Happy early Valentine’s Day!
I love love, and I’ve always loved Valentine’s, even when I was single, it’s a time of sparkles and hearts and pink and red and it’s just the best. I’m a firm believer that Valentine’s is not at all about romantic love only, so this year I’m really showing a lot of love to my body because it’s freaking amazing.
Why I Love My Body
Earlier this month I celebrated five years post-hip reconstruction (you can read more here), and I’m simply amazed at my body’s ability to heal.
During the TEN YEARS it took to diagnose and treat my hip, I went from dancing four-to-six+ hours a day, at least five days a week, to only being allowed to walk my dogs. So I gained a ton of weight and my hard-earned muscles turned to mush.
In that time I got really serious about what I was putting in my body, and I learned two things: I hate feeling hungry, and I hate feeling left out.
Flip the Script
I am someone who needs to feel full - I get very hangry, my blood sugar goes nuts, and I’m exhausted. And it is miserable when everyone orders dessert and you’re like, “I can’t have that.” So you sit there and sulk. BOOOOOOO.
Here’s what works for me:
drinking a ton of water (around 100oz a day)
incorporating fiber in every meal (keeps me full waaaay longer than protein and better (for me!) than fat)
establishing a baseline “diet,” aka a loose structure for meals that makes me feel amazing, that I stick to even during indulgent times
occasional fasts (no more than 16 hours)
cut sneaky calories, drinks are the worst (I only regularly drink water, black coffee, and green tea)
if it’s been at least two hours since my last meal, and will be at least two hours until my next meal, I’ll have a protein-heavy snack under 100 calories like a hard-boiled egg - otherwise no snacking…snacks are for toddlers
if I’m trying to lose weight, creating a calorie deficit with cardio versus eating less
if I’m craving something for more than a couple of days, I eat it
alcohol is the. worst. when trying to lose weight, so drink responsibly in this respect as well
While I don’t eat as much as I might want as often as I might want (because chocolate chip cookies for every meal would get old), by actually listening to my body I swear I’ve finally come to realize that it points me in the right direction.
For example, we went to Charleston, SC for my birthday with incredible options for every meal. But I can’t keep up with chocolate cake, BBQ and fancy dinners all day, every day, without feeling sick.
So I swapped in a green smoothie for breakfast, skipped a lunch, but never said I “couldn’t” have something. I ate if I was hungry and stopped when I’d had enough.
Go-to breakfast
Both me and my husband have this smoothie for breakfast every day - and if we fast, we’ll have it for lunch. If I want something warm and carb-y instead, I do a little oatmeal with a drop of maple syrup, some vanilla extract, sea salt and blueberries.
POWER GREEN SMOOTHIE:
(Makes 6, 12-oz servings)
44oz liquid (I love a Super Coffee + unsweetened almond milk)
3 servings chocolate vegan protein
6 tablespoons acacia fiber
2 tablespoons cacao powder
1 bag (16oz) frozen spinach
Blend everything but the spinach in a blender, then add spinach and blend. Pour into jars and store in fridge.
go-to dinner
Again, chili is something my husband and I enjoy all the time because you can really mix up the flavors. Also, all of the ingredients are from the pantry or freezer, so it’s a great last-minute option. My trick, though, is to make this the day before and store it in the fridge…it always tastes better the next day since the flavors get to mingle.
BASIC CHILI:
2 cups broth or stock
28oz diced tomatoes in juice
2 15-oz cans of beans, rinsed and drained
1lb meat or another 15-oz can of beans
salt, pepper, seasonings of choosing
Brown the protein with salt and pepper, then turn the heat all the way up. Add the broth and tomatoes, more salt and pepper, whatever seasonings you’re using, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer, then add beans, salt and pepper. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, let cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight.
go-to lunch
Lunch is varied, either a smoothie, a soup (check my Instagram Reels!), or leftovers. I usually add a piece of fruit, too.
You Sexy Thing
I have had a long, crazy journey with food. Maybe I’ll go into it more one day. But I can fully, finally say that I have a beautiful relationship with food and my body and working out. There are no rewards or punishments. I’m so, so happy. And I really had to earn it, but it is so worth it.
You must understand that “beauty” means something different to everyone. It’s not about a size or a certain look. After seeing what my body can do, especially when it’s properly fueled, I want to watch what I eat not because I’m scared of going over my calories for the day, but because I want to feel amazing. And sometimes feeling amazing means housing pizza and fries and beer (that’s tonight’s dinner, PS).
If you’re having a hard time feeling like crap towards your body, I hope you find something to love about it. If you can’t change it, like your height, you need to accept it. But if you want bigger biceps or to lose the muffin top, go for it. You can. And you’re worth living your best life while loving your body.
PS - I’m not a health professional and none of this is health advice. Always consult your doctor before doing anything health-related. Duh.