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why i won’t be dieting for blend

May 15, 2013 in BLEND, BLEND 2013, Diet, ED

I wrote this last year before Blend 2012.  Naturally, I was thinking about this topic again this week – DIETING BEFORE AN EVENT (vacation, a reunion, a wedding, a blogger retreat).  It makes me smile to know that I haven’t changed one bit on the dieting front over the past year.  If anything, I’ve gotten even more relaxed. 

Maybe you need to hear these words….that being perfectly imperfect in front of others is perfectly acceptable. 

And I believe…preferable.  Enjoy!

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A few years ago, I battled self-esteem issues and was overly focused on trying to be something I’ll never be… perfect.  I’ve made no secret of my eating disordered past and my distorted relationship with food.  I was basically a hot mess.

Still am, in some regards.

In just one week, I’ll be meeting many of you in real life at BLEND Retreat.  You’ll hear my voice, see my body and judge (yes, judge) me based on appearances.  Now, I’m not making a statement about you, but rather, about myself.

Years prior, I would have had a PLAN!  I would have gone on a detox diet for weeks leading up to an event like this.  Banned sugar, no eating after a certain time, lots of water…maybe even thrown some diet pills and laxatives into the mix.

Hold that thought while I grab some chocolate….

I would have cared SO much about what others thought, that I would change (and harm) my body to make them think more of me.  Try to appear to be something that is impossible to keep up – no one lives on a detox diet forever.  And if you do, I feel so so sorry for you.  I would have tried to appear perfect.

I’ll be honest – I want to look smoking HOT for BLEND.  Especially, for the boot camp I’m leading (I just laid down $150 at Lululemon yesterday – I obviously care somewhat!).  <edited to add – I bought another Lulu outfit.  I can’t stay away from that place.

BUT I’m not going to extremes to look like someone I’m not.

I won’t be dieting.

I won’t be restricting.

I won’t be counting or making a plan.

I’m just going to keep keeping on.  Eating my 80/20.  Exercising DAILY.  Drinking my water.  Focusing on high protein, high fiber – a combo that has never let me down.

Friends – the Lindsay you meet at BLEND is the real me.  I have an accent.  I wear my hair in a messy bun.  I burp [a lot].  I make inappropriate sex jokes.

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And I look like a smoking hot mom.

Without the smoke and mirrors.

QUESTION:  Ever extreme diet before a big event?  Care about what others think? <yes, I think we all do to some degree.

splendid…lindsay

38 Comments »

wiaw…come grocery shopping with me!

April 3, 2013 in Blog, Diet, Food, Lists, WIAW

After a week of every day rehearsals and then a trip to Vegas, our fridge and pantry looked like something out of The Walking Dead last week.  Bone barren. And unlike the Walking Dead, my family actually likes to eat real food.  So a trip to the store was made and I thought I’d share what I bought.

Friends and clients often ask me to show them how to grocery shop.  I’ve even “trained” a few clients IN the grocery store – instead of working out, we meet at the grocery store and we walk up and down the aisles.  Most people just don’t KNOW what to buy when it comes to healthy eating.  In fact, I recently ran into a newer client at the store and she was quite proud of her shopping cart – it was full of “healthy, low fat” items <-her words, not mine.  When I looked inside, I saw nutrition bars, “low-fat” white bread, “low-fat” snack mix, yogurt covered raisins, etc.  No veggies.  No fruits.  No lean meat.  I told her I’d bring her shopping with me next time. :)

Anyway, here’s what I bought:

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Shopping List (if marked through, that means it either wasn’t on sale or I had to go to a different store.)

