Perfectly Imperfect

This past year has not been without it’s challenges.  I went through a heart-wrenching breakup and my dietary self-discipline was touch and go.  The thing that kept me moving towards a positive goal was finally focusing on myself.  What did I need?  What did I want?  Health, yes.  Happiness, of course.  But overall, I wanted to accept myself as I was: perfectly imperfect.

I admire those who lead a strict disciplined life of impeccable health and physique, but I know that is not in my DNA, and that’s ok.  Recently learning from my physician that my metabolic blood tests were within a healthy range despite my being “obese” makes me want to share that it’s possible to reach that healthy balance without being perceived as perfect.  You can lead a healthy lifestyle without making the right choices all the time.

The Smart Ones© message of wiping the slate clean has been a running theme on my blog and it’s one that resonates strongly with me.     Giving in to unhealthy food choices at events, family gatherings, and any sort of environment you find yourself within reach of food temptations doesn’t make you weak.  It makes you human.  If you are able to say no to the extra slice of cake, that’s great!  But in my experience, deprivation of certain foods can lead me down a slippery slope of gluttony.  I’ve learned to take desserts home if I am full, wrap up half of my plate of excessively portioned restaurant food before I start eating, and most importantly I listen to my stomach.

Occasional food slip ups are part of your journey to wellness, and it may be difficult but not impossible to keep from starting at square one.  Schedules get busy and unhealthy food makes it past our lips.  As much as I wish I had the money for a personal trainer and private chef, that’s just not the case.  Try not to let momentary set backs become permanent by realizing that it’s not the end of the world if you aren’t making the best food choices for a day or even weeks.  It may seem impossible if you are in a viscous unhealthy food cycle, but with a little help and inspiration you can get back on track.

Time is not always on my side.

 

Thoughts on Addiction.

I have a pretty serious addiction.  It may be arguable but it’s actually in the Top 10 Most Common Addictions in America.

I find myself constantly thinking about one of the things that gives me a high, which is food.  Whether I’m happy, sad, complacent, or bored, I’m always thinking about my next “fix”.   Moreover, it’s usually unhealthy sugar or carbo loaded food that I know is poison to my body and will make me feel physically and mentally horrible afterwards.  It may also be an urge to eat any food (healthy or not) and feel that extremely full where it’s almost painful food coma, also known as overeating.  Both of these acts to be followed by shame and disgust.  I also find in trying to control my addiction to food, I tend to fill my “need hole” with a behavioral addiction in the form of exercise or shopping.. The only downfall is that exercise is work, shopping can cost too much money, and eating food is cheap & easy.  I am the type of person that likes cheap & easy!

So why do I still feel this urge to eat such horrible foods when it’s been proven from experience and SCIENCE that eating healthier not only makes you feel better but live longer?  Is it the taboo?  Is it depression?  Or is it addiction?

It’s a constant cycle no matter what your drug of choice.

I recently read a short article about how impulsive personalities are linked to food addiction, stating that while their “study shows that impulsive behavior was not necessarily associated with obesity, impulsive behaviors can lead to food addiction.”  It made me wonder if I have this type of personality or if I have an addictive personality, or if all of them are rolled up into one!  In doing some self analyzing I concluded that I just might have an impulsive personality but I struggle to contain it in accordance with social norms.  I do things that make me feel good, even if it may be defined as “unhealthy”, as long as it does seem to be hurting another person.  I’m not stealing from or attacking people because of my addiction.  This is how I justify my actions.  But in doing this I fail to take into account myself, and how my demise may effect those who love and care about me.  This is something I’ve been trying to figure out in therapy for the past year.  Addicts don’t realize how their decisions effect other people emotionally, because the need of getting that next high is too powerful.  So we see addiction as selfish and stupid.  This is why the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman struck a cord with me as people ridiculed him for overdosing on heroin while he had 3 children and a lucrative career.  I may not have an illegal drug addiction or an alcohol addiction, but food is my drug of choice.  And food is available almost anywhere and at any age so I don’t have to walk into a dark alleyway to buy a loaf of delicious crispy Italian bread for $50.

