That healthy trick-or-treating E-card was just too funny not to open with. It also pokes some fun at the "fit life" or "gym life" that many healthy-minded folks subscribe to. Today I'm filling out the Health Survey that's been floating around the internet. It's about my life. Not the "fit life" or "gym life" but the balanced life that I aim to create and promote. Just in time for Halloween camdy eating tonight! By the end of this post you'll be ready to chow down mindfully and enjoy your treats without any of those guilting, body-shaming mind tricks going on!
~A Healthy(ezsweet) Survey~
Today as I was walking to my university's campus café to purchase my usual post-workout monster bowl of eggs and hash browns, I saw a bunch of tables set up on the quad decked out in blue and gold. Next I saw these huge tables of pastries, egg burritos, etc! It was a FREE breakfast put on for parents weekend. I'm sorry mom and dad, I totally deprived you of the deliciousness by forgetting it was parents weekend in the first place, but I enjoyed it for the both of us ;) I had a big bowl of oatmeal with lots of honey, cranberries, and sliced banana along with two egg & sausage breakfast burritos minus the tortilla because it wasn't GF. Plus coffee. Always coffee.
I don't measure or pay close attention to my daily water consumption for a very specific reason. Monitoring my water intake used to be one of the most consistent ways for me to assert control during the height of my eating disorder. I had a 24 oz Camelbak that I would refill and drink 4x each day - usually all 24 oz. in one sitting. I'd drink until I was so uncomfortably full and could hear the water sloshing around in my stomach. I'd drink water to suppress hunger. It was not healthy. Today I am very careful not to set any "water goals" for my day. I drink when I'm thirsty and avoid diet drinks. If I notice mid-way through the day that I haven't had very much water so far, I'll drink a glass.
That's a tough one! I'd have to say the Blogilates Pumped Up Cardio Warmup . It never fails to put a smile on my face, even on days that I literally have 0 desire to work out. The music is a great pop blend that goes along with each dynamic move, and I'm always sweating a bit by the end of the routine. It's fun cardio that will make your body happy - not the super intense HIIT kind (although Cassey has some great videos for that too!) I used to do Blogilates every day, and could follow along with the toughest routines no problem. After focusing on other types of exercise, I realize I've lost some of my POP Pilates endurance. I'm reincorporating POP into my workouts because it truly makes me feel proud of my body. Cassey's body-positive vibe is unlike any other.
I can honestly say I have no idea how many calories I eat on a daily basis - and I'm damn proud of that. I haven't counted a single calorie since last May and I've never felt stronger, happier, or more confident in my skin. I will say that I eat a lot :) probably 2,500 - 2,700 a day, but that's really a rough estimate. I don't really have a clue.
Right now I'm really loving LARA Bars hence why I decided to include a box of them in my Healthyezsweet Fall Giveaway (enter here!) because they're the perfect portable snack to bring to school without all the tummy-trouble causing whey & case-in that other bars have. I also love to get fancy with toasts for a quick snack. My favorite combos are either cream cheese + fried egg or peanut butter + chia seeds + frozen blueberries on Canyon Bakehouse's GF bread.
I tend to vary my meals on the daily; I'm not really one for meal prep. One of my favorite things to whip up if I'm low on time and not wanting to eat out are these Almond Crisp Crusted Turkey Burgers. They're gluten free and have the awesome crunch of the chicken fingers I used to eat when I was little.
I'd have to agree with Julia @ lordstilllovesme on this one (which is fitting because she gave me the idea for the survey!) I love to train abs best. I love feeling my abs tighten as I do bicycle crunches or double leg lifts. It takes a lot of control and proper breathing to do abdominal exercises correctly, and I like the calmness of it in a sense. That being said, shoulders come in at a close second. I was blessed with my mom's "Lucero shoulders" and they are one of the more defined parts of my body, so I like to train them and watch in the mirror. Shoulder raises are my fave, and I can't stand bent over delt flyes.
If it includes push-ups, then chest. If not then cardio. Sometimes I'm in the mood to sprint it out, but not usually!
That's easy, I don't have any bad food cravings because there's no such thing as a bad food. I came up with a guide to intuitive eating a few months ago that I now live by. Nothing is bad or off limits and everything is enjoyed in moderation. I know it sounds cheesy (oooh.. cheese) and unrealistic, but it's a real way to live. It's a healthy relationship with food that everyone can have.
Not really; I should be better about this. I have tons of jars of different gummy vitamins sitting in my cupboard, but when I was having severe abdominal pain and stomach issues my doctor suggested that gummy vitamins can cause uncomfortable bloating and gas in some people, so I cut them out. As for supplements I use MiraLax once in awhile for constipation and Charcoal Pills for gas. Charcoal pills are literally a god send for anyone who struggles with embarrassing gas. They're completely natural and you can buy them on Amazon for not too expensive. They work fast - and the only thing I've found to do so.
Probably 4 times a week. I have a standing dinner every Wednesday night with my dad, my grandma, and my little brother. Sometimes we'll go to a deli or have spaghetti and meatballs delivered. My family loves to eat, and my grandma loves to plan what we eat. She's been known to make dinner plans while at lunch.
Heck yeah. I try to limit processed foods just for the sake of my stomach issues, but I love desserts like none other. My all time favorite fast food treat is an oreo shake from Jack-in-the-Box. One day I hope to live in a world where they are gluten free. A girl can dream...
I'm incredibly blessed with a unbreakable support system. My family gives me unconditional love and respects my decisions even when they don't love them. My mom, dad, aunts, uncles, grandma, and brothers have my back no matter what. They are my rocks. I'm also lucky to call this young lady my best friend. I am more honest with her than I am with myself sometimes and she never fails to make me feel better or strive to be the best version of myself.
Yup! You can find me sweating it out at the community center around the corner from my house on days that I'm not on campus to use UCLA's fitness center.
On school nights I aim for eight and on other nights it's probably closer to seven.
16) Do you have a cheat day?
I wouldn't be a very good student if I cheated now would I?! Again, I practice intuitive eating. No cheat days. No restriction. Balance.
Only in situations / at events where I feel 100% safe & comfortable. When I'm in Panama, I like to enjoy a couple of drinks at my brother's bar or go to parties with my boyfriend 1-2x a week. When I'm in student mode in CA, I rarely drink. I like my system because when I'm in school I can focus on just that - school. When I'm in Panama I can have some party-mode fun. It may seem crazy, but I feel way safer going out there than here at some fraternity house.
18) Do you have a workout buddy?
Only if you count Baby Relic when he's trying to muscle me off my Pilates mat or bite my toes during burpees. I tend to view my workouts as "me time". It's the time of my day when I can escape from anything else going on in my life and be a little selfish. I do exactly what I want and how I want it. It's all about me.
I'm going to answer this in terms of how my life has changed since I committed to recovering from my eating disorder and began practicing self love. I could write a novel on just how much happier I am since I stopped counting calories, exercising obsessively, and trying to create the perfect body. Instead I'll give you a few hi-lights. I have less anxiety. I am not using my precious time to relentlessly plan what to eat when and if I do have a plan of some sort, I don't get hysterical if it changes. I am not constantly cold anymore. I smile genuinely. I am capable of being in a loving relationship because I love myself.
I apologized. I happen to think that admitting wrong-doing and taking responsibility is a very healthy thing to do. I got angry at my boyfriend over something that wasn't his fault, and I apologized for my inappropriate reaction. I feel lucky that we communicate the way we do.