On loving yourself lean

"Making an allowance reflects that there will be a large variety of foods to choose from over the Christmas period and that it's perfectly OK to eat a few treat foods over this time and enjoy time spent with friends and family. Having a few treat meals and different foods and enjoying time with friends and doesn't cause the Christmas weight gain, it is the self destructive thoughts and behaviours around this different food and not making an allowance for yourself that cause the problem. Underlying issues of restriction, rebellion and "discipline" can really backfire on the person wanting to stay lean over the holidays.

This is completely different from overindulging until you hurt and making the excuse that "it was Christmas time". Making an allowance will make you feel good about yourself - ironically by giving away "control" you find true control because you're holding the reins. Making an excuse and trying to grit your teeth and "stay strong" is a soul destroying, self esteem crushing venture"

Bugger, can't seem to turn off the bold or italic functions and here I was thinking I was really smart. My question to you all is did you make an allowance for yourself over Christmas or did you try and "stay strong".

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I chose to "make allowances" and enjoy some Christmas foods. I didn't try to "stay strong" - I just ate what I felt like and didn't train for four days. I gave myself what I needed for Christmas, some time with family and friends, a few slices of cheesecake and plenty of rest. Now I wonder if anyone is imagining that doing such dreadful thing would cause them to wake up as a complete fat heifer five days later......

The answer is "no". As a bit of an experiment and a testimonial to the fact that long term success is about your internal locus of control and respect for one's self I weighed myself on Christmas Eve and then I weighed myself this morning. This morning after all that indulgence and supposed lack of discipline, I am 1.5kg lighter.

There is a place for logging food and being particular with your nutrition, but there's also a place for learning to be more intuitive as well. The balance between both methods is entirely up to you. The thread that draws it all together is the concept of being able to "love yourself lean". The cornerstone of living lean for the long term is bolstering your self worth.

To sum up - start to learn to trust yourself. You just may find that you're not the 'broken' individual you thought you were.

I'm feeling ..a little peculiar

Have you ever listened to a song where the lyrics just stuck in your head? That seems to be happening a lot these days and I've taken to updating my Facebook status with lyrics, movie lines and the like and amazed at how many of us think the same way. I think today's title is a pretty easy one!

It's been an interesting week - I've had a mixed response from others on the subject of not competing, am I somehow a quitter because I didn't see it through to the end? I don't see it that way at all, rather I weighed up all the options and decided that I would rather be fiscally responsible than spend the money on what essentially is a fifteen minute moment. I think the "glory" in it is being able to stay lean year round - not comp lean though. I think my 'prep' has shown me that I can stand to 'live leaner' so that is my charter out of the experience. I'm loving how I look and walking taller - I'd also forgotten the positive impact being lighter has on my cranky pelvis.

Another side effect has been a renewed interest in good nutrition through a more Paleo way of eating. In the long term I am planning on eating Paleo about 85% of the time which would leave six healthy meals that don't fit the Paleo bill but still good for you all the same. I have been experimenting with spelt bread which doesn't seem to upset my belly and quinoa - a visit to the Health Food store showed me varieties I didn't know existed, so it should be fun trying out some new recipes eventually.

I'm also headed in new directions professionally as well, finding myself increasingly doing more writing for fitness magazines, collaborating with Lindy and Dallas Olsen which is great because we can write, model and do fantastic photography which is awesome. Our next article is "Deconstructing the Bench Press" which will be in next issue of Ultrafit. I've also got a few things coming up in Oxygen magazine so am really pleased with that.

I love the above picture, I think it captures really well the concept of 'living lean and loving life'.