I strangely identified with this tragedy, which I thought was crazy since I’ve never been around any sort of illegal drug activity in my life.  Then I read that a study suggests “in some people’s brains high calorie foods can elicit cravings and trigger responses similar to those caused by addictive drugs,” and I felt compassion and sadness that his addiction got the best of him.  It must be great that some of those who spoke out angrily against Mr. Hoffman don’t have an addiction, good for you!  But for those of us who constantly have that feeling of needing something we know may kill us or make us unhealthy, whether now or over time, it’s not as simple as “he just didn’t care about anyone but himself.” It is more than that.  Addiction is a complex disease that changes brain chemistry in the user.

Addiction also comes in many forms aside from illegal substances & food, including the internet/technology, caffeine, pornography, sex, prescription drugs, gambling,  smoking, alcohol, video games, hoarding and yes even shopping!  The list does not stop there either.  There is that fine line between having a healthy relationship with these things and having a problem, and personally I feel no one should be judged for how their addiction controls them. Addiction may be difficult for those who don’t understand, I get that, I just hope people can find compassion in themselves for those who may not be as strong or as disciplined as they are.  I’m constantly wrestling with my addictions and though I feel I’m in a much better place than previous years, I will always struggle with unhealthy impulses.

All I can do is try to live better each day, work on being emotionally stronger, and ask for help.

Never be afraid to ask for help.  Please take time to read this compelling article by actor Russel Brand about his own struggle with addiction.  No words can describe the thoughtfulness and rawness of his words.

Humpday Humor!

I joke because lately I have been ravenous, but I’ve also been working out harder than normal.  The two go hand in hand!  Luckily, you can still eat and lose weight, just choose the right foods.  Or if you aren’t losing weight, perhaps gaining, but still feel you are making the right nutritional choices, pay attention to how your clothes are fitting and how you continue to feel.  Don’t let the numbers control your life, but make a change if you feel like you’ve hit a wall.  I’ve actually been gaining pounds, but I feel my clothes fitting differently and being back at the gym lifting weights has given be strength, energy, and enough confidence to not let the scale dictate how I feel.  Let’s hope I can continue to feel happy and healthy without the frustration of not losing weight.

Humpday Humor!

I love this meme, because well, I love cats and how independent and narcissistic they can be.  But it’s a reminder for myself that I don’t NEED everything I want.  Although, it’s pretty funny when a cat does…

Trigger Ain’t Just the Name of A Horse.

Roy Rogers & Trigger
“the greatest horse ever to appear in motion pictures.”

This past week has been an emotional roller coaster full of change, not necessarily bad, but different with lot’s of “unknowns”. That can be a self-destructive ED  (Eating Disorder) trigger of mine. Fear of the unknown. I’ve only recently been trying to live in the present.  I have my good days and my bad. I tend to eat my feelings instead of dealing with them, and right now I’m not even sure what my feelings are so I’ve regressed to bad food and ED habits to numb my anxiety.  To offset these horrible food decisions, I’ve been trying to balance out the high calorie intake with high calorie burns at the gym.  Although I’m enjoying being back at the gym, the reason why I go now is not my norm, so I’ve been feeling very stressed and unhappy and not very healthy at all.   This is a vicious cycle that I do not want to live for the rest of my life.  All I need to do to feel happy again is gain control of my decisions. I sometimes think I’m not in as much control as I really am over my decisions. I need to reset my mind and expectations of myself. Easier said than done, but not impossible.  I am also trying to focus on meditation to calm my mind and I’ve had some struggles, but I have hope the benefits will outweigh the struggle.

I’ve made little food decisions that I am going to deem small victories. Late at night when I feel the urge to binge or munch, I’ve been filling myself with fruits and veggies and smoothies!  Small changes can lead to big changes, so I hope, and I am going against every grain of my “all or nothing” persona to try and not lose hope and give up completely.  I am trying to learn from past mistakes and not dwell on them. I’ve been carb and fat overloading throughout these past few days, and since I’m not planning to run a Marathon anytime soon, that has to change. I know going to the gym can increase your appetite, but this is more than that. I’m not hungry and I’m eating. That is just habit.

Eating to excess is more than just loving food, in fact I tend to vilify food which is not a healthy mindset. It’s much more complex and something I’ve been working on understanding. I am well aware that I am full, painfully so, yet I still want that apple with peanut butter. Saying “stop” seems harder than just giving in to the craving. Tips like “waiting 20 minutes” is lost on me when I’m in this mindset of NOW NOW NOW. When I’m alone, it’s the worst. Distractions and hobbies and companionship are key for me to continue on a healthy path.  Boredom and loneliness are more triggers of mine that need to, and will, be dealt with very soon.

