I liked this email from Jill Coleman (jillfit.com), especially the part about “the only thing I practice is practicing.” Sometimes life throws us a curveball and we need to rethink what we’re doing. That isn’t a setback or a failure. It’s an opportunity. I’ve adjusted and tweaked so many times as things changed or I learned more. ——- A quick insight for you today. Got a DM yesterday from a gal who I know has been practicing moderation with her eating for the last few years. She shared that she “thought she had it mastered” but has been binging more frequently lately and is feeling like she needs a nutrition recalibration. She thinks she’s struggling as a result of having a trainer who wanted her to count macros last summer. And it got her head a bit messed up, and now she needs to find balance and ease again (just as a reminder, “ease” doesn’t mean eating everything you want, BTW—that’s stressful as heck!). Makes sense. Sometimes when we try to “tighten up” or start obsessing over the numbers again, it can create urgency and scarcity around food again, rather than abundance and mindfulness. Macro counting isn’t necessarily “bad” (same for counting calories, points, anything), it’s just that for some of us, it can become an obsession where we’re constantly thinking, measuring and generally feeling anxious about food. And I don’t know about you, but whenever I am that focused on food, I inevitably end up binging, one, because I end up feeling deprived, and two, because that kind of mental energy draining to the point that I just want to shut off my brain, say screw it, and just eat with abandon because I have zero willpower left. So if you’ve ever been in this place, where you feel you’ve “fallen off the bandwagon,” or are “slipping up” more than usual (btw those things aren’t bad, they’re just red flag to investigate and figure it out), remember one key thing—and this is what I told this gal: “No stress, darlin! Yes, these things happen and in my experience, we are always evolving. Different inputs (stress, moves, preferences, stages in life, etc.) will always offer us opportunities for recalibration.” In other words, your eating strategy will always be challenged. It will need to evolve, change and progress as a result. How you ate last year (even your moderate approach) might look different this year. Our only jobs are to: Stay aware and notice when things are changing in our behaviors (like this gal did) Don’t judge it when it enviably does. In other words, don’t make it mean we suck or we’re not good at this, or somehow we “should know better.” Just see the change as natural and normal. Clinical. Investigate. How have things been different? Have you been restricting too much? Stressed out? Life changes? Where have the inputs changed? Revisit the principles of #moderation365, show yourself compassion and practice again The only thing I practice is practicing. That’s it. I don’t ever assume I’ll have it mastered. Because as soon as I do, something else happens and I need to adjust anyway. I practice. I stay aware. I practice some more. I don’t judge any of it. I do my best. So, back to the subject of this email … This truth—that you’re never going to “get there” and that your eating process is always changing and requiring recalibration (like anything else in life, like your relationships or fitness routine or even business)—can be depressing or liberating, is up to you. It can feel depressing for some, ‘cause you’ll never just be done with it. But personally, I find it liberating because I know I never need to be perfect, and I can always learn something new as a result. When I’m engaged in the process, I feel alive. It takes the pressure off of ever needing to get it 100% right all the time. I can stay flexible. And THAT is an easy and joyful space to live in. Have a great week, and ttyl! Xo, Jill
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