Friday, July 9, 2010

and how does that make you feel?

Pretty darn miserable. Oh hello ladies and gents. Since I have no such therapist to consult at this time, I will indulge my blog instead. I hope you don't mind :). For as much as I think I'm a carefree, fun-loving, adventure-seeking gal, I'm also a perfectionist. Ugh. Summer so far has been wonderful, but in enjoying my post-grad life to the fullest, I've become less and less "healthy." Allow me to elaborate:
[Lentil soup, Green salad, Sautéed green beans, Roasted potatoes, Wine]

Physically? I am just not honoring my body as much as I should. I've been in an anti-salad rut for too long now and have probably been ice cream-ing a bit too much. The treats have been good, really, really good, but they don't make me feel good. Unfermented dairy products and I just do not get along as well as we used too and sugar highs really aren't as fun as they sound. I'm a three square meal kind of girl, I know this, and yet I've been snacking non-stop for energy. Not to mention, can you believe I have not made it to my local farmer's market yet? There is just no excuse to miss out on fresh, local produce.
[Quinoa with Spinach & Artichoke hummus]

Emotionally?And I hate to admit this, I've been disappointed in myself along with the effects of my equal opportunity dining experiences. My clothes don't quite fit the same, I can't remember the last time I slept well, and my moods have been all outta whack. Holly, dear, I feel ya on the poundage. Plus, have you ever heard of that thing called the Good Mood Diet? Well, the extra food and drinks haven't exactly been keeping me happy-go-lucky. My apologies to any and all that caught me at a bad time. If only food could just be all pleasure all the time.
[Steamed brussel sprouts with crushed black pepper, Lentil soup]

Mentally? I don't like labels since I could do without the pressure and guilt, but there are quite a few food philosophies that I call my own. Like eating ethically because I want to influence change in food politics and inhumane farming practices. Or that concern about the environment i.e. the greenhouse gases produced by conventional farming and the transport of edible goods across country lines and hemisphere. Another facet, of course is that I prefer to eat the most nutritionally dense food for myself  because it will keep me alive and kicking the longest, because it will make me feel my best. Oh yes, now I remember.
These past few weeks have otherwise exceeded their expectations, but taking a cue from Angela, I believe that I deserve to be healthy, and happy, and feel as good as my heart desires. This next week, I'll be focusing on streamlining my diet with things like green juices, organic vegetables, refreshing soups, whole grains, and clean proteins. I'll probably throw an increase in exercise in the mix too. Remember when I said I was going Exhale's Core Fusion Yoga class? Well, I went, and was amazed. It was better than anything I've ever done and challenged my muscles like never before. I may once again be found at a bar watching a world cup game this weekend but I will be more conscious of my entire well being during my time there. Let's be real: no matter how balanced any of us seem to be living our lives, health is a journey, and it's one that I'm still trying to figure out.
As for the self-critical factor, I'm not willing to wait to ask her to shut up. It is not healthy, nor okay with me to feel any less than confident about who I am, what I stand for, and/or how I look. So, here are a few tips for you and I to keep in mind during this next week, courtesy of July's Allure magazine:

  1. Stop apologizing. "Spend one whole 24-hour period without unnecessarily saying, 'I'm sorry.' 'People often say they're sorry when they're feeling insecure,' says Beck. Force yourself to quit, and you'll feel more self-assured."
  2. Be Grateful. "Write a thank-you note, or call someone to say thanks for lunch the other day. 'People who express gratitude are happier with themselves,' says Beck."
  3. Strike up a Conversation. "'Start talking to people--at the coffee shop, on the airplane, in line at the movies,' says Beck. 'Engaging with someone else will make you feel good about yourself.'"
  4. Get a Blowout. "As soon as women see their hair blow out, they act differently. By the time they leave, their shoulders are back, there's a swing in their step--they feel better," says hairstylist Mark Townsend of Marie Robinson Salon in NYC. 
I'm actually getting my hair trimmed tomorrow morn! Feeling brighter already ;). 
[Cornbread with Tahini sauce, Bio red wine, Macrobiotic plate of Kabocha squash, Broccoli, Kale, Brown rice, Seaweed, and Black-eyed peas]

Last but not least, I kicked of my nourishing self-revival with a macrobiotic dinner at Souen accompanied by a former fellow intern and the newest Editorial Assistant at Fitness Magazine, Karla. Oh yum. Take care, beauties!

