Truth be told, over the past week my produce intake has been rather low and my packaged food intake has been very high. Bags/boxes of chips, pretzels, graham crackers, cereal and jars of nut butter came and went…oh so quickly. Hormones, emotions or whatever may have been the cause, I’m here to tell you that it all balances out. Sure, I felt guilty at times. I’m human too. (Note: I am NOT saying these foods are unhealthy. I just ate a heck of a lot of them at once!!). However, I reminded myself that my heightened appetite would likely die down within a week or so…I even predicted it in one of my posts.
And whattya know? It sure did.
Today I found that my appetite dropped back down…even lower than normal. My desire to munch went away all of a sudden and my overall interest in food lessened. Yes, even with a jar of Sunflower Seed Butter sitting pretty in the pantry!
On the days that I overeat, I remind myself to look at the big picture. I’m not going to eat the same amount every day. Some days I’m going to eat more and some days I’m going to eat less. Some days my clothes will feel snug and some days they’ll fit just right. Some days I’ll eat 8 servings of fruits and vegetables and some days I’ll eat 0.
Regardless, my body manages to figure it all out. I get the nutrients I need and my body is still healthy. Intuitive eating is something I am working on and I am trying harder than ever to listen to my hunger signals. If I am eating more than normal, perhaps I’m bored or anxious or stressed, but it could also be that my body needs the extra fuel. What I do know for certain is that if I deny myself whatever it is I want, I will start to feel deprived. Feeling deprived inevitably leads to trouble.
All this to say, if you are getting caught up on a few days of overeating, try to view your diet in terms of a week (or even 2 weeks) rather than a 24 hour period. Just because you didn’t eat any fruits and veggies one day doesn’t mean the 10+ servings you had the week before disappeared. Chances are a couple days later, you’ll find yourself knee deep in lettuce leaves again.
Have faith in your body. It won’t lead you astray. You just have to listen closely.
***
It is no secret that I love Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel English Muffins. So good. So versatile. So dense.
With Laughing Cow Cheese and a perfectly fried egg.
With Sunflower Seed Butter and cinnamon
With Greek yogurt and fresh figs
Despite feeling super lethargic all day, I eventually made my way down to the gym. I told myself to just give it a shot for the sake of not feeling like a complete blob. I kept it on the light side. I just wanted to get my blood flowin’.
Workout:
- 50 min. light elliptical
- 10 min. arm weights
- 20 min. walk to and from Trader Joe’s
The only downside of living walking distance from TJ’s? The walk back home when it’s just me and my snax! I dug into a classic LLE favorite today: Fiberful Ends & Pieces.
These are the scraps leftover from making Fiberful Bars. They are basically dried fruit, but chock full of fiber from the added flaxseed meal and psyllium husk.
These never last long in my presence.
I walked to TJ’s for 3 things: almond milk, Greek yogurt and Spring Mix to make this…
Beet, Orange, Avocado and Feta Salad.
While browsing through an issue of Bon Appetit Magazine (April 2010), I came across a recipe for a delicious looking Beet, Rhubarb and Orange Salad.
I immediately thought of the leftover beets we had from last night’s dinner, the plethora of oranges we have in our fruit bowl, and the feta cheese I got last week.
Too perfect.
I left out the rhubarb and added avocado. I didn’t go through with making the dressing since all of our sauces/ingedients are in the new house already. The juice from the orange was enough dressing for me given all the flavorful ingredients on top.
I made this gigantic salad thinking I would share it with the ‘rents, but I ended up eating ~90% of it. It was fabulous–even Peter was smackin’ his lips with delight!
I had the Greek yogurt + Fig + Ezekiel English Muffin on the side for some added protein and carbs.
So many colorful fruits and veggies. It all balances out, my friends.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I admire how much you trust your body. I am trying to do that myself. Looking at the big picture really is helpful, like, in 10 years, it won’t mind if I weigh 5 or 6 pounds more, it’s just not important.
So 100% true! I try to look at my diet in terms of a week or so. It’s like an average
:O Fiberful pieces! I still haven’t opened mine :/
Hey Allie, first of all I absolutely LOVE your blog. Secondly, I’ve never commented before but just wanted to say this was a great post! It’s good to think about things from a different angle, and you’re so right about the balance thing.
I agree that it’s way more important to look at the big picture. I struggle with this a LOT, because I still have trouble honouring my hunger cues one days where I am extra hungry. I’ve kind of made myself a rule that I can’t skip meals or eat lightly UNLESS I’ve chowed down and eaten enough to satisfy my hunger for all the days before. Kind of like insurance
That salad is really pretty.. although I am not a fan of fruit in my salad, unless it’s dried. I’m picky like that
<3 Tat
Your words are so true!!! I often tell people not to focus on the every day but the whole picture. Just as you wouldn’t measure your progress on anything else in life on a minute by minute basis, you can’t do the same when it comes to eating.
Love you girl and all of your wise sentiments!
I TOTALLY agree – back in the day, I would have FREAKED if I didn’t eat a diet full of veggies every single day. However, I know that really isn’t possible. While I do eat my fair share of veggies, some days, it’s just not going ot happen. And I’m okay with that!
Great post Allie!
That is so true Allie — I like the thought of thinking of your diet in terms of a week rather than 24 hours. There are many days when I don’t have any veggies or fruit and it kind of leads me down a path of overeating junk for a few days (I’m not eating healthy foods, so I might as well eat a ton ofo junk — what a strange mentality, but it happens to me alot!).
Once again it is my all-or-nothing approach and i need to work on balance, moderation and patience more.
