Getting My Eating Back On Track

Hello, Everyone! 

I know I'm usually a health-nut, but I have to confess that lately my eating habits have fallen a little from where they should be. Not far mind you, but enough for me to feel the need to assess how I'm approaching food.

I've been doing a lot of "mindless eating" lately where I'm not stopping and questioning the nutrition I'm getting. Or I'm just eating for the sake of it. I can be an emotional eater too, so if I'm feeling cranky I'll just load up on carbs because I think it will help (which it does for about ten minutes) but I know it's not good for me.

It's definitely normal to have an off-week and I'm not going to punish myself for it. This post is more about getting back on track with good eating habits and fueling myself properly again. I have to listen to my body and use what knowledge of nutrition I have to help me.

Start a meal diary

This is a great idea for keeping track of what you're actually eating and getting a look at the bigger picture. I have plenty of notebooks, so why not? Not only will I write down my day on a plate, but I will also keep track of the amount of protein I'm getting through the day (it should be around 80grams) just to see if any changes need to be made. After a while, keeping this diary will just become a habit and it'll be easier to make healthy choices. Especially on those bad days!

Cut out the dairy 

I've talked about going dairy-free on my blog before, and after trying it for a while I actually saw a difference. Not so much in my body (although that would come with more time) but with my skin. I've been getting more spots lately and I think it's because of having a few sneaky treats, as well as ordering normal milk with my flat whites. I'm going to be more strict with myself and avoid dairy where I can. It's going to be hard because I love my cheese!

Avoid carbs after 4pm

I was reading a book the other day that had an article from a nutritionist and this was part of her advice. And it makes sense! Carbs (healthy ones like potatoes and grains) should mainly be consumed for energy throughout the day. But unless you're planning on a late workout, your body will have energy and no where to put it. It will make for better sleep if I stick to protein and veggies for dinner, then some fruit and nuts for dessert. It'll be hard, but I'll thank myself later.


 

Drink water. And lots of it!

 About a month ago, I started getting into a good habit of drinking my water. It usually ended up to be about four liters a day. But I think with Christmas/New Year I lost a bit of my focus and those good habits went out the window. I could really feel the difference in my workouts too (and nobody wants to do CrossFit dehydrated!) I'm determined to up my fluid intake again and make sure I'm staying hydrated. I'm going to set something of a schedule for myself, e.g drink one litre before 11am, a second with lunch, my third by 3pm, a fourth at work, then finish a fifth litre before I go to bed. This way it means that I have goals to focus on everyday.


Preparation is the key to success! 

I'm not just talking about my meal prep here, but also with what I'm stocking in the cupboards and taking with me on the go. I find it handy to have healthy snacks ready for a pre-workout snack or something to have if I get hungry after work. Things like protein bars and pita breads (to fill with peanut butter.) I've even found a supplement store in my city that sells Lenny and Larry's protein cookies! I'm going to make it more of a habit to carry healthy snacks to stop me buying something that's going to set me back.

I don't think I'll be giving up my Thursday night McDonald's dessert runs with Steve (their apple pies gives me life after working hard all week.) But there are ways I can be more mindful of my eating and do what works for me. Also, with the CrossFit Open coming up in February my nutrition will need to be on point if I want to do well. Healthy carbs, lots of protein, and vegetables (all flavored with the best spices) are going to fuel my body to smash these workouts!


What eating habits are you trying to work on?
Steph x.