Yesterday, my Mom, my cousin Haley, my aunt Shelly, and I all drove to LAX
We were dropping of Haley at the Airport. Back to Humboldt she goes!
We stopped at one of my favorites, “More Than Waffles.” Service gets an A+!!
I ordered 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, and multi grain waffles
I ate every bit, plus some fruit, plus some of my Moms pancakes, plus some of my aunts potatoes. I had to try everything! Plus, I’m going through this thing right now where since I am paying for my own food, I am like a scavenger when I go out to eat. No food left behind. This is a habit I will get over soon enough… I hope!
Hello!
I didn’t document anything else yesterday. Since this blog is 100% about honesty, and sharing REAL life things with other girls, I will go ahead and say that I am struggling in the food relationship/body image area right now
This verse has really been helping me lately
“The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.” -Proverbs 29:25
I wrote it on my mirror, to remind me each and every day
This struggle started when I moved out. At first, I was so busy that I was hardly eating (only the first week). Now, it’s been that I’ve been so busy that I have hardly been working out. I went to the gym yesterday and did 30 minutes of cardio, but I am used to going most mornings and doing about an hour of cardio or body pump. Doing nothing has really thrown me off, and although I don’t have a scale, my clothes are feeling “tight.” Now, I am guessing that all of you girls can agree with me that when your clothes feel tight, it doesn’t feel good… well, it really doesn’t for me, and I have really been struggling with a battle in my head going from “okay, time for a diet,” to “okay, time to grab the scale from your parents house, let’s lose some weight!” Although this battle is going on, I haven’t given in to either, and I am not planning on it. I am trying so hard to stay strong, leave the scale out of my life, and keep the word diet out of my vocabulary.
That being said, I believe that what I need to do for myself is to take a few days off from blogging, and just focus my mind back to having a GOOD relationship with food. I started this blog because that’s where I was at, and I wanted to share it with all of you. I was OKAY with eating ANYTHING that I wanted. I had ZERO items listed on the “forbidden list,” and my portion control was the best it had ever been. I was okay with saving food for later, and I never felt the urge to finish everything on my plate because it was sitting there staring at me. It was the relationship with food that I had always dreamed of, and I knew I wanted to share it with others.
I want to get back to that point. I want to give my mind a break, give myself a break, take a few days, wait on some things, and come back with a fresh new direction for myself, and my blog. I want to do what is best for me, and what I feel will be best for my readers, and I know that if I myself don’t feel in a healthy mindset, I sure don’t want to influence others with that. My only goal has been ONLY to make other girls feel GOOD about themselves, to love themselves, and to help them also be freed from the bondage of dieting.
I started my day off with this bowl of Oats… they were so pretty I still had to take a photo. I hope you all have a wonderful day, I will be back in 3 days to check in. I appreciate all the love and understanding through this blog. I really hope that my mind freshens up and gets some rest these next few days. I wish you all much love for your bodies & minds!
What do you do when you get in a funk like this?
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Girl!
I totally know that feeling. I feel like i’m permanately stuck in that funk lately being at school is just so challenging to stay on track. It takes time you can do it. Thinking of you!
Jenn recently posted..Lets Get Insaine
Thank you so much Jenn! I am happy to say that I will be coming back today. Thank you for your response… Nice to know you can relate!
I this this is amazing. You have proven to yourself that you will not fall to old habits as you have conquered the hardest part. Admitting things are slipping. You are a strong beautiful young women and with all of your strong beliefs you will get through this. I totally agree with eating what you want, but I do also agree that there are things that should only be once and a while as regardless of portion size they will affect your weight. Fueling my body with the natural whole foods the earth provided to us is what has gotten me to where I am now & I am finally at a happy place with my body. I have been where you are, and I know how it feels to feel stuck or “in a funk.” Just know that you have us surrounding you and God watching down on you, you need to be the one in the middle holding yourself as strong as we all know you can. You are a wonderful person and considering that we have never met, that shows how bright your light is. Stay strong, rest up and keep being honest with yourself. It is when we are dishonest with ourselves that we fall into old habits.
