Health/Life Balance?

KGTraxler

So I'm really having a hard time with health/life balance. I want to have fun and enjoy life, but I know that moderation is key. I get frustrated because I don't want to be one of those people who brings their own food to restaurants or refuses to live, but I know I can't just "live" and see what happens. I like to workout, but food is what kills me. How do you maintain moderation but still have fun? I have an especially hard time with this on weekends. What are some methods and strategies you use? Thanks for the help! :flowerforyou:

jordymils

Personally, I love going out to eat. What better way to socialise than with food?! BUT it is usually pretty difficult for me because aside from not eating refined, heavily processed foods, I am also vegetarian AND lactose intolerant, and things like pasta, white rice etc don't sit well with me so I steer clear of those too. Think of a restaurant menu, now take away all meals that include meat, fish, pasta, rice, dairy, sugar, processed flours (like pizzas) etc but still has some form of protein, good carbs, veggies and maybe good fats. Doesn't really leave me with many options at all. So I've gotten into the habit of doing 1 of 3 things: either I offer to choose the restaurant/cafe and I look at menus online to find a place that has something I can feel good about eating, or I go out for a coffee rather than a meal, or I use it as a treat meal (but even then there lots of things I CAN"T eat, rather than won't).
Luckily for me my favourite meal to eat out is breakfast. Here in Melbourne Australia, breakfast is a very social meal, and I can always find somewhere that will do eggs with veggies and rye bread, if nothing else.

I guess it's just about finding a way of doing things that works for you. If that means having 2-3 meals per week where you are happy to eat out and not stress over not knowing exactly what's in your food, but being extra careful for the rest of the week to be bang on target with your calories and macros, then that's fine. If it means inviting people to your house for dinner so you can cook good food instead of eating out, then that's fine too.

I spend most of my weekends at my mums place down the coast working with her and I know that she cooks things in ways I usually wouldn't so it's tricky for me to be right on target when I'm here, so I usually either opt to cook my own food here or I bring my own food for most of the day (saying I made extra and didn't want to waste it, etc) and then just have whatever she makes for dinner or something.

All of that said, there will always be things that come up like holidays away, special occasions, events etc where you a) can't control what food you get and b) don't want to ruin the experience by stressing over food, so it's just about learning to cope around those times and making sure you can be in control when you're able to be, so that the odd other times don't impact your journey.

I'm heading to Israel this week to visit my family for 2 weeks and I know I won't/can't log my food over there and that I'll probably eat more of certain things (like carbs) and less of other things (like protein) than I would at home, but I'm taking it as well-timed break from my controlled diet and gym (haven't had a gym break in about 6 months - bad I know!!) and just hoping it doesn't mess with my reset too much! But I want to enjoy my time there and eat the delicious local food without worrying about it, so I've been careful in the lead up to be on target, and will add 2 weeks to my reset when I get back to make up for it.

Hope some of my rambling made sense!!