A Struggle for Many: A Healthy Lifestyle

Being Consistent in a Healthy Lifestyle.

I know I am not the only one who struggles when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle... It’s probably one of the hardest things to do — to stay committed. And we wonder why?! Why is it so hard!? Then... We blame ourselves, put ourselves down, and just feel beat down. We wind up telling ourselves we can’t do it, so why bother trying?

Lets face it — no one is perfect. When life brings us cupcakes, we eat them. That’s just how we are. But my method of thought is that if I’m trying to put a conscious effort every single day to eat healthy majority of the day and week, then it’s okay to slip once or twice. Because we are human. The people that literally have been eating healthy for years and haven’t had a cheat day since have simply created a habit. Their bodies don’t crave the good stuff. And we could be those people too... But sometimes it’s just hard to build habits and break them, am I right?

It seems like everything interrupts our healthy lifestyle — all the parties we get invited to with endless sweet tables, when our friends invite us over for coffee and dessert, we go out to breakfast/dinner with friends and think how could I sit here eating an avocado on toast... And then a celebration seems to happen every week which gives us the excuse to eat cake... Like it’s endless! And so annoying.

The struggle part of all this is simply learning to say no. Learning to put our bodies first and our self-confidence! We are so quick to give up on our bodies and our self-esteem. And all that happens after we eat that piece of cake is that we are taken on a guilt trip... We feel terribly once we’re done eating it even though two seconds ago, we were high off the taste of that damn delicious piece of cake.

Well, hate to break it to ya — we will never get to where we want to be if we just keep saying, “sure, I’ll have a small piece.” Because it does the opposite of creating a healthy habit. It literally takes you further away from your goal. It creates a habit of saying yes and ignoring your body and self-esteem. So let’s put the damn forks down and start practicing using the word NO!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙅🏻‍♀️

Public Food Diary.

So I decided that I’m going to start a public food diary again because I realize it’s the only thing that keeps me accountable. I struggle a lot when it comes to eating healthy and even exercising regularly these days... I don’t know if it’s because the time change and it’s dark by 4:45 pm or the cold weather... Or just simply laziness. But whatever it is, it needs to come to an end. I’m so over it.

The Struggle is Real.

I never believed my mom whenever she told me my metabolism would eventually slow down... I was just used to my metabolism being so fast to the point I never had to do much to keep myself at a level I’m confident with. But lately, the struggle has been real.

I have been noticing it’s so easy for me to tack on a couple pounds here and there and it is driving me off the wall! No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to be consistent enough to see lasting results. I’ve been struggling in both eating healthy and working out. So it’s not like I’ve been doing one really well and just lacking the other. I’ve been sucking at both basically all year round.

Eating Habits are so Important.

I’ve always known I had a wild appetite since I was a little girl... But I began noticing it even more when the number on the scale began to notice the amount of horrible food I’ve been eating. Let’s just put it this way — I eat like a cow. Anyone who knows me will confirm that I eat like a 250 pound man. So I’m not kidding when I say my appetite is huge. It always has been — I’ve just barely started “being what I eat” to realize the effect it’s having on my body.

I have a really hard time staying committed. I’ll be honest, I feel like I start fresh every Monday. The only time I’ve been committed this entire year was during my 16 day challenge, or however many days. And I felt amazing. But since? Nothing. I’ve gained the weight back, I haven’t been consistent more than just five days or so, and I wind up back where I started. It sucks.

Needless to say, eating habits are so crucial in losing weight. In fact, it’s more diet than it is exercise. So I decided I would start a public food diary again because I feel it’s the only thing that keeps me strict on myself.

Exercising is key to Losing Weight Faster.

Sure, you could lose weight by just dieting alone. But you could lose weight faster, tone, and build muscle by working out while dieting. And honestly, my exercise in the last four months have been straight trash. I find myself so tired after work and by the time my husband gets home and actually wants to hit the gym, I’m wiped out. So I would literally go only a couple times a week... There were several weeks where I didn’t go at all. I’ve never been at a low like this! The feeling really beats you down when you feel like you’ve been in a hole and you’re trying to get out but you’re too tired and too hungry. 🥺

But I can’t make up anymore excuses! I have to keep remembering that I hate how I feel. I keep thinking back to the year of 2013 when I legit lost over 20 pounds and I freaking rocked the gym and my diet. I was obsessed — I’d be in the gym for two hours everyday. And it really sucks when you lose that type of motivation. Plus, I simply don’t have that time anymore because of my job and just being a wife. The best I’ve ever felt and looked (in my opinion) was that year when I reached 128 pounds. I started out at 149 and dropped to a perfect 128 and never felt better. I never thought I could reach over 150 and I never thought I would ever allow myself to for a single second.

But I allowed myself to... I watched the scale hit 150, 151, 152, and my all-time high: 153. I am literally so disappointed in myself. That I could even be okay with this and fool my mind into thinking, “I’m fine, I still think I look good.” Because they’re lies. I don’t think I look good and I don’t think it’s okay. Some of you may think I’m psychotic or one of those “skinny girls that complain that they’re fat,” or that I have body dysmorphia. But I don’t. It’s just something I am not used to and that is not my standard for how I’m supposed to look and feel. I know I could do better because I have done better.

With that being said, I’m sick of this crap. It’s done with. I can no longer be in the 150s. I can’t be. It’s not me, it’s not who I am, and it’s not who I want to become nor what I want to be comfortable or okay with. I don’t even want to be at that 128 anymore, I simply want to be in the 130s. That’s all. Is that too much to ask?

Everything Starts with a Goal.

I’ve come to the realization that this food diary started out as a rant, lol. But that’s okay! Venting is good for the soul. I needed to really admit a lot of that. The fact that I have been sucking at this whole healthy lifestyle thing and that I’m literally the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life. Those are facts.

ANYWAY — enough of the negativity. It’s time to make a goal; a realistic one that is possible to reach and within a reasonable length of time.

GOAL:
As of December 22nd, 2019, I’m at 153 pounds. My goal is to be 136 by February 20th, 2020. That gives me 60 days to reach my wedding day weight! I would have to lose 2 pouinds per week in order to attain this goal, so inshallah I work hard to achieve it!

Who’s ready to do it with me?!

VIEW FOOD DIARY