all or nothing...

is NOT the way it has to be, or the way it should be.

I cannot stress how important finding balance can be.  It will set you up to fail or succeed, trust me.  

  

I'm living proof and while I know the "why" because it is what I studied in college, it doesn't quite set you up for the emotional roller coaster that comes with healthy living or lack there of.

You see I struggled to find the balance for so many years.  

I would spend months overeating and splurging with every meal, never allowing my body time to burn the calories I had consumed.  

In other words, I didn't have a chance to lose weight AT ALL.  

This was me giving in to failure over and over again.  

I would consume far too many calories, NEVER exercise

 yet constantly complain about why life wasn't fair and why I wasn't losing weight?  I mean, really?

Then my balance would swing the other way.  I had become fed up with the way things were so I'd starve?  Yes, that had to be the answer?  

So I'd eat far too few calories, NEVER exercise and 

now really complain about how life wasn't fair and why did I have to try so hard for such tiny results?  

You can only wonder why I became so frustrated with myself for years! 

Right?

So then you'd see the vicious cycle return and I'd start out heavier than before, eat even MORE, exercise even less (if that was possible?) and I found myself further back then where I started months prior.  Ugh, it's tiring just writing about it 

so you can imagine how my body and mind felt as I'd spiral out of control.  

I honestly believe that we are brought up watching women become obsessed with appearance.  I'm too tall, short, skinny or fat so let me try the latest craze to see if I can knock this out before this party then I'll let it all go for a few months before our trip when I really need to step it up.  Is that the truth?  I hear it constantly..."I have a wedding coming up", "my 20 year reunion is coming up and I need to lose 50lbs", "I need to lose 20lbs by summer"...but I think we've got it all wrong.

Thinking that way only sets ups up for negative behaviors and that yo-yo effect.  

It doesn't have to be all or nothing to be successful.

I thought that way for so long that it's a daily struggle to teach my body and mind differently.

You see these days I focus on one day, one hour or one minute at a time.  

If I make a positive food choice or I workout hard, I praise myself for a job well done!  

And you should too!  

I'm not out to be on the cover of Fitness Magazine-unless they'd love to feature me??!  LOL

So I'm not going to go all or nothing again...it ends badly for me and I know it's not the answer.

BALANCE is tough but it is THE only thing that works for me.  

It is the only way I avoid feeling like I'm trapped in this healthy way of living.  

It can be SO difficult at times and I know that but to maintain the balance is SO much easier than the bouncing back and forth, physically and emotionally.  I'm far less exhausted and that matters for someone who struggles with tying emotions to food :(  

I'm not a doctor so I can't suggest what will work for you but if you relate to what I described then it's time to start balancing your life and STOP the cycle of "dieting", beating yourself up and quitting.  It's far more exhausting than a great workout and healthy foods, trust me!

You have THREE solid weeks before Christmas break (for your children!)

so my local group of Momma's decided we'd start a challenge.  If you'd like to follow along, "Like" The Move It Momma on Facebook and join in!  They have put $5 into a pot and there are three ways to win.  Most attendance at my local classes, most weight lost and most inches lost!  ANYTHING that helps me encourage, motivate and inspire works for me!  It's the accountability around the Holiday's that helps so much.  Especially when we are in a world full of Pumpkin Lattes and cookies galore this time of year LOL!  STAY STRONG and practice balance.  Don't go into it with the "all or nothing" attitude.  You may find yourself set up to fail.  Instead, pick your indulges!  Don't give in all of the time but instead set times aside that you know you'll indulge just a bit and prepare to kick it up the next day, staying structured with your foods and exercising vigorously!  It works, trust me!  

On our group page I shared what I eat throughout the day so here's my daily eats in pictures!  This was breakfast from today, 2 snacks and lunch!

1/2 c oats with fresh raspberries and cinnamon.  

handful of natural almonds and a crumbled white cheddar rice cake

3 egg whites sauteed in coconut oil spray on a whole wheat thin with a clementine orange

1/2 c plain Chobani Greek served with 12 brown rice crackers. 

and finally our dinner is in the works...

1 lbs Jenni-O breakfast sausage, 1 lb extra lean ground turkey combined with chopped garlic and chopped onion.

Add 2 cans tomato sauce no salt added and simmer!

Boil low carb pasta, roast spaghetti squash, or use brown rice or quinoa pasta to go along with it...and don't forget your fresh veggies of your choice :)