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Clementines
  • Grapefruit
  • Berries (if on sale)
  • Spinach
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Spaghetti Squash
  • Carrots
  • Avocado (x3)
  • Naked Juice for Kombucha
  • Prunes
  • Figs
  • Dates
  • Lean Ground Turkey
  • Lean Ground Beef
  • Chicken Breast
  • Eggs (x2)
  • Egg Whites
  • Roasted Almonds
  • Natural Peanut Butter
  • Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
  • Soy Crisps
  • Bragg’s ACV
  • Nature’s Path Cereal
  • Brown Sugar

For H & C

  • Mac N Cheese
  • Baby Carrots
  • Cereal
  • String Cheese

The Haul:

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Clockwise from the top: Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, Organic Whole Milk, Free Range Eggs, Cage Free Liquid Egg Whites, 99% Lean Ground Turkey, Golden Delicious Apples, Beets, Lemon, Carrots, Bananas, Strawberries, String Cheese, Baby Carrots.

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Clockwise from the top:  Figs, Dates, Shampoo, Natural Peanut Butter, Soy Crisps, Green Pepper, Avocado, Grapefruit, Wasabi Edamame Hummus (yum!), Luna Bars, Albacore Tuna, Low Sodium Almonds.

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Clockwise from the top:  Nature’s Path Millet Rice cereal (my favorite!), Mom’s Best Toasty O’s, Triscuits, Quinoa, Broccoli, Ginger Aid tea.

Check out how much I saved with coupons and my bonuscard! $41.09!  Go here for my couponing tips!

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Let me be frank here – I’m not always a saint in the grocery store, but it isn’t because I’m “nutrition-ignorant.” Sometimes I simply choose to look the other way and grab the yogurt covered raisins. There’s an important difference there.  I think that we can EDUCATE people about how to eat healthier, but then it’s up to THEM whether or not they choose to put that education into PRACTICE.  Same goes for fitness – I can meet with a client 2 times a week, but what really makes the difference in their body composition is how they PRACTICE the education that they receive from me.

I suppose practice really does make perfect.

QUESTION:  How often do you grocery shop?  Do you coupon?

splendid…lindsay

34 Comments »

one of the best decisions i ever made…

March 18, 2013 in Best Decisions, Blog, Blogging, Body, Diet, ED, Food, Inspiration

Remember when I put the call out for guest posts a week or so ago??  I got SO many responses that I’ll probably be featuring one a week for the next 6 months (THANK YOU!!!!)  I thought I’d kick off the, “Best Decisions,” series by writing one myself.  I have one to share with you this week and if you’re in a place where I was just 5 years ago, you might NEED to read this.

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One of the best decisions I ever made was purposely DITCHING THE MATH.

Let me elaborate…

I’ve talked about my ED numerous times before, but for new readers (HI!), you might not be aware of my history (go here for the full series).  Basically, from my Junior year in High School until my Sophomore year in college (so 4 years), I had an eating disorder (anorexia & bulimia).  It started out as most ED’s do – with a DIET.  I remember wanting to get skinnier for Cross Country season and to do so, for the first time in my (albeit short) life, I started paying attention to food.  I turned every package over and read the label.  Not only did I read those numbers, but I MEMORIZED the fat grams, calories and sugar content of probably 20 different foods.  20 food items doesn’t sound like a lot – because it isn’t.  When you have disordered eating habits, you stick with the same boring foods, over and over and over again.  Because they’re safe.

Because you’ve done the math on them.

For four years (and honestly, for four more after that), I did my math.  I counted every calorie that I put into my starving/angry/despondent body.  Going out to eat or to parties were not in my comfort zone.  I hadn’t done the math for those foods.  How could I really KNOW?!!?  How could I be in control?!?

Looking back, I wouldn’t say those years were lifeless or horrible – I had friendships and love and laughter.  Instead, I would say that I was ignorant.  And very lost.

When I turned a corner on my ED and started to recover, I had to ditch the math.  Counting calories just wasn’t conducive to my recovery.  It was hard at first and even now, my tendency is to be intrigued by apps like MyFitnessPal (downloaded it, had to delete it) and other numbers-based programs.  If I’m doing my math, I’m easily hyperfocused on those numbers.  This is the exact opposite approach that I would give to any weight loss client – we track food, we write everything down.  Tracking can be a great and valuable tool in the right hands.

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I know enough about myself to KNOW that those aren’t my hands.  In my hands, I turn these types of things into IDOLS.

