Guys, this summer was a total shitshow whirlwind. Between moving, traveling, working/not sleeping, fun and adventures, I felt like I had zero time to do anything else, which meant a lot of my usual healthy habits fell by the wayside. I wasn’t eating well (i.e. tater tots +Ā peanut M&Ms for dinner) or working out (IĀ averagedĀ 2-3 sweat sessionsĀ per work) and, because of this, I felt so darn lazy. I’m usually a motivated, go-go-go-type of person, but I found myself struggling to find motivation to eat healthy and exercise. It was frustrating, but what really bothered me was how many excuses I was able to come up with. I don’t have time. I’m too tired. I need to do X, Y, Z first.Ā I thought maybe our crazy-fun summer was to blame, but when my excuses and lack of healthy living continued right through toĀ the beginning of September, I knew something needed to change.
One day, shortly after Labor Day, I wasn’t feeling particularly good about myself.Ā I told Mal that I really wanted to get my act together and start eating well and regularly working out again, but then I started reeling off excuses whyĀ I didn’t have time, motivation, blah, blah, blah. Mal just looked at meĀ and said: āYou’re beingĀ āĖExcuse Girl’.Ā You’re the oneĀ who always says: You make time for what’s important to you.Ā Maybe you should take your own advice.āĀ TouchĆĀ©.Ā I knew he was totally right and, honestly, that’s all I needed to hear. Excuse Girl. Yikes.
I didn’t like being Excuse Girl. I was unhappy,Ā unmotivated, and feeling somewhat hopeless. I didn’t feel comfortableĀ in my own skin, and I justĀ wanted to get back to my old (healthy) self as soon as possible. As I’ve said before on CNC: If you don’t like something about yourself, change it and that’s exactly what I did.
Last week, I recommitted myself to healthy living and, surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. If there’s a will, there’s a way!
(Tank top is from Spreadshirt.)
I ate healthy meals and didn’t overdo it on treats andĀ booze. (The photo below is Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore from SkinnyTaste over steamed veggies. So good!)
I worked out four timesāāeven with all of that traveling!
And I felt so GOOD about myself (and life, in general). It’s amazing what prioritizing your health can do for your mind, body, and soul.
Yesterday, I dominated my Sunday food prep in preparation for the 6-week KFIT Fall Fit Challenge, which couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m IN!
The Challenge is basically eat right and exercise. It’s your usual no sugar, no refined junk, no alcohol, etc. +Ā 4 workouts per week. There’s a focus on quality sources of protein and fat, but it’s definitely not low-carb. I’m not a diet person and know I can’t give up my favorite foods (i.e. dessert, wine), so I’ll be doing my own thing with the Challenge guidelines in mind. For me, it’s all about effort and knowing that I’m doing my best, and, prior to last week, I was far from that! I was giving like 40% effort. Haha!
My goals for the next 6 weeks are pretty straight-forward, but I wanted to share them with you guys for some extra accountability:
- Eat ārealāĀ meals and limit unnecessary snacking
- Enjoy ONE treat per day (i.e. ONE Mighty Muffin or ONE glass of wine, not both + 8,000 M&Ms)
- Work out 5 times per week
- Get back to my āfeel great weightāĀ <— I’m not a big scale person (here’s why), but I know I’ve put on some weight
- SLEEP!!!! 8 hours per night! No excuses!
- Lay off the M&Ms <— This is totally serious. I buy a bag or two every time I go to Target and it MUST STOP
Ok, so that’s that. I’ll be sure to share some healthy meals and workouts from the Challenge as the weeks progress.
And since it’s Monday (#mondaymotivation), I wanted to share two of the workouts that I did last week. I loved both of them, andĀ I was super sore from the secondĀ one! Holy Curtis Ps!
Questions of the Day
Are you guilty of making excuses when it comes to your healthy habits? How do you overcome them?
87 Comments
Ok, so this is EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I have done the same with excuses and gained 7 pounds since April. Ugh. Point heard and will be changing things up this week. THANK YOU!
