Struggling

It's easy to write posts when I'm feeling strong, or I've just nailed that workout, or I'm doing well. What's hard is to come out and say that I'm having a hard time.

That's the case right now. Ever since getting back from my fabulous anniversary backpacking trip, my eating has gone to hell. I'm still nailing the workouts - fortunately that's become largely ingrained.

But the last week, my eating has sucked. I haven't tracked. I've been grabbing the "extras" when I grocery shop and I've been eating too much.

Amazingly, my weight has been remaining fairly steady. However, I can't count on that continuing, and even if it does, one fact remains. I am NOT happy with my current weight. In some ways, I don't even care that I can run 25 minutes, or swim front crawl. I want to like the way I look. And right now I don't.

There's two things to consider when trying to dig yourself out of a hole. First: why did you fall into it? Second: What are you going to do about it?

Why did I fall into it? I haven't quite figured it out, though I have some ideas. After the high of my vacation, it was back to the real world. While in the mountains, there was no commitments, no time line. We chilled and did what we wanted. Which was to hike.

And I ate. While backpacking, the foods we ate were rich and calorie dense - exactly what is needed when expending thousands of calories a day. Trail mix with peanuts and m&ms, beef jerky, granola bars... All the kinds of foods that you should eat when you are expending huge amounts of energy, and not many other times. Coming back to real life, I'm back to my 45ish minutes of cardio a day and therefore not needing this food.

Understanding why I fell into it is of importance in avoiding it in the future, but the more important question is how to get out of it?

Well, to be honest, I'm already digging myself out. I wasn't lying when I said I find it really hard to write when I'm not feeling strong. Part of what is letting me write this post is the fact that I'm on the way up. The last two days, all my food has been recorded. I'm back into my calorie range and I'm avoiding my trigger foods.

There's something to be said for a slogan of a bit athletic wear company. Just do it. Sometimes, that's what you have to do. Just do it. Make the decision and follow through on it.

Next time, I'm starting to struggle, I'm going to try to post right away, and then I need all of you to tell me to get in gear and straighten up, okay?

Yesterday, I went shopping after my swim and instead of buying a chocolate bar, I bought a tomatillo. Anyone know what to do with a tomatillo? Should I eat it the same way I eat tomatoes? With a salad? On it's own?