Being Kind to Myself

 I feel like I have been way to hard on myself the past couple of years. I have tried and failed miserably to lose 10-15 pounds that I gained after my major weight loss. I have restricted my calories and ran 5 days a week for a month straight with no change on the scale. I have eaten a strict primal diet and did a mix of running and crossfit 5 days a week for two months and saw no change in the numbers. I did notice toner muscles during that time but my jean size didn't go down.

I'm tired of it. I don't enjoy lifting weights, even in a sporadic crossfit exercise routine. I'm not a big fan of getting my heart rate up during sprint intervals (even though I do love to run fast).

I am completely burned out on road running any distance. I used to live for a good run. The longer the better. Ten miles was a piece of cake. These days I complain about doing three.

My diet is what I would call modified paleo. I eat a lot of meat and veggies, a lot of healthy fats, minimal fruits, moderate dairy, and a very small amount of sugar. We're talking sugar from fruits, honey, or whatever they have added to the dark chocolate I am consuming. I use coconut sugar in all my grain free baking. And I drink.

That might be the biggest obstacle to my weight loss. But I've decided to stop berating myself about it. I really enjoy a bottle of good red wine. My husband is an excellent homebrewer and I don't want to turn down his amazing brews. When drinking, its all about moderation.

I might just have to accept the fact that this is my healthy weight and that is why I am not gaining nor losing. My brain seems to think my healthy weight is ten pounds less because that is the number I am always shooting for. My body disagrees.

So for now I am going to do what I love to do.

 

I love to practice yoga. As many times a week as I can. 30-45 minutes at a time. It makes me and my body so so so happy.

 

 

I love to trail run with my dogs and hike with my kids. The presence of Mother Nature calms me down and the exercise is amazing. Now that the weather is cooling off I can do this weekly.

These activities are gentle on my body and my soul. The kinder I am to myself, the better I am to those around me.

What are you doing to take care of yourself these days?