Thanks Allie, I really needed to hear this!
That’s exactly how I think too Allie, it’s a great way to keep things in perspective and not beat yourself up. By the way, your pictures look beautiful.
I saw a picture of an Alliebar on Tina’s blog next to my Oreo Truffles! I’m glad you contributed to the blog bake sale too.
I want an Alliebar! Yum!
Thanks for posting about balancing! As I think about my “eats” from last night, and predict those for today, I remind myself that I will get back to my veggie-filled world soon.
You always make me want to buy those CREEMs! Perhaps this weekend I will finally cave?
Good mantra! You only live once and my body tends to get super pissed if I deprive it.
Good advice on balancing your days. I feel the same way sometimes.
I love your different combination’s on Ezekiel bread. And who could not like any post about Trader Joe’s
so true about seeing your diet as weeks not days…sure you can have a cheeseburger or funnel cake in one day and NOTHING will happen, BUT its when you have all that food everyday for a weeks, then thats where it can go downhill! I love yoru perspective on this
and I want a fresh fig now
Definitely agree with seeing the big picture, and while I do think it is important to listen to your body, it’s also more advantageous to spread your produce intake out. Some vitamins are water soluble and need to be consumed most every day for optimal health vs. fat soluble vitamins, which can be stored. I think a weekly view of your diet isn’t a bad thing…but maybe 2 weeks is a bit too long? Just some thoughts from a dietitian.
Your gigantic salad looks delish! I love adding avocado for creamy flavor!
I agree that things even out over time…we all have our good days and bad days, but I think in general you still eat healthier than 90% (or more…) of America. I would eat wonderfully if I always ate at Peter’s Kitchen!
I love your advice to focus on the big picture! I always feel like I have to eat tons of veggies everyday, eat the same amount everyday, and consistently workout. But you’re so right that it all balances out in the end. I just have to trust my body to tell me what it needs.
Beets and oranges are one of my favourite salad combos! It makes it so sweet.
Those TJ fiberfulls look intriguing!
Whenever I’m stressed I eat way more packaged food too..eeek
I love your mentality! I used to get so wrapped up in my 24 hr diet and really kick myself for overeating. I’ve gotten much better, but would love to try your week diet idea
I think that people with dispositions of disordered eating (like me…) tend to get caught up in the details. Sometimes, it really is just the bigger picture which matters – I just forget that a lot. I congratulate you on this well-written post – you just take words straight out of my head sometimes.
I could not agree more with looking at the big picture! It’s so true, sometimes we stress out SO much just because we ate a lot one day, or even one meal, but within that “big picture” it’s really all about balance. Which you totally have in your diet
Figs = love. I am obsessed with them right now, they’re like candy!
I’m a big fan of the big picture look at things. It keeps me sane. LOL I’ve recently had to switch up some things I’ve been doing that focus too much on details so I don’t lose sight of the big picture as well.
I don’t remember for the life of me what figs taste like. I know I’ve had them but cannot remember!
This might seem like an odd question, but what do figs and beets taste like? I’ve always wanted to try them when I go to the grocery store, but I’m afriad I won’t like it. Figs and greek yogurt? I think I can handle that.
I’m copying your lunch combo for next week. I’ve never had a fresh fig before and your display makes ‘em look sooooooooooo good. Fabulous mix in the salad! Gorgeous photos, too! I’m hungry and inspired, Miss Allie. xx
i love that big picture paragraph. you’re so right. listen to your body!
That fig is gorgeous!
I’ve never had fresh figs before! Look so colorful and yummy
Thought you’d like this article:
http://www.physorg.com/news203345190.html
I love this post. I need to love my body more, and not beat myself up so much when I overeat. But I’m always worried that after a while, instead of calling that amount “over”, it’ll be the norm, and i’ll end up with weight problems and the health problems that many of my family members suffer from. And then stressing about how I’m eating leads to the possibility of more overeating…it’s bad, Allie!
That salad looks awesome. I keep forgetting to remember to buy beets!
I need an initial mug. Where’d you get yours?
I am also very jealous that you live within a 20-minute WALK to TJ’s! Lol!
Thank you for this post! It is so true, but easy to forget that our body’s dont consider things that we eat in 24 hour periods like most of us do…I am guilty of getting down on myself on days when i havent had a lot of veggies, so this post was a nice reminder that our body’s naturally balance themselves out with cravings, hunger, etc.
Those beets looks scrumptious!
You seriously need to come over here and make me some eggs!
Ooh! Love the idea of the egg on top of CREEM–since I just picked up a carton of eggs today, I might just have to try it on my CRE bread (almost as good as the English muffs, right?).
I agree with you 100%! There are times when I will eat a bunch of unhealthy foods and no veggies and I start to feel bad. But really, its only one or two days and then I go back to my normal eating. Thanks for the great post Allie!
Hey Allie,
I love your blog! I’ve been lurking around for a couple of months but i just had to leave a comment that this post was exactly what I needed. I just started college again and I’ve been so busy that i haven’t been eating all the veggies and fruit that i usually do. This post was just what I needed to calm myself down and remember it’s all about balance. Thank You Allie!
Some good ways to eat those Ezekiel muffins.
Thank you so much for this post, Allie! I can get caught up in exactly what you’re talking about and this post and just so true and wonderful, so thank you!
I’m just learning to look at the big picture and it’s a relief! I’m keeping a food diary online because of my cholesterol and it’s great to notice that even though I’ve had my indulgence days the big picture says I’m doing pretty good
Your salad looks fabulous, Allie! And I agree that Ezekiel products are numero uno!
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