I am starting to realize I do better, make better decisions, as part of a team.  For example, my friend and co-worker wants to go to the buffet style cafeteria on campus for lunch today. At first my reaction was NOOOOOOO, oh the humanity!!! But then after telling her my recent struggles, owning them, I realized I will be OK with her there. She knows me. She knows my struggles with food, and though she graciously offered to go somewhere else, I told her that having her there will keep me accountable. It is a true test of my will power, which I know is a flaw of mine in every sense of the word. I am not a hermit living in a dietary controlled house, so I will be given these tests for the rest of my life. If you know your flaws, then you can work with them. If you befriend your monsters, then you become a lot braver than you think. Would I love to be magically “fixed” and never struggle with food again, of course! Reality says different. I need to recognize my triggers, change my reactions, and just do better.

This past week was full of poor food decisions. This next week won’t be.

My Magic Bullet Love Affair

The Magic Bullet is the only Infomercial piece of machinery I own (thanks to a lovely friend who re-gifted it to me) and I cannot see my life without it!  Ok, that may be a tad dramatic, but I do have a new found love for this contraption.  It’s so easy to use, easy to clean up, and makes delicious smoothies in seconds!  I know there are lots of other recipes you can make with The Magic Bullet, perhaps one day I’ll be adventurous and try a few, but right now I’m enjoying my cheap and delicious smoothies at home.

“It tastes so good when it hits your lips!”

I am big on the strawberry banana soy smoothie made with 1 banana, halved strawberries that fill the cup, and lite soy milk filled to the fill line.  This smoothie is about 260 calories.  I also made a killer chocolate banana smoothie using chocolate flavored Designer Whey powdered protein (100 calories a scoop), 2 bananas, and soy milk.   It is higher in calories (around 360) but delicious and filling!  I don’t use protein powder too often, but when I feel the need for a little extra muscle boost I’ll throw some into a smoothie.  Being a vegetarian, I know I need alternative sources of protein.  I mainly get protein through green leafy vegetables, tofu, and legumes: some of the best natural source of protein for vegetarians, and great tasting!  If I feel I’ve been slacking on my protein diet from whole foods, I’ll throw in a scoop or two of the protein powder throughout the week.

In conclusion, here is a video of my friend Liz who was one of three Magic Bullet Kitchen Magician finalists in 2011, and though she did not ultimately win, she was so awesome that she now blogs recipes for them on occasion.

Liz also uses MyFitnessPal and is a eclectic comedic film pioneer  living in Brooklyn, NY.  She is one of my heroes.

200 Calories.

I am a visual person, so this collection via wiseGEEK depicting what 200 calories look like is very helpful for me when it comes to visualizing portion control.   Hopefully it will help you too! Click through the image below to get a closer look at each pictured portion on the wiseGEEK website.  

Social Foodies

I love weekly traditions with good friends.  Most of these social engagements revolve around some type of meal which can be tricky when you are trying to watch what you eat.  Every Tuesday evening I visit with my close friends and super fun couple, Melissa and Sheryl.  Melissa used to work with me before moving onto bigger and better things, and her wife Sheryl is an amazing cook and foodie with a day job like Chandler on “Friends”…I still don’t know what she does after she’s told me a dozen times.

Sheryl just joined My Fitness Pal with a mission to get healthier and I could not be happier for her!  Our weekly tradition includes a home cooked vegetarian dinner, my addition of some type of dessert, and a TV series viewed on one of the movie networks that I don’t pay for at home.  Right now we have a weekly drama themed “Shameless Supper”, and last season it was “Dinner and Dexter” on Showtime.   Between these seasons, I think we are going to start a “Gobbling Girls” evening on HBO.

Tonight Sheryl made a low calorie savory butternut squash and carrot soup she just “threw together” as she usually does, with celery and onion in a vegetable based broth.  One bowl was only 115 calories, so I naturally had two bowls.

I opted to bring a nice and light dessert option, strawberry shortcake.  Luckily the local market had fresh strawberries, shortcake dessert shells, and lite whipped cream sitting all together in the produce aisle.  My decision was made for me.  Sweet!  We sprinkled a little sugar over the strawberries, macerating them into liquid sweetness.  It was a perfect way to spend about 200 calories.

