eat like this, the day was labeled as “bad.” Sure, I looked phenomenal, but I didn’t feel phenomenal. I felt like a prisoner to these rules and fitness plans and regimens. But, I had no idea how to live any other way.
I thought that being healthy WAS working out like that and eating like that.
Now, everything is changing. I’m more of an intuitive eater now. I eat things that are “unclean” sometimes. I eat a piece of chocolate after lunch. I will never touch Flax Oil again. I will never drink whey mixed with water again. I won’t eat a snack b/c it’s time and I think balanced eating is the best.
I’m finally starting to rethink how I feel about exercise. I’m still holding onto old regimented plans that I used to do. There is nothing wrong with these, but I am just TIRED of them. I’m tired of having a plan. I’m tired of feeling like if I don’t lift 3-4 days a week that something in my body will turn to shit.
Then, I came across these wise words from a very sexy man who made me rethink how I view exercise…
From all the photographs of a buff Mc- Conaughey running on the beach, you would think he has quite a grueling fitness regimen. But McConaughey doesn’t do anything as a regimen. Everything is organic, a path with diversions welcome.
“I’m not a fitness nut, actually,” he says. “It just shows up in the magazines all the time because I’m outside. Growing up, we had a rule in the family: If it was daylight, you had to be outside. You weren’t allowed much television, you weren’t allowed to stay inside in the daylight, so you had to get outside and go play or build something or go swim in the lake. I was pretty athletic in everything I played. Active, active was the thing. Then, you know, going on the job that I have, I have the ability to take care of myself.
“I’m always doing something different,” he continues. “Sort of the creed I go by is: Just break a sweat, somehow, every day. I don’t have to go to the gym an hour a day. Maybe, I’ll say, ‘Hey, for this two weeks I’m going to crank out 200 push-ups a day.’ I don’t care if I do 200 before 10 a.m., I don’t care if I do 200 after 6 p.m. I don’t care if I do 20 an hour, just through the day. I’m not going to go to the gym if I’m going out with my girl dancing, because I’m going to go dance and break a sweat. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to a gym. I’d just rather pick a point and say, ‘Instead of driving over five minutes before, let’s leave forty-five minutes early and jog over. What’s important in his workout, as well as in his life, is variety.
“But that’s another thing about my fitness regime. A purist I’m not. I believe that things like Sonic and sweets or whatever, the pleasure is good for you. So whatever you dig. I mean, I can’t eat a burger every day, but if I’m wanting to pull into an In-N-Out [the famed California burger franchise] out here off the I-10 on the way to Palm Springs, I’m going to do it, I’m not a purist. I love food too much. I love the taste of good food. I love good red wines too much to say, ‘Hey, I’m cutting that out.’ I would be bored. I love to eat, I love good smells, I love to cook. If I’m going to eat a big pizza tonight, I may chunk on an extra mile on the jog tomorrow.”
What a healthy and FUN attitude! THIS is the attitude towards fitness and health that I want. I want to be able to wake up one morning and say “Hey, swimming sounds nice.” or a kickboxing class, or a bodyweight circuit, or weights, or running, yoga, workout DVD, WHATEVER. If I’m becoming more intuitive with my eating, why shouldn’t I be doing the same with exercise?
One thing I love about the blog world and me being in that world is that it’s opened me up to new ways of living..better ways of living and it’s forced me to question how I live my life.
So, my new motto is…
Do something active that makes you sweat everyday.
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