I think it’s awesome that you’ve recognized where you were making excuses & then committed to change. Such a good example & reminder to all of us!
I’m headed back to the gym after having a baby a few weeks ago & I’m so ready, so this post is perfect!
I go through waves of being really on top of my health and fitness “game”, but sometimes just feel lazy and take a mini break from working out. I teach classes for a living so its never really a break, but I definitely get down about my own workouts. To snap out of it, I read blogs (like yours!), research recipes, and sign up for classes so I’m stuck in it š Usually after the first class after a long break, I’m back in action!
Yup. I hate to say that this has been me recently too! I think part of me even knows I’m making excuses and I’m making excuses for that too! I know better than to be lazy. It is one thing to take a day or two off if I need it but when I’m just feeling unmotivated I find myself making excuses for why I’m not working out and/or eating healthy. Thanks for this! I needed to hear it too!
I am not one for excuses, but what I do is take a bigger picture view and am gentle with myself. When I started my new job I knew I would need time to adjust, so I gave myself a few weeks to get into a new groove and then jumped back into workouts and staying focused on my health.
This is exactly what I needed to read today. My summer was much the same way and the excuses have just piled up. No more. Thank you for the motivation!
Good luck with your challenge. I know that I’m good at making excuses for myself too. No matter what I say, I’m not too busy to fit in a workout or make time to make some healthy meals.
My training is kicking up, so I’m running a lot more, but not necessarily eating very well. I fell into the whole mindset “well, I’m running so many miles. This candy won’t matter.” And I just feel blah. I’m challenging myself to start eating better and pay more attention to the food I’m using to fuel myself. Thanks for being honest and sharing this post!
I couldn’t identify with you more, Tina – especially the M&Ms! I’m all about everything in moderation; however, lately I haven’t been putting very good fuel in my body, despite wanting to see gainz at crossfit. I’m recommitting with you!
I’m currently doing my first round of Whole30, I’m on day 7 and boy is it tough. The hardest part is my social life! I went to a bbq over the weekend and had to bring my own compliant food. Plus I couldn’t enjoy a cocktail. So I’m hoping to get through these 30 days and then try and do 80/20 of clean eating/treats. In general though, making a plan is the best way for me to overcome a food/workout rut.
I love this post! I am also a freelancer and mother of a toddler, and I struggle with the same issues. I play with my daughter til her nap, then I jump on the computer to work until she goes to bed, and then I’m often back on the computer afterward, so I have very little time for me. I work out hard 2x a week (boxing), and then try to get in 1-2 cardio workouts, but the cardio often falls by the wayside. I love that you schedule your workouts, rather than trying to fit them in. I am going to try that. In regard to eating, when I need get back on track, I do meal prep, use the crockpot (just made a great fridge/pantry cleanout chili with leftover salsas, beans, etc), and get the junk out of the house. I drink hot tea instead of eating dessert, and that helps. Or I get those Whole Foods Greek yogurt frozen bars for “dessert,” so good!
Love the meal prep photo! What kind of things did you prep for the week ahead? Always looking for new ideas.
Here’s what I prepped this week:
Breakfast potatoes: http://carrotsncake.com/2015/01/the-best-and-easiest-breakfast-potatoes.html
Sweet potato wedges: http://carrotsncake.com/2012/03/how-to-make-sweet-potato-wedges.html
Crockpot oatmeal (with berries, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds): http://carrotsncake.com/2015/01/crazy-easy-crock-pot-steel-cut-oatmeal.html
The BEST pancakes ever: http://carrotsncake.com/2014/06/the-lightest-fluffiest-and-most-cake-like-pancakes-eve.html
Roasted spaghetti squash: http://carrotsncake.com/2009/03/yoga-day-1-and-how-to-cook-spaghetti-squash.html
Breakfast sausage
Ground chicken
Sliced strawberries and grapes (for Quinn, but I’ll probably eat them too)
Smoothies (fresh and frozen fruit + raw spinach – I’ll add milk/protein powder/yogurt later)
Thanks so much Tina! I prepped tons of grapes for me and my little one, random other fruits sliced up, individual bags of mixed veggies to eat with hummus so its easy to grab, and cottage cheese with tomatoes, green onionsm and black pepper which may sound terrible, but is awesome!
