Being a member of the fitness and wellness community (however you imagine it or whomever yours consists of) will almost always bring vastly diverse attitudes and philosophies about what it means to “live well.” Of course most of us can agree that healthy living is a “lifestyle” – but it’s easy to forget that there are many competing definitions of what it means to have a healthy lifestyle.
For the purposes of transparency, I do not subscribe to restricted eating in any way nor do I believe that one has to torture themselves by giving up good foods until they have convinced themselves that they’re better off without them. Not too long ago, I wrote a post about my weight loss journey and it is important to note that my healthy lifestyle never included food restriction or “dieting.” Going “paleo” for 30 days, or giving up gluten (without a wheat allergy to justify it) doesn’t make you any stronger or make your will power shine like a diamond in the summer sun. In my humble opinion, it takes far more strength, energy and will power to learn how to co-exist happily with all good, whole foods and allow them to have a place in your kitchen and on your table. It also takes great strength and energy to learn moderation for those foods that might have once held your will-power hostage.
Yesterday was Easter Sunday. Both my boyfriend and I hail from Polish Roman Catholic families, so we know that traditionally, Easter means Jesus and food – and a lot of both. Personally for me, Easter also means one of my absolute favorite candies in the entire world: Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs! *insert squeals of glee* Now, I don’t eat candy often. On the average day, candy doesn’t have a place in my daily intake. Why? Because it’s not a food that fills me up or makes me feel energized. If I’m hungry I’d rather eat foods that nourish my body (especially because I have an intense workout regimen). My candy consumption consists of a few bars of dark chocolate (70% cacao) reserved for “that time of the month.” But this doesn’t mean that once, twice, three times a year I can’t enjoy 1 or 2 pieces of amazingly delicious candy. Especially when I plan for the extra 340 calories (oh my gosh YES, two peanut butter eggs are that many calories).
And ya know what? Even if I *didn’t* plan to consume those extra calories – one day out of a lifestyle that sees good habits of regular exercise and good, clean eating is not going to set me back. And it won’t set you back, either. You’re not going to gain weight from a peanut butter egg on Easter. You’re not going to slip back into obesity if you have a couple pieces of kielbasa and a pierogie (oh how I love my Polish family). All you need to do is remember that as the holiday comes, so too it shall pass and back to our daily lives we return. I’ll go back to the gym in the morning and after an intense training circuit, I won’t crave peanut butter eggs – instead, I’ll crave a delicious banana and a cup of yogurt. But there’ll always be a place in my heart for sugary goodness, and I won’t sit and suffer unnecessary restrictions because the world is telling me that one peanut butter egg will send me back into a spiral of bad habits and obesity. So, yes – healthy living is a lifestyle and no, it doesn’t take a “vacation” – but eating the occasional piece of candy isn’t unhealthy. Putting yourself first is healthy.
In Health,
Amy
Twitter: @amy_Danger
