Nutrition and fitness is a science. This is a problem for me because I was always intrigued by science but never very good at it unless I tried really hard. I’ve read so many blogs and articles on fitness, came across things like macros and kcals, but I never retain any of it. Everytime I think I’m being healthy I find out something new that ruins my routine. A documentary convinced me to go vegan for a while, but then too much soy is bad for you, so now I drink almond milk. I tried meal replacement shakes once which included a meal plan recommending a delicious, high protein, low calorie yogurt which turned out to include artificial sweeteners which are apparently evil. So now I eat an all natural but higher calorie yogurt. I’ve researched healthiest breads, I make pancakes from scratch, and I spend way too much on fancy protein powder. Honestly, I can manage all this. I can go a while without pizza, I can choose a salad over pasta, I quite enjoy veggies and hummus or $5 organic peanut butter and apple slices as snacks.
They say it takes 21 days to break a habit – I’ve been indulging my sweet tooth for 22 years, I’m not breaking that habit anytime soon. Whether you believe in cheat days or moderation I’ve tried and failed both. I can’t wait for one day out of the week to eat unhealthily, I end up cheating all week and still eating horribly on the designated cheat day. And moderation… I bought extra dark chocolate thinking a couple pieces a day would curb my cravings since it works for an Instagram model I follow. Nope. I wanted more, and even if I’m not hungry I’m always hangry for sweets. Nothing quite makes my blood boil like going out to dinner with someone and the waiter asks, “Any room for dessert?” and apparently “Oh no we’re stuffed”. Recently I tried not buying sweets, afterall if they aren't around I can't eat them. Again, nope. I will drive to the store and buy a pint of ice cream and down the whole thing. In fact I’ve done this four times in the past ten days.
There is no denying I have an addiction to sweets. I’m trying to train my brain not to crave them. I’ve unfollowed pages that post videos of cascading chocolate and oh-so ooey-gooey goodies. Instead I follow way too many pages that post pictures of colorful fruit and veggies...oh so many fruits and veggies.
Being healthy isn’t easy – even if we really want it. People always talk about finding what exercise routine and meal plan is right for you, because everyone is different. I also feel like you need to find the pace and mentality that is right for you, too. Over time by balancing health with happiness I have slowly incorporated health into my happiness. Everyday even a little effort or a single choice leads to an eventual healthier habit. I never used to enjoy cooking for myself but now it’s satisfying. I never used to enjoy salads and now I crave a good one. I used to eat way more but now I eat less without feeling hungry. I never used to workout but now it’s the perfect stress reliever. You don’t need to feel guilty or like a failure because you’re struggling to give it 100% constantly. It isn’t easy, especially at the beginning.