When you see a fitness professional, whether it is during your weekly Pilates class or at the grocery store, what are some assumptions you make about them?
Fitness professionals never cheat? Yeah, right!
I have heard several assumptions over my years as a fitness instructor. I have heard that fitness and healthy eating comes easy to some. I have had students assume that I never fall off the healthy eating wagon. I have even heard people hint that I am always happy.
Clearly, no one is always happy and while there may be exceptions very few people eat healthy every day of their lives. And let me tell you, although I have worked in fitness my whole life, fitness and healthy eating doesn’t come easy. Fitness and healthy eating takes commitment. But even the most committed can fall off the wagon sometimes.
Happy Birthday to me!
For the past two months, I have celebrated my 50th birthday. You heard that right, two months. Instead of having one big birthday celebration, I found myself celebrating with friends and family at dinner parties and weekends in Ocean City, D.C. and North Carolina.
My Favorite Cheat Foods
While many people like to believe that a cheat day for their fitness professional might be too much kale or a single cookie, I am here to tell you I did a great job of celebrating. When I have a cheat day or in this case a cheat month, wine is my choice. Sauvignon Blanc to be exact and maybe a little Rose or Prosecco and amazing margaritas at Mothers in OC too. My idea of eating unhealthy? Big fat greasy smash burgers and grilled potatoes, corn dip with tortilla chips, and red velvet cupcakes. There’s more, but that’s the gist of it. What do you think? Pretty good, huh?
Worth Every Minute
The extra calories and even the sluggishness I felt were worth every minute of the time I spent with friends and family. But I knew I was going to have to commit to a clean eating program of my own as well as a change in my fitness routine. What I didn’t remember was just how bad my body would feel after eating so poorly and this feeling would mean getting back would take more commitment than ever.
Back On The Wagon
For the past week, I have been focusing on getting back on the wagon. I have been focusing on clean eating and getting back to my regular fitness routine. My fitness plan involves Pilates 5 days a week, TRX 2 days a week along with kettle bell exercises and plenty of stretching and cardio. I have been able to add in the Pilates, TRX, kettlebells and stretching but I haven’t been able to get back into the cardio yet. I will but I am learning to be kind to myself and ease back into things.
I am also back on the healthy eating bandwagon, eating whole foods and planning my meals to meet my nutritional goals.
Being a fitness professional does mean I must live a life of healthy eating and daily exercise but it doesn’t mean I am perfect. It doesn’t mean I never eat a big juicy smash burger or a heavily iced cupcake. It means I do it knowing I will have to come back to the lifestyle I have created for myself.
