Ever wondered where treats fit into a healthy lifestyle?
Have you heard the joke about the personal trainer/dietitian who started a cookie biz?
Only, it’s not a joke…
I made a batch of Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip cookies a couple weeks ago for Thanksgiving.
The cookies were good, but I thought they could be better, so I made another batch to perfect the recipe.
After making the new batch, I gave the cookies away because I didn’t want to eat anymore.
Then more people wanted to try them, so I made another batch and gave those away for free.
And then, even more people wanted to try them, but after making three free batches, I decided to sell any additional cookies I made and start a holiday cookie business.
All of this happened last Friday. And in the past 6 days, I have sold about 350 cookies! *insert extremely shocked face*
A few people have jokingly asked how I can sell cookies when I’m a personal trainer and dietitian.
And I get it… the two seem opposite from each other, right?
But what if I told you they somewhat go hand in hand?
One thing I hate about the fitness industry, and really life in general, is this dichotomy of good vs. bad and the thought of behaviors only living on the extreme ends of a spectrum instead of co-existing.
You know how it goes… if I’m eating a salad, I’m being “good.” But if I’m eating cookies, I’m being “bad.”
What if I told you that you’re just being a full person who wants to experience life?
Should we only eat salads all the time and never have cookies?
Of course not! (Side note: I’m personally not a big salad eater and would hate for salad consumption to be a measure of how healthy I’m being.)
Thinking you’re “being bad” by eating cookies leads to guilt. And guilt normally leads to either a) eating even more cookies (cause if you’re gonna “be bad,” may as well go all the way, right?), or b) becoming super restrictive and swearing to “be good” and never eat cookies again, or at least for the next 6 months.
Both of these are extremes. And life typically DOES NOT EXIST in extremes.
Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth and has zero permanent residents. Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth, and nobody can live there.
The most populated places on Earth have temperatures that fluctuate, just like life.
Life has ebbs and flows, and you have to allow room for LIFE in your pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.
Finding this balance and freedom is the goal, not forcing yourself to “be good” or punishing yourself for “being bad.”
Think about the act of treating yourself like you’re spending a little extra to buy yourself something nice.
The more you spend (and the more often you splurge), the less money you have left to cover your bills.
Now, the electricity bill is due, and you don’t have the money to pay it.
But if you pick and choose WHEN to splurge and WHAT to splurge on, you’ll be able to, both, cover your necessities and enjoy a little something extra every now and then.
Holiday season is the perfect time to treat yourself.
What should you splurge on?
You get to decide!
But make sure you choose something that you really enjoy.
And don’t splurge on any and everything, because that leads to debt.
In the body, debt shows itself in the form of weight gain, which we want to limit.
Remember, life isn’t about choosing whether to be “good” or “bad.”
It’s about enjoying the parts in between, where you get to express yourself as a full person who is able to enjoy both.
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