12 comments:

  1. oh my dear danielle, i have loads to say on this post, but i think i'll just save it all for our in person date. during which, i propose we make big summer salads to enjoy with our wine.

    i will say that the fact that you are in tune with your body and the way you are feeling makes you 200 steps ahead of most people in the same situation. fluctuations in terms of how we eat are a normal part of life, and your awareness of how this stage is affecting you is the important thing, because that is what will help you determine how to feel better.

    i'm relatively sure we'll all never have the healthy balance thing completely figured out - life is a journey, right? we have to change as our lives change.

    i said i wasn't going to write much, and here i still went rambling on. typical.

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  2. Take me to your local farmer's market? :) I adore lentil soup.

    I am feeling much the same with regards to clothes not quite fitting right and just not treating my body QUITE as well as I could. I haven't been in much of a salad mood, either. Sometimes I think that we need those times though, because they serve as a really good reminder for why we DO like to take care of ourselves. And then we become motivated once again to take action and improve our health!

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  3. oh danielle, i totally hear you: i've been eating junk and boozing a bit too often as of late. i'm trying to remind myself that it is in fact summer and this is bound to happen, but it's nice to take it easy every once in awhile and choose quinoa salads over pizza. when i'm able to successfully do that at least once per week this summer, i'll let ya know. ;) for now keep your chin up and know that these small weight fluctuations happen to everyone - seriously, everyone - and nobody but you will actually notice.

    on a quasi-related note, i am all about the brussel sprouts these days. pizza and brussel sprouts - that was my dinner last night. word.

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  4. leslie: Three cheers for typical! I cannot wait for Monday, thank you :)

    Sagan: Yes, please join! We can do this together.

    crunchygranolagal: Haha, you're wonderful. Thanks for everything, darling!

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  5. Thank you for such an honest and inspiring post. I SO enjoy your blog and find comfort in your shared experiences. Hugs to you! :)

    - Jaime

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  6. This post certainly resonates with me too--I feel pretty blah these days thanks to a few extra pounds that have shown up on my frame. I love your suggestions for getting out of the funk though--I'll have to try them!

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  7. Jaime: Aw, thank you so much, my dear! It's hard sometimes to admit that I struggle with these things still, but what better place to do it than right here? I appreciate your understanding and support so so much.

    BroccoliHut: Please do try them, sweetheart. I think part of it is refiguring out the healthy balance that works for us and accepting that just like life changes so do our bodies and that's okay. no extra pounds make us any less amazing :)

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  8. Blog = therapy!
    And I love this: "I believe that I deserve to be healthy, and happy, and feel as good as my heart desires." That is so true for everyone!! And your dinner seriously looks AMAZING. It reminds me of food I got at this awesome restaurant in NYC called Josie's!

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  9. I'm with you on this all the way. I actually just wrote about similarly reaching my limit of snackage and treats, and I'm focusing on the same sort of diet to get things back on track! Good luck :)

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  10. Megan D: Thanks, dear, it's a nice reminder for sure. Oh, I want to try Josie's soon!

    Faith @ LovelyAsCharged: Thank you, right back at 'cha :).

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  11. your honesty is very refreshing. just know that we are all in a constant state of work. work for self-improvement, work for self-love, work to find whatever it is that makes us happy...and sometimes we have dips in our lives. peaks and valleys. just ride it out until you hit the upswing and know that we are all here for your venting in the meantime. food ruts that coincide with mood are as old as time, right? i think so. i tell myself tomorrow is a new day, and it takes just one step at a time, not leaps and bounds at once. hugs.

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  12. elise: Wow, thank you for your words of wisdom and sweet support. I don't know where I'd be without the amazing people like you in the blogosphere :). There are always new days, and I'm trying my best not to let the ones that "fall short" bring me down.

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