@Tina: @<a href="#comment-1938
I appreciate your honesty about your struggles with motivation, it reminds us that everyone struggles. Your post just proves we all have better and worse periods health-wise and that anyone can bust out of a rut.
This post makes me think of a quote I saw the other day, “Instead of saying ‘I don’t have time’, try saying ‘it’s not a priority,’ and see how it feels”. This really hit home for me, as did your post, because I realized you really do make time for the things you want and the things that are important. Peace out Excuse Girl!
I feel like you wrote this post for me. I am excuses girl. I feel like I can’t get it together when it comes to healthy eating and working out and I really (badly) need to. I really just don’t know where to start. Maybe today will be that day, Oh wait I’ve got too much to do….sound familiar? Would you mind sharing your Sunday Food Prep? It looks delicious!
Sure thing! It changes from week-to-week a little bit, but here’s what I prepped this week:
Breakfast potatoes: http://carrotsncake.com/2015/01/the-best-and-easiest-breakfast-potatoes.html
Sweet potato wedges: http://carrotsncake.com/2012/03/how-to-make-sweet-potato-wedges.html
Crockpot oatmeal (with berries, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds): http://carrotsncake.com/2015/01/crazy-easy-crock-pot-steel-cut-oatmeal.html
The BEST pancakes ever: http://carrotsncake.com/2014/06/the-lightest-fluffiest-and-most-cake-like-pancakes-eve.html
Roasted spaghetti squash: http://carrotsncake.com/2009/03/yoga-day-1-and-how-to-cook-spaghetti-squash.html
Breakfast sausage
Ground chicken
Sliced strawberries and grapes (for Quinn, but I’ll probably eat them too)
Smoothies (fresh and frozen fruit + raw spinach – I’ll add milk/protein powder/yogurt later)
1. You look amazing for eating all the m&m’s š
2. I am tired of making excuses and I just need to stop!
Good on you! Sleep & water are huge in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and/or losing weight!
I am on board! I was thinking the same thing, I just need to re-focus my efforts.
Ugh, I needed this. I have been out of town since Memorial Day… Every. Single. Weekend. How have I not gained 25 lbs? No freaking clue.
But seriously, the bad habits & excuses have to end!! i’m the exact same way with wine, m&ms, bar food, etc. Snack time is officially O-V-E-R!
I’ll be joining you in this challenge- eating clean, working out 5x/week, sleeping more, drinking more water & overall, quit the bullshit. It’s gorgeous here in Boston so I hope to take full advantage of the weather- eat farm fresh & get moving!
Thanks for the motivation Tina, I really needed it!
This was SO ME this summer. We bought a summer cottage in NH this year, so weekend were spend lazing around the lake, not getting in enough weekend runs/workouts, ate too much junk food (that I normally dont eat-chips w/lunches, more carbs than usual, lots of bacon at breakfast, alot of beer!).
I did fine during the week, but come the weekends, it was a free for all!
I had an amazing summer, but I feel gross and need to get back on track!
It’s really easy to let good habits be thrown to the wayside, but when you fall off the train just get yourself back on. There’s no timeline when it comes to healthy living.
I recently saw a quote about making time that I loved: “Don’t prioritize your schedule, schedule your priorities”. It’s so true, so important and yet so easy to forget!
LOVE THAT!!
I am the same way with M&Ms – if we have a bag of peanut in the house I cannot.stop.eating them! My husband always buys them and I need to find a way to stop myself!
Exactly. I pretty much eat them all day long… until they’re gone!
You have no idea how much I needed this post today. I was starting to feel the same way and it’s nice to know I’m not alone! I am trying my best to not be a scale person, so I like your “feel great weight” attitude.
great post for me too, i keep putting off rejoining weight watchers but know it is what works for me. i am pretty good with working out 5 days but need to ramp some of my workouts up too. thanks for letting us know everyone struggles.
