being healthy can be hard.
when i started out on this journey back in april 2015, i thought that i was making healthy choices.
i was running and counting calories and losing weight.. and i thought that that was it. didn't matter what those calories were made up of, didn't matter how fast i was losing weight, and it didn't matter that was running myself to death.
i started my health journey on my fitness pal. i tracked... and lowered calories... and tracked... and lowered calories... and on and on until i was eating 1200 calories according to mfp... but in reality, i was probably eating less than 1000 calories most days. definitely not enough food for anyone, especially not someone who was running 4-8 miles a day.
Sept 2015/ about to go running even though i was over training to the point i injured my knee
i was working out 7 days a week and if i missed a day i would feel terrible and try to eat even less. my "rest" days usually consisted of strenuous hikes up steep hills for miles... but since i wasn't running i didn't count it as "real" day.
i was working out to "earn" calories. for way too long in my fitness journey i felt like i had to constantly restrict myself. i felt like i had to burn calories, otherwise i shouldn't really be eating.
after time and a nice reality check from my partner, i started to recognize the issue and started focusing on balance. taking rest days and eating more and eating better.
now i workout 5-7 days a week. not because i feel like i have to but because i genuinely enjoy working out. some days are hardcore hiit or heavy lifting and some days are just long walks or slow jogs and some days i don't do ANYTHING. and all of that is totally awesome.
june 2 2016 - june 3 2017 / more food and less cardio, bigger muscles and a way bigger smile
breakfast on sunday, june 4. bagel breakfast sandwiches with ham, cheese, and eggs. lots of fruit and champagne. all on a rest day!
and now i EAT. i worked my way up to eating about 2000 calories a day again. instead of counting calories, i focus on macro-nutrients (macros). this helps me find balance and focus more on eating foods that make me feel good instead of crap that's low calorie. but also now i get to enjoy all the food and drinks that i really like to eat.
some days, all the great progress i've made goes out the window. i am far from perfect. bad days happen. some days you wake up and feel terrible and start thinking about cutting calories or carbs or adding all the cardio, but now I have the experience and the ability to step back and realize that bodies fluctuate and if i give it a couple days i will more than likely feel good again. '
it's all a process.
but i am so glad that i have figured out what balance looks like and feels like for me.
