If it seems like I’ve been on a motivational kick as of late, I have been. I’ve been getting back on a good sleep schedule (2 am is not a good bedtime!), making better habits (get dressed as soon as I get out of bed), working away from distractions, and I started cutting the simple syrup out of my morning lattes. So what gives? Well, after months, or maybe years, of consideration and a lot of frustrated attempts, I have decided to work with a nutritionist. We start next week and I’m already feeling motivated and excited!
But wait, I know what you’re thinking: you look great, you eat well, you should love yourself, etc, etc. I’ve heard it all. And all those things are not untrue! I look fine, I eat well, and I do love myself as I am! But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to push myself a little harder, and take better care of my body.
And let’s be clear from the start: this is for me.
What matters to me is being my best self. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gained a little weight, exercised less and less, all the while eating much better than ever before. But that just isn’t enough for me. I want to stay in charge of my health, and that requires a greater commitment than the one I’m currently giving.
In high school I played sports all year round, running across fields or rowing for 2-3 hours a day. In college I was a Division I rower for a year, then went to the gym every morning like it was my religion the rest of the time. And now, I do Pilates 2 times a week, but can’t get myself exercising daily despite having a top-notch elliptical machine 3 rooms away. It’s frustrating, and that frustration has more to do with my inability to stay consistent, rather than the actual exercise itself. You know that awful red-faced, out-of-breathe, huffing and puffing, jiggling-while-jumping, feeling you get when you’re completely exhausted during an exercise? Well I miss it. It means I’m pushing myself, and that’s where I want to be.
You’re thinking: Exercise? I thought you said nutritionist? Well yes. It’s both, and it’s even more about everything else. The nutritionist will help get me scheduling my time better, being consistent, creating better habits, and being accountable to myself – the food just comes after all those things.
I already eat good, whole foods, lots of fruits and veggies, and cook most meals at home. But I often don’t eat enough, eat at strange hours, or forget to eat all together, which leads to ups and downs in my energy. I also want to learn about what I’m eating, what it’s doing to my body, and what a well balanced diet really looks like. Of course, the great benefit of all that is to loose weight and get stronger too!
I actually wasn’t planning on sharing this as it’s very personal and can be the topic of hot debate, but today I felt a change of heart and decided that maybe others out there wanted to hear my story. I’m a little nervous about what this transformation will entail, but I’m going to give it my all. After many years of not having a coach with me on the sideline, it’ll be nice to finally have someone on my team, urging me on.
I hope you stay upbeat and motivated this weekend! And do you have any health goals you’re working on? Share with my readers in the comments below!
(P.S. The photo above from a visit to the Saint-Paul Asylum, in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where Van Gogh spent some time as a self-admitted patient recovering from mental illness. There, between bouts of creative block, he painted the buildings and grounds – some of his greatest and best known works. It’s a beautiful property in a spectacular area so if you’re ever visiting that neighborhood in the south of France, be sure to stop by!)
