The Real Way to Find Balance in Eating and Exercise (No Obsession Required)
There was a time when mindful eating and physical activityteetered on obsessive for me. It was a time when the only thing that mattered was how perfect I ate and how long I could work out.
And there was a time when mindful eating and activity didn’t matter at all.
I don’t think I’m the only one that has experienced those two extremes when it comes to health, and we all know, neither option is truly “healthy” long term. Leaving us to find ✨balance✨. The magical word that seems to be the answer to every problem today. Extremes don’t work, moderation does, and while that might look different to everyone, it boils down to balance in each individual life.
For me, understanding balance was understanding that I needed movement and to eat mindfully to survive. I viewed it a lot like needing shelter, air, and water. We need shelter to survive, and while it doesn’t need to be a 5,000-square-foot home, we’d live more comfortably if we had a roof over our heads and not a cave. We need air to survive, and while it doesn’t need to be purified 24/7 by the best $1,000 air purifier on the market, it’s best if the air quality isn’t overly polluted. We need water, and while you don’t need it to be straight from the sparkling springs of the mountains, you don’t want your body to have to filter contaminated water either.
That’s how I think of eating healthy and consistent exercise. We need it, no question. But do we need the best of the best all the time, 24/7, with no flexibility? No, not the vast majority of us.
That’s how I define balance. Taking the things we need, admitting we need them, and learning through trial and error in what capacity we need them and how to make them consistent in our lives.
Balanced movement and eating complement each other the same way air and water complement each other. Without one, the other can’t give the body everything it needs to survive. Just going to the gym 3 times a week won’t feel optimal without a nice post-workout meal to refuel and recover. Just eating organic broccoli and pasture-raised chicken all day won’t keep your muscles strong without strength training. The two work in unison to create a body that functions optimally.
95% of my clients use Ate to objectively track their meals and movement without obsession. I describe it as “your day on paper.” With so much going on every single day and so much you have to keep track of and take care of, putting all of your meals and movement into Ate with the snap of a photo or the click of a button helps to objectively understand what you did that day for your health. Every week, I reflect back with my clients, we take a glimpse into their Path and ask what habits we liked, what we didn’t, and what we can adjust the following week. No judgment, no numbers, no extremes. Just one habit at a time, one change at a time, because you genuinely want to. Not because you have to. Because it’s best for you.
Everything is easier when you enjoy it so you must find ways to enjoy eating healthier and moving your body. For me, that’s eating food I genuinely think tastes good. I incorporate homemade sourdough into my breakfast every day (because it’s delicious), I add spices, flavor, and sauces to my salads to make them crave-worthy, I balance dessert and plan for ice cream dates with my family and friends when appropriate because I have to enjoy my life and the food that goes into my body at least most of the time. Even if it’s a “healthy” meal, I know it can taste so good. Same thing with movement. I won’t do it if I hate it. So I put on music I enjoy and get in a decent lift with whatever program I’m following at the time. I’ll put on a podcast that keeps me engaged or call my mom on a walk. It’s not like I’m dying to make a healthy meal 24/7 or drive to the gym, but I’ll do it because I have to and make it as enjoyable as I can because I want to. Just like work. I’d love to be a stay-at-home wife and never work another day in my life. But I have to, so I’ll make the most of it and try to work a job I enjoy. Like helping people build healthy habits and find their happy weight without dieting. I can do that every day for the rest of my life because there’s genuine joy there. And I know you can do that with health because I watch my clients do it every single day.
With my clients, I focus on shifting habits without restricting or counting calories to achieve sustainable weight loss or weight maintenance. We use practical nutrition so we can live life and feel our best! If you’re ready to dive deep into your habits and feel confident about your choices surrounding food again, book a free consultation with me here!