Just remember that fruits and veggies lean proteins and healthy fats are best for our bodies and when you are craving something or have a temptation always remember that “Healthy Hits The Spot”
Much love girl & reach out if you need an ear, always here for u. xo
F.
Fiona recently posted..Sloppy Joes !
Fiona! You are so sweet! Thank you for thinking of me in this time and always checking in with me… that truly means so much to me… you’re my little reminder of joy through this blog… I just love it…! I hope you are doing well! Your sweet facebook comment really made me happy and kinda pushed me over that little “bump” that was in front of me… the last little bump before I could come back to blogging. I can say now that I woke up this morning feeling fully refreshed and ready.. I love you girls!
I’m feeling the same way, Paige. Thank you for your encouraging words!
I think many of us can relate in this area! Thank you for reading
Totally understand what you’re going through. When Daniel and I got married I had only been living on my own for about a year (I moved out when I was 23 and we were married about a year later). I struggled with not wasting and to be honest I still do because finances are tight. Usually I remind myself that I can give extra stuff to Daniel though (since he’s a guy he has a better/faster metabolism naturally) or I remind myself that the food will be there for me if I want to eat it later. Some days I don’t succeed and lately I have been having the “tight” clothing problem too. You need to also remind yourself that sometimes stress is causing you to hold on to the food you eat (even though it doesn’t need to).
Sometimes de-stressing yourself for a couple days, taking bubble baths/long showers, doing “fun exercise” (something outside the gym such as swimming, walking a dog/walking on the beach, etc), and just spending time with the Lord to remind yourself that even though your health is important it isn’t an end all be all when a couple pounds creep on. This is something I am working on also!
Also, keep the fiber in your diet higher so you get less hungry between your meals/snacks (I recommend the “twig” cereals at Trader Joe’s w/ a serving of yogurt). 
Hope this helps! I’ll be prayin’ for ya girlie!
Alyssa Ashby recently posted..Is Age Just a Number?
You are so sweet Alyssa! Thank you! You’re so right… it isn’t the end all, and that is definitely something I need to remind myself of… I loved taking this break, and just asking the Lord how He might use me on this blog… while I love just posting whatever is on my mind, I also want to be a good influence, and sometimes that calls for taking some time to reflect on my own healthy habits… I am sure you can relate to what I am saying… You’re so sweet to always be in such contact with me through this blog. I hope you all enjoyed the pizza that my Dad made. Isn’t it the best? He is a GIFTED PIZZA MAKER!
I think we all go through this sort of thing once in awhile, even if we’re usually good to ourselves. I hope you can find your balance soon.
Oh, and another thing, wooo! Humboldt. I bet your cousin enjoyed all the sunshine while she visited you, it’s been raining here lately.
K recently posted..Easter Ski
I agree, and I know that I will hit this “hurdle” many more times, but knowing that I can deal with it and get through it in just a couple of weeks is really encouraging. And yes, she sure did love the sunshine! She LOVES Humboldt though. I think she has found a new home! (I really miss her!)
I know I haven’t commented in quite a bit, but I have been reading every day and still love reading everything you post. I’ve been feeling in a bit of a funk lately as well, so I don’t have any wise words of wisdom for you. For me, just trying to keep my daily routine and get my body moving as much as possible helps. It’s a hard thing to conquer, but I know you can do it! Take all the time you need and hopefully you’ll come back feeling refreshed and ready to take on anything.