What is it about M&Ms? They are seriously so addictive. I’ve been working on some giant bags of plain ones. They aren’t even that good, honestly!
I love so much that you wrote this (though I’m sorry that you’ve been feeling this way)-thank you for being so open and honest. It helps to know that everyone goes through these waves sometimes. I’m trying so hard to be more mindful about what I eat because, while I’ve NEVER been an “eat healthy” person, I’m noticing more and more how much better I feel when I do and how much worse I feel when I don’t. Every time. I hope that your motivation will help motivate me too!
It’s ESPECIALLY important to me now because I’m still recovering from surgery so I actually can’t do any kind of exercise quite yet. Plus now that I only have one kidney, even though it isn’t supposed to change your life too much, I feel like I really should be taking extra good care of myself-especially since both of my parents have type ii diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health issues. BUT. It’s still so hard to get my hands out of the m&m bag š
I’m so guilty of this. I had a rough summer mentally and it really affected my eating and working out habits. I’m struggling to get back on board but working towards it. One of these days it will click.
awesome job getting back to a routine!
Excuse girl has to be me all over, I am either too tired, too busy or the combination of the both! And yes I do have two jobs and little spare as it is but you know what enough is enough! I jabe started a gym routine which is going well but need to up it a bit as the three times a week isn’t cutting it at them moment! So well done you for gettin out of the rut and back onto a healthy lifestyle…..hopefully mine will be coming shortly.
Don’t beat yourself up, Excuse Girl š Enjoy your journey back to mo’ moderation and to feeling great!
This is exactly what I needed to read today. I haven’t been living a healthy lifestyle the past few months and just got back from a gluttonous (but fantastic vacation)! It’s time to prioritize my health so that I feel better about myself.
So encouraging! Thanks for sharing! I definitely feel this way a lot as well, it’s hard getting back on my feet sometimes!
Cannot even tell you how totally on time this post is..Thank you!
And I am right there with you…love me some M&ms!!!
I really needed this today! I’ve been the ultimate Excuse Girl and it MUST STOP! I was feeling really good after losing weight for my wedding and now one year later I feel like a beached whale! I am re-committing myself to healthy eating and fitness today right next to you! Thanks Tina!
Tina,
One of your best posts yet! I loved reading this, especially your Sunday Prep. I struggle with meal ideas so I appreciate seeing what you are making each week. Question for you, when you are working out on your own, how do you put together your workout routine? When I go to the gym, I struggle with figuring out what to do when strength training. Do you follow a plan or know to work certain areas of the body more than others (legs, arms, chest, etc)? What is your approach to this?
I am definitely guilty of making excuses, especially recently. Running pregnant is SO hard (and I don’t want to hurt the baby!). House renos are exhausting. My colitis is acting weird. I have to pack the house for our big move this weekend. <- Current excuses. Of course, none of these should stop eating healthy, but they tend to.
Time to get back at it. Thanks for the motivation and good luck!
Thanks for this!
Excuse girl! Yikes! I needed to read this today š I have been seriously lacking motivation and have been trying to find any and all excuses to not get my workout in. I’ve eaten an embarrassing amount of junk food and try and ‘blame’ it on my 5 month old and my husbands busy school schedule. NOT anymore….I’m off to get my workout in! Thanks for this post and motivation š
Hi Tina,
Everyone has times in their life when working out and eating healthy fall to the wayside or slide a bit. Remember to go easy on yourself girl! You had a very busy summer! Moving is one of the most stressful life changes one can make and you have a young toddler to take care of on top of that, so that makes moving even harder. Sometimes choosing to sit on the couch with some M&Ms & a glass of wine is a wise choice and not an excuse!
