After a bumpy start to the weekend, I am aiming for one thing: having as much fun as I can in the span of a long weekend!
Friday was a pretty relaxing day — yoga, a life coaching session, arts and crafts to make the tackiest sign ever for my friend’s soccer game, etc. So chill that I had a peanut butter sandwich for dinner. Yeah, I did just spend 6 weeks learning how to cook in food science, but whatever! I had a hankering.
After the soccer game, I thought I was going to go to bed early. I wanted to whip up some puppy chow for my friend’s birthday, so I did. I didn’t want to eat too much and give myself a tummy ache, but I did. And then I got to thinking, and you know what happens when I think.
Epiphanies…
I spent a lot of time lately stressing over whether or not I’m skipping too many workouts. Over whether or not I should be eating less processed food, less beer, more whole grains, less dairy, whatever. I just felt my mind racing for most of the last week. I think what I realized after overdoing it on something as obviously not “healthy” as this puppy chow and doing it in my apartment, alone, is that the day to day choices aren’t the ones that hurt me. I eat a mostly healthy diet. I need to keep that in mind and not get hung up on the details.
I also think I came to realize (after a lot of thinking and a sugar high that kept me up for quite a while) that I really like to focus on the outcome and not so much on the little things, but it’s the little things that matter and the little things that I can control. If I want to change something big, I need to change the little things to make it happen. If I want to get to my happy weight, that isn’t going to happen just by weighing less or more. It’s by definition going to happen by changing the behaviours that I know aren’t serving me! I’m pretty excited about this. In specific, I want to address a few things (my pack a day gum habit, the giant coffees I love, the mindless eating — think iPad, cell phone, television trifecta, etc.). Trying to eat healthier for me right now isn’t going to be about perfecting my protein/carb ratio or choosing the “right” foods — it’s going to be about finding balance with my food choices but making sure that I feed myself in a healthy, nurturing manner. And that sounds manageable!
I had a nice chit chat with Alysha yesterday at the beach. She shared something with me about this whole realization business. When I used the word “failed” and said that I’m beginning to see my failures are lessons, she mentioned the concept of “falling forward”. Love. I get it. Yes, I fell. But I fell forward, closer to the healthier and happier person I’m becoming! Amen to that.
Yesterday was all around awesome. I was not about to let that little fall bring me down or keep me there. I got right back on track with healthy eats, forgave myself and chose to go to yoga instead of punishing myself through a workout in the hot hot heat, and had a lovely day at the beach in Sarnia. In the evening, I met up for a few drinks with my friends and even though I “wasted” 8 dollars on a second beer that I obviously would have been on the floor if I’d drank (I tried!), I got to see a hella pretty sunset so it was worth it!
If there’s an appropriate way to eat a banana in one of these photos, this is not it.
rock star!
I had a hankering for a burger. I threw together a zucchini/pineapple mix and it came out oh so deliciously!
I really can’t say no to corn on the cob! It’s summer!
Now that I’m up and fed (I had a yogurt mixed with some cereal from my mom’s cabinet — it’s a nice change since I’ve been avoiding cereal for a few weeks and kind of miss it), it’s time for our Canada Day tradition — getting as many people out on their bikes as possible, trying to stay together as a group, and rushing around to get to the parade on time. No matter how early we go, we’re never back early enough. It’s kind of fun, and this is my fourth year doing this I think. Later I’ll be sailing away for my friend’s birthday and then catching the fireworks. Did I mention my main goal is having as much fun as possible this weekend? I’m going to go make good on that…
rabbit food comeback!
What are you up to this weekend?
Do you have a Canada Day or 4th of July tradition?
PS: Happy Canada Day (or 4th of July, early!)!
I want to say I feel the same way. I get so caught up in one little mistake or failure i think I make forgetting that most of the time I eat healthy and clean. it is so hard to look past those moments though and it makes me so frustrated sometimes. Thank you for this great perspective, I kind of needed it this morning.
Awe, glad it resonated Alex! Falling forward takes us further! Mistakes are lessons! All that good stuff. And sometimes we just need a gentle reminder to stop being so hard on ourselves! So stop being so hard on yourself. Would you beat me up for the stuff that you beat yourself up for? I doubt it! <3
YES!!!! This post is so hella awesome!!! Seriously I love that realization – don’t focus on the end goal, focus on the little things that cumulatively make whatever your path is to that end goal. I need to work on this myself, with my “happy weight” and with breaking this injury cycle. I get so caught up in “I need to start running again!” but maybe instead I should focus on the things that will get me there – doing the PT stuff (and taking the time to do it right), listening to my body (let it move when it wants to, let it rest when it wants to), and…yeah, just be more tuned in. Forgiving yourself and focusing on what’s fun and what’s ultimately going to make you happy is DEFINITELY setting you off on the right path!
Have a blast today, totally jealous of the boating extravaganza!
It’s funny how these lessons apply all over the place. You are a trooper and you’re so dedicated to getting back to running that I know those little things will add up. It’s not the end goal of actually running that matters, in the end. It’s that you can run, and that depends on those little things!
Didn’t you LOVE the falling forward thing?! I know it stuck with me when my friend said it! 
Happy holidays to you too–this week is all celebrations for a girl like me!
You’ll get there
Yes the little things add up and make the journey a lot more fun than if you were to drastically change in a day. Love your silly banana photo haha 
Thanks for the encouragement! One day at a time.
That sign is awesome! So creative hahaha.
I use the word fail wayyy to much. I didn’t work out that much this week and I consider that a failure. But I have to keep telling myself that it’s not!
Thinking of falling forward really worked for me! Sometimes we don’t fail, and sometimes we do but even if we do it’s for the better if there’s a lesson, right? But I think often we need to take it easier on ourselves — and maybe think if we would look at our friends the same way if they “failed” how we do?
Pingback: Sun, fun, and seeing the positive side | Happy is the new healthy