These days, I eat intuitively.  My focus is on whole foods, but I’m flexible in my approach.  I’ve ditched the math – I go to functions and don’t have to bring my “safe” foods with me.  It has taken YEARS to get to this place.  I just want to encourage anyone who might be reading – if you’re stuck in a place where DOING THE MATH is controlling your life and your food choices….STOP!  Delete the apps, throw out the journal and start TRUSTING your body to know when it’s full and what it craves.

The math might steer you in a completely wrong direction….but I promise you, that your body will not.

QUESTION:  Do you count calories?  Can you do this safely and without addiction??  <-email me please if you need any further suggestions!

splendid…lindsay

35 Comments »

wiaw – i heart schwan’s

March 6, 2013 in Blog, Diet, Food, Review, WIAW

You know what?!  I flippin’ LOVED last week’s WIAW – I loved putting it together (and getting super hungry).  I loved thinking about WHY I don’t eat those types of foods on a normal basis (hello digestion problems).  But what I really loved was the response that I got from you guys: some people played along and wrote out these amazing junk foods (that again, made me hungry) and others talked about WHY they don’t eat those those types of foods.  I think that the general consensus was this:  YES, it’s fun to play the, “If I could eat anything game,” but at the end of the day, it’s more important to honor our bodies with whole, nutrient/vitamin rich foods.  We feel better, we perform better, and our bodies appreciate being nourished.  That’s a food movement I can get behind!  That’s what I want to pattern for my kids!

Today I thought I’d show you a REAL day of eats, along with some fun new products I’ve been reviewing from Schwan’s.  Let’s get to the food first!

Breakfast

Two eggs, scrambled with spinach and a side of beet juice.

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Snack #1 – Post Workout

Schwan’s Tropical Smoothie =

Schwan’s Golden Fruit Blend (1 cup) + Vanilla Plant Fusion (1 scoop) + Almond Coconut milk (8 oz.)

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Lunch

Avocado + Broccoli + Brussel Sprouts + Spinach + Turkey Sausage + Hummus + Nutritional Yeast

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Snack #2

Good N’ Natural bar (new to me and on sale!  Pretty good too.)

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Dinner

Schwan’s Wild Alaskan Salmon (with a Honey Dijon marinade) + Baked Sweet Potato + Steamed Vegetables

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Snack #3 – Post-Reheasal/Pre-Bed

Gala Apple + Natural Peanut Butter

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A pretty great day of food, I think!

Now let’s talk for a minute about Schwan’s.  Through my partnership with Fitfluential, I was offered the chance to review a couple of items of my choice from Schwan’s.  This company has SO MUCH food to pick from, ranging from meats, seafood, meals (think pasta, enchiladas, stir fry), ice cream, dessert, fruit and vegetables.  I have vague memories of my parents buying Schwan’s when I was growing up – mostly their pizzas and the occasional ice cream.  You might have seen Schwan’s vans before – they deliver right to your door for free.

I selected two items from their “LiveSmart” line: the Wild Alaskan Salmon and the Golden Fruit Blend.  All of the LiveSmart items contain no trans fats, minimal preservatives and additives and are also low in sodium.  I was really pleased with the quality of this food!  I’ve been making daily smoothies for myself and the kids using the Golden Fruit Blend, which contains strawberries, peaches, mango and pineapple.  All the fruit tastes SO fresh – it’s flash frozen while in season.  The same for the Wild Alaskan Salmon – it’s caught and then immediately frozen so that it comes practically fresh to your door.  Plus, it was really easy to thaw in the sink (or the fridge if you have time, but who has time?!) and then just bake for 20 minutes.  Easy peasy!  Thanks, Schwan’s!!

Learn more about Schwan’s by visiting them online and see if you’re in their service area!   You can order online or via catalog – and shipping is free!  It’s like grocery shopping in your pjs – but I kinda already do that anyway.  THIS involves not leaving the house.  Again – easy peasy.

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QUESTION:  Have you ever tried Schwan’s home delivery??  Tell me one thing you ate yesterday that I need to know about!

splendid…lindsay

**Schwan’s & Fitfluential sent me this food to review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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