Holiday Baking; I can't quit you!

Less than a week until Christmas and I've been baking up a frenzy!  Oh, how I love making all of these holiday treats, but now what to do with them.  I don't want to eat them and  it doesn't feel right to pass them on to others who probably don't need/want to eat them either.  So, the dilemma, why do I feel compelled to make them?  These holiday traditions are powerful.  I make them because I have "always" made them.  

I am known for my caramels - they really are the best caramels in the world.  The recipe came from a friend of my Mom who used to make them for us when I was little.  Then, she stopped making them for us (they take a lot of time and are kind of a pain to make) so I got the recipe and took over the annual tradition.  It took a few years to perfect them - they either turned out too hard and had the potential to break a tooth or too soft and stuck to the wrapper.  Now, thanks to years of practice and with the help of a digital candy thermometer - they are perfect.  My friends and family love them and the list of recipients has grown over the years.  This year, I gave them to over 60 people - that was a record.  But healthy?  Not so much...

So, what is my point you ask?  It is frickin' hard to eat healthily during the holidays!  We combat traditions, emotions, stress, busy schedules, parties, treats from co-workers, neighbors, friends, family, and did I mention family and all the weird dynamics they come with??  Sure I love fruits and vegetables, but they aren't exactly calling my name when I have fudge in the refrigerator!!!  It isn't the apple in my fruit bowl that is asking me to eat it at 10pm!  Come on January 1, get here!  Good luck y'all, we're almost there!  Stay strong-ish!!

The days we have left

So my cousin's fiancé died unexpectedly this past weekend.  After a normal day; he went to sleep and didn't wake up.  He was 41.  This, as you can imagine, has thrown my family into a tailspin - especially my cousin and his children.  We all know that we are going to die, but I think many of us in our heart of hearts don't think it is going to happen to us.  That we are somehow going to be the exception to the rule... or is that just me?

I think we are all a bit fearful of death and as I mother, I can't even go there when it comes to my children.  Yet, it is so hard to not take life for granted.  To truly appreciate each day and use our time wisely.  To treat our bodies and minds with respect, care, and love.  I have a feeling that I am someday going to regret spending so many hours watching TV, drinking too much Diet Coke, eating too many unhealthy foods, not appreciating my body and all that it can do.  Change is so challenging.  Especially long term changes.

I am making a conscious effort to focus on the positive things in my life, to do things that make me and my loved ones happy, to be there for my friends and family, to let go of hurt and anger, to work on accomplishing things that are important to me with the time I have left.  Easier said than done, but I already feel a little lighter just writing this.  Set goals, write them down, work towards them every day, that's the key.  The only thing that truly matters to me are the people in my life.  I have to remember that.

"Carrying around resentment is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die".  I love that quote - I don't know who said it, but he or she gets it!

Move it - It will make you feel good!!

Exercise...our bodies need it, our minds crave it and yet it can be one of the hardest things to make ourselves do!  Often, tHe first thing to go fro ous schedules when we get busy is exercise.  This time of year is especially challenging - it gets dark early, it's cold, rainy, cloudy, we're busy, stressed, let's see, how many more excuses/reasons can I come up with - you name it, we'll justify it!

One of the best things I've done for myself from about the age 15 is that I have exercised.  I started out doing aerobics with my mom and running with my friend Shannon and have been more or less consistent ever since.  Sometimes it is more less than more, but hey, that's life.  It is the one thing that simultaneously helps my body and mind.  I am a nicer, calmer, better person when exercise - if you aren't consistently moving your body - try it! The hardest part is getting started!  And I promise, you will never regret it!

Through the years, I have done many different types of exercise - boot camp classes, triathlon classes, half marathons, dance classes, Body  Pump, Pilates, yoga, spinning, you name it, I've probably tried it and I do love variety.  And yet, I don't consider myself an athlete and I would venture to say that I don't look like an athlete.  Why do I do it?  Because I can eat more, I feel better, I'm more positive, I eat better, I have muscle tone, it sets a good example for my kids, and finally to not exercise is not an option for me.   Here are some things that I do to keep myself motivated:

- Exercise with friends/family,  there is always someone who will want to do what you are doing - walking, running, hiking, biking taking a class, etc.

- Find what works for you - I find that belonging to a gym does to work for me; it is too easy not to go, there is no accountability, it's smelly, there are often old naked women walking around in the locker room, I prefer exercising outdoors.

- Variety is key, it is hard to stick with something you are bored with, plus it is better for your body to mix up your routine as well.

- Sign up for an event - fun run, race, walk, triathlon, cycling event, etc. - it will help you stay motivated and will push you to get ready for it.

- Classes work better than gyms; if I want to try something new or mix up my routine, a class at the local community center is the way to go.  For some reason it is easier to go to a class that is on a specific day/time for a certain amount of weeks than going to the gym.   I don't know why that is true, but it is.

Get out there and move! Use those muscles, protect your bones, increase your metabolism, there really is no downside.  Move it or lose it people!   I'm off for a run myself!  

Binge Eating - Who Knew?

I am currently studying for a nutrition certification and was just reading the section about eating disorders.  It covered bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and anorexia athletica, and I thought "yea, I'm with you, I've heard of all these before" and then I got to the section called "Binge Eating"....  Binge eating is an eating disorder?  I had no idea that the way I've been eating throughout my whole life is a disorder.  It is defined as "the binging consists of recurring large meals with a lack of control over the eating episodes" and goes on to say "lifelong weight cycling and psychological distress are typical when the disorder goes uncontrolled".

I was a Weight Watchers Leader for many years and it wasn't until I read this section about Binge Eating that I learned that it is an actual disorder.  I was leading countless meetings with a room full of binge eaters and I can't help but think that having this information could have helped a lot of people who felt like there was something wrong with them.  People who continually tell themselves "I'm weak, I have no self-control, I have no willpower, I overeat and I don't know why and I can't stop" etc.  Oh, we are so good at beating ourselves up!

It was so liberating to learn that I have a disorder as it takes the blame out of the equation.  Now, like anything, it is my responsibility to manage this disorder which I am able to do 99% percent of the time...okay, let's be honest here...more like 90% of the time.  The other 1 - 10% of the time, I am still learning - making mistakes and trying to do better next time.  I know there are certain things I cannot keep in my house (Herseys kisses with almonds, those pink and white circus animal cookies... plain evil!!).  I know that success begins in the grocery store.  I know that eating out is about 3 times the calories than the version of it that I make at home.  I know that grease tastes amazing, but always upsets my stomach.

I remember watching weight loss pill commercials that claimed "take this pill and you will never feel hungry" and I would think to myself "well, what does hunger have to do with eating??  I'm not overeating because I feel hungry all the time!!!". I was eating for a million other reasons and know it makes sense...  I am binge eater.