I struggle with being too hard on myself also, but it only leads me down bad paths, so I’ve learned (and still practising) how to be kinder to myself – especially since I became a mom and life got SOOOO much busier. Of course we all need a kick in the butt to get ourselves living healthier again, but I think your reasons for letting your eating and exercise go were very valid! But good for you for getting back on track! š
I totally needed this post today! I have definitely fallen off the wagon the last few months and I’ve put on weight. Today I recommitted myself to healthy eating and exercise. I got up early this morning and got my work out done for the day, and I’ve been eating healthy all day and drinking plenty of water. I already feel 100 times better than I did yesterday.
I’m so glad you posted this! I’ve been riding the “I just had a baby” excuse … aaaand he’s eight months old. Let’s be honest. I didn’t JUST have a baby. So I’m definitely uncomfortable in my own skin, and feeling kind of down and depressed. I could come up with every excuse in the world (I’m tired, the baby didn’t sleep last night, blah blah blah) but the bottom line is that I’m not prioritizing it. I started Whole30 today (I did it once earlier in the summer and felt amazing!) but exercise still missing. I definitely feel better when I exercise regularly.
I have definitely been excuse girl sine having my son- 16 months ago! Recently back on track and hoping it sticks!
I feel your pain! I am about to have my first babe and I am just tired. I was SO sick for the first trimester then second was awesome! Third hit and boom, work is nuts, we have 87 things to go/do each weekend and getting ready for the new baby. Oh and I am HUGE! So I took this weekend and just reset. I feel better when I work out (for me 3/4 times a week is perfect!) and eat right. I need to rest and if we leave that party/wedding/whatever at 9 that is TOTALLY OK. After I honestly feel like a new person today. This is two days of just getting back to old habits!
Also I said the same thing to myself- well if this was REALLY important you would find time. So make time!
Such a fantastic and honest post. It’s funny, because you say you’ve fallen off the wagon of your usually healthy habits, yet I consistently, even over the summer admired you for your healthy lifestyle! You’re always an inspiration and you’re what every future mama can only aspire to be! That body after baby? Talk about GOALS!
Your honesty in this post is vibrant and refreshing. Yet again a great post, and way to go for getting back on track and feeling great!
I like that you and Mal have a healthy relationship where you can be honest with each other without making it a bigger deal.
Serious question though — if you were so off track, how the heck did you keep your abs? I don’t have a hard time making it to workouts (it’s the best thing for me mentally and physically!) but nutrition is what gets me. I feel like when I eat poorly it shows much more quickly than if I miss a work out. Details!
I was an excuse girl. I hated how I felt. It is so easy to make excuses but the way it makes you feel is not easy. I am glad that Mai, said what he said. Sometimes honesty is the best motivator. Thanks for sharing
I am excuse king when I go mountain biking. I have an excuse for why I fell, why I didn’t make it up the hill, why I am so today, etc. It never that the engine (me) has low horsepower it’s mostly the bike, or I did legs yesterday, or something like that.
Totally with you, Tina! My summer was full of WAY more travel and indulgences than normal as well. While I’ve had a great time visiting new places and doing all sorts of stuff, I’m actually okay with the fact that the new few weeks will be tame. My workouts have been good lately, but the food — not so much hhehe!! š
This is SOOO what I needed to read today! I have been pretty down on myself the past few weeks because I just can’t seem to get back on track. I just finished a one year intensive MBA program and put on 15 pounds over the course of a year. I have been done with school for a few weeks now, and now that all the post-grad parties are over I am ready to recommit myself to making better choices surrounding food.
As of this moment I am recommitted to my healthy lifestyle! Excuse Girl no more!
It’s so easy to fall back to the “well, I already had a brownie so if I have another it doesn’t matter because I already splurged”. It’s all about portion control and doing what you can to effectively make healthy choices!
I am doing that today! My reset. For me, it was drinking water. I have been SO BAD at drinking enough water each day, which is extra bad because it has been so so hot in SoCal. I need to drink a LOT of water, and today I finally have had the amount I should, and it’s only 2pm. I’ve been going through a 9 hour work shift on one water bottle. No bueno.