 

Altogether, my two bowls of soup and dessert were 430 calories.  3 hours later, I am still full!

Creativity in a Fruit Salad

My Valentine’s Day included a home made card for my sweetheart, a love themed fruit salad, and the short and humorous South Park Documentary “6 Days to Air“.  I took about 15 minutes after work to pick up seedless black grapes (my ongoing addiction!), cherries, strawberries, and red delicious apples.  It took me less than 10 minutes to cut up these few items into a medium sized bowl and make this sweet simple gift for my Valentine.  It took maybe 10-15 minutes to make a card that I was proud to give away to someone I care about.  It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t complicated, it was just cute and from me!  All in all, it took me a little over 30 minutes to prepare for my Valentine celebration and i feel satisfied about the results.  I’m notorious in my family for just stopping in at the Grocery Store to pick up an item for a party, but lately I feel the need to create in order to fill this ingenious void I’ve felt for a while.  I’ve felt that need as of late and have started oil painting and crafting to facilitate this soulful want in addition to getting involved with local arts programs.  Last night I was reminded it doesn’t have to take hours to create a lovely food or non-food artistic presentation.   All it takes is a little inspiration, quick planning, and thoughtful execution 30-45 minutes a day or more if time permits.  I can do that.

Alternative Sweets for your ‘Sweet’

Holidays and sweets go hand in hand.  Valentine’s day is one of the many holidays pushing sweet treats and candies and chocolates in excess.  The biggest chocolate heart is supposed to show your loved one how much you love them.  That irks me.  It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality!  While at the grocery store last night I was surrounded by sweet temptations because of today’s holiday.  Do I love all of those things?  Heck yes!  But, in order to support this healthy lifestyle of mine, I came up with two options to battle the Valentine expectation of sweets for your ‘sweet’.  One is obviously healthier than the other, while the other one deals with making the right choice as far as portion size while at the grocery store.

1. Heart Shaped Fruits

If you happen to have just 15-20 minutes to prepare something sweet and healthy this Valentines day evening, then I’d recommend the simple act of cutting up fruit like honeydew,  melon, apple, etc. into heart shapes (using a heart shaped cookie cutter is recommended if you aren’t confident in your carving skills) and piercing them with a BBQ skewers as pictured above.  It’s not only delicious and healthy, it’s simple and adorable!  Or get creative with it, make it your own Valentine presentation!  There are so many healthy alternative ideas  for holiday treats thanks to the wonderful internet that houses blogs like Sincerely, Paula where I first saw this recipe and where she lists a plethora of other healthy Valentine food options including both sweet and savory.  Obviously, the best choice health wise would be if you chose fruit instead of chocolates as your Valentine sweet.  I’d rather take a little extra time to create something unique on a holiday where store bought chocolates and cards are the norm, but I know that is not always possible when life gets in the way.  If you do not have the time to make something simple and unique for your loved one, it’s understandable for those who have very busy lifestyles.  This brings me to option #2.

2. Freshly Baked Mini Cupcakes

I squeal with delight whenever I see mini cupcakes.  Most mini cupcakes are around 100 calories each.  Most larger cupcakes are around 300 calories, give or take depending on ingredients and freshly baked or packaged.  This means you can have just one mini cupcake for 100 calories if that’s all you can afford in your calorie count, or 3 mini cupcakes for the same calories as one larger one.  Besides the fact that you can easily pick up the better choice of mini cupcakes in most any grocery store on your way home tonight, mini cupcakes are just cute!  If you are someone who cannot have the box of 9 or 12 mini cupcakes in your house tempting you, opting for one larger cupcake from a bakery instead of a prepackaged 6 may be better.  Purchasing one large cupcake instead of an entire ice cream cake or a box of chocolates can mean so much more on a holiday like today.  To me, sharing something small and sweet with someone you love is extremely special and meaningful and intimate.  It shows you care about their health but you don’t want to miss out on the small joys in life, and you want to enjoy these things together.   Who wouldn’t love receiving just one adorable mini cupcake along with a lovely personal written note or spoken word of affection from your sweetheart?  Someone without a soul, that’s who! 🙂