80/20

You know how they say that managing your weight is 20% how active you are and 80% what you eat?  That you can't out train a bad diet? I used to think that was at least a little bit exaggerated. I mean, I eat healthy enough most of the time and I sure work out enough to counteract most of the negative aspects that came from my less than healthy indulgences. 

And my weight has stayed within a 5 pound range over the last 2 years or so. So I thought I had it generally figured out. And I thought they were wrong. 

But apparently, they are not. 

I realized this after the month-long binge that is the holiday season. And after traveling for work and then to Disney World last week. 

I have been indulging a lot. I have also been working out a lot more than normal, but I could just tell that I wasn't at top form. I felt softer, especially around the middle. I felt more sluggish. I felt less, ahem, regular. (TMI?) I'd been relying on probiotics and multivitamins to make sure I was getting all my nutrients.

I don't weigh myself obsessively, or even very regularly.  It's more of a sporadic thing, and it usually happens when I feel like I've been going a bit crazy with the eating, or not working out a lot. 

So, with a bit of dread about what I would see, I got on the scale a few days ago.

And I hadn't gained a pound. I was shocked. 

But really, I truly realized that the number in the scale means nothing. Who cares if it said I didn't gain a pound? 

My pants that are now tighter than normal say I did. All the active time in the world (and it's not like I have time to be active 8 hours a day) can't possibly put a dent In all the rich foods I've been indulging in lately. 

I guess they are right.  It is mostly about what you eat.  And how you feel.  Not what the scale says. 

While indulging usually feels like the right thing to do in the moment (I mean, I'm not at Disney very often.  And you only get Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve dinner once a year.  And Christmas cookies only come around every December.) I usually don't feel good about it afterward. 

It's time to climb back on that wagon.  Take care of my well-being.  Make sure that I'm striving to eat well - foods that are good and also good for me - 70-80% of the time.  And not denying myself when I really want a treat that other 20-30% of the time, but also not going crazy. 

I want to make sure that I keep working out and being active as often as possible, because that feels good to me.  But I need to remember that a workout doesn't work off a Haagen Dazs bar (no matter how good they taste).  

And also that it's ok to eat a Haagen Dazs bar once in a while.  But it probably shouldn't come right after eating a hot dog, mac and cheese, Caesar salad, and a pork slider for dinner.