Thank you Sam! Your comments are always appreciated- I love hearing from you! I can say that after taking a little break, I feel refreshed and excited to blog again. Sometimes a little privacy and looking INWARD is all it takes…
I love your bravery and honesty in your posts. I am dealing with a similar issue and now on vacation, which isn’t helping! I was doing so well and had finally started to develop a healthy relationship with food until I noticed that I had gained. I started to refocus and clean up my diet, but quickly went back to my restrictive mindset. I started to get so angry with myself for letting this happen again, but am taking it day by day, meal by meal. You are a very strong girl, and have overcome so many things that I have no doubt you can get through this one! You are so inspiring and beautiful and you really motivate me to stay on track and overcome my hurdles with food/body image. Thank you for being you, and for sharing such personal and emotional things with your readers. By telling your story and struggles, you are helping so many others who might not have the strength or courage to talk about their issues with body image and relationships with food. xo
Catherine @ Rabbit Food For My Bunny Teeth recently posted..Kiwi Swiss Pepper Toast
Thank you Catherine! That really means a lot to me. I can totally relate with you. One thing that has helped me is to not make anything totally off limits. Yes, I can cut back on certain things, but just knowing that I allow myself anything, makes things less tempting. When I restrict something, sometimes after a week or so, that backlashes at me and that exact thing that I restricted is the only thing that I want. What works for me may not work for everyone. We are all so different. I commend you for being so transparent with me and sharing your struggles. Thank you sweet girl!
I just want to say that I am really proud of you for doing this. You are now able to see bad habits coming back and you are working in order to not let them settle in, it is the most important step, admitting when we are getting on a wrong path. Keep the scale and diets away ! It is extremely hard to keep a balance between eating what we want and enjoy ourselves, and still feeling healthy, fit and, well … good looking for our own criteria, but taking time to figure this balance out is a good thing ! Take all the time you need, and come back to us relaxed, healthy, and don’t forget your pretty smile ! ^^
Thank you Julie
You are so sweet, and I can see that even though you are just a reader, you truly look out for my well being. I am happy to say that after a couple weeks of being away, and refocusing my mind on what makes me feel healthy, I am feeling refreshed. This break was definitely good for me, and I am excited and happy to be back and writing to you all
Hey,
I appreciate, and encourage you to take your little break.
I am a freshman in college, and a lot of the time I get myself wrapped up in things that may not be the “healthiest” for my recovery from my eating disorder. I would love to take a break from researching, reading blogs, and focusing on my diet. I hope you enjoy some freedom and peace of mind, and come back knowing that YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and that you have a very healthy lifestyle. <3 Let me know how you are doing. I don't know you, but obviously I care.
Thank you! It means so much to me that you care. Sometimes breaks are so necessary… we tend to fill our minds 24/7 with research, opinions, facts… whatever it may be! But sometimes we just need a BREAK. It’s good to allow our minds to rest. I am doing so well, this break was indeed GREAT for me! I am feeling refreshed and ready to come back
Tooootally know where you’re coming from! Been there, done that. When you’re not feeling your best, it’s a total bummer and really discouraging. You’ve gone through big life changes, adjusting is hard! But, you have so many tools and people available to help you- clearly!!! Here are a few thoughts and tricks I use that really get me back on track. Hopefully you’ll find some helpful!
- Getting back to the gym! When you exercise, you have definitive movement towards your goal that you can pinpoint. That ALONE makes me feel a little bit better! Not to mention the endorphins you generate from a good burn, and the boosted metabolism afterwards! Cardio helps shed water weight quickly, but some good advice on that: no or low impact only!! Treadmills and concrete are really bad for you
It’s so very hard on your body. As my mom says, you only have so much “tread” on your knees, and when you run on concrete or a treadmill you’re just wearing them down to the bone. You may not feel it now, but you feel it down the road and it’s no fun.
- Don’t eat anything from a package or restaurant for a whoooole week. Only eat whole, real foods! I know from reading your blog that you love LARABARS, and I looove them too. Since they are wholesome and chemical-free, I eat them anyway because sometimes life happens and you can’t always cook! The point behind this is to know what you’re eating and flush your body with only natural, real ingredients. It feels really good!
- Minimize carbohydrates. If i’m not exercising, I don’t need them! I only eat complex carbs that come from veggies- which may make you a little bloated, but it’s okay… It’s just the fiber talking!
- Minimize dairy. Dairy, though it contains great protein, is fattening
A cow produces milk for her calf to take it from a 100 lb baby to a 1,000lb adult in just a couple of months! Of course, skim milk and reduced-fat cheeses aren’t bad, but they are still high in calories and if I don’t watch carefully, really add up. I really love cheese, so laying off dairy is a big help for me when I need to get back on track. I keep nonfat plain greek yogurt on the table, though, because of the super high protein and how delicious it is with strawberries or blueberries.
- Apples! They are my best friend. They are a fantastic snack, a diuretic, and jam packed with fiber. I probably eat two a day. For a treat, I’ll add a dash of cinnamon!
- Increase my water intake. It helps fill me up, and you feel physically better!
- Replace one meal with a protein shake. Here’s my recipe:
1) a scoop chocolate protein powder (whey or egg protein)
2) dash of hersheys special dark chocolate powder
3) a splash of stevia, liquid
4) a cup or so of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
5) a dollop of 0% plain greek yogurt
6) ice
Blend until smooth and ENJOY!!!!!!!
- The TIU 7DSD, which I’m currently just starting
- Avoid going out with friends to dinner or to events where food will be. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is spend time WITH yourself and just BE! Relax! Read a book, search for new music, learn a new hobby,… make time for YOU!
- Try a small meal at dinner and nothing after 7 pm. I try to make it a generic rule for myself to not eat after 8- your body doesn’t need calories, you’re going to sleep! You need energy from food to get through the DAY! If you eat late at night, your body stores it as fat for later because you’re not active when you sleep!
Boy, that was a lot longer than I expected! I guess I’ve picked up a few tricks along my journey
Hopefully one of these will help you, but if not, at the VERY least know you have a bunch of girls who believe in you!!!! That is a lot of power by itself. You’ll get there 
Let me just say, you are beautiful! Thank you so much for being so generous to write all of that to me. It truly help, and opened my eyes up to some things that will really help me. That was truly so sweet of you. I never thought about dairy in that way. WOW! That is so true… Really, really eye opening! Thank you!
I am in that situation right now but talking to my spiritual mother (i’m sure you have one as welll, reading from your inspiring posts), I realized..my days revolve around food — be it good or bad thoughts. What I am supposed to eat, when I am supposed to eat and it’s basically ruining moments we could have been spending/enjoying with friends, family and God. It is a battle but I am slowly leaving everything up to Him, as you do, and keep in mind that your worst enemy is yourself. If we allow ourselves to judge and criticize the way we look and feel about ourselves, then we lose. The real food that we should be thinking about it spiritual food. He wants us to hunger and eat His words..Christ is in you, sister. He created you therefore you are beautiful in His eyes. And that’s all that matters. I am continuing to progress as well. Praying for all of us who are in this situation. God reigns
Wow, thank you so much! This was such a great thing to hear. It’s so true. We are our own worst critics! The real food we should be thinking about is spiritual food… I love that… pretty sure that one is going to stick with me! Thank you!
Thank you for your post! It’s so refreshing to see a blogger who is truly honest rather than fabricating every post to make it seem like they have a perfect life all the time! I enjoy reading your blog and pass it on to my friends. I am in the process of moving across the country with my family and have also had the “my clothes are tight” feeling lately. No time to workout, not making the best food choices, etc. I’m trying to get back on the right track, though, so your post was great motivation for me. I find that just cutting down on sodium and drinking at least 100oz of water per day will drastically reduce bloat – sometimes I can lose 3 pounds of just water weight in a few days just from that! Excess sodium isn’t good for you anyway.
Thank you! Yes, I will always be honest with you all. I want this blog to be a place where girls can come to relate to each other. We all struggle in one way or another. All of our stories are different, but at least we can all be there for each other