Happy Wednesday my friends! I didn’t have much spare time this past weekend between gardening and organizing, but I was able to make a Costco run and found some fresh strawberries. I always love eating fruit and it’s always fun to add it into some decor photos!
I did want to pop on here thought to talk a little more about my experiences with nutrition, how I try to keep it up today, and how I’ve honestly gone off the wagon several times. My blog is primarily centered around my passion of home decor and our home renovations, but I thought I would get slightly personal with you all today.
Right around the time that AJ and I began dating, I took on a healthier lifestyle. I began weight lifting and doing more cardio. I played sports almost my whole life, and when I went to college I somewhat just let loose. AJ and I met my senior year of college, and he was well into the gym life at that point. Several of my best friends were also into this lifestyle, so you could say that is what helped me get started.
After several months, I actually got a fitness coach to start my journey to the bikini fitness show. It was honestly very easy to eat healthy at that point because I didn’t work full time, I was able to work out almost whenever I wanted, and I had friends and AJ to work out with. It got hard once I graduated and moved into a full time job though. Fast forward to my fitness show, I was in the best shape of my life physically. Mentally it wasn’t my best. Bikini fitness shows can be fun, but you are HUNGRY, all the time. I really mean that and it can certainly make someone slightly hangry all the time. I placed 5th in my show, which wasn’t bad, but the really hard part began after my show.
I blew up like a balloon because I was just eating everything and done worrying about being up on a stage. I told my coach I just mentally needed a break and was done counting my macros. This was the biggest mistake I made health wise. I ruined my metabolism and put about 20 pounds back on extremely quickly. I was eating bad, eating out, and just not caring that much. I tried to eat a little healthier before we went to Jamaica last year, but that just wasn’t enough motivation. I finally got a coach again last summer, and got back on track.
I lost about 10-12 pounds and was back to being myself again. Not the me right before my show, but the me who was just wanting to eat healthy and work out. Now I want to be very clear, I still to this day do not eat 100% healthy, and I’m okay with that. It keeps me sane, but what I need to remember is I should eat healthy a majority of the time. As I get older I do realize my metabolism isn’t always going to be there like it was when I was in high school. Reality check!
Since last summer I ate fairly healthy, did some cardio and lifted weights up until the Bahamas. I could have done better, but I was living life. I kept my body in a spot where I liked it, but after the Bahamas I let a little loose again. Nowhere near as bad as after my show, but I let the healthy eating part slip slightly.
Part of me wants to admit life gets in the way, but another part of me knows I’m not giving it my all. I have plenty of time to meal prep, I just had to make the time. Soooo…back to these pretty little strawberries. AJ and I went to Costco this past weekend and got all our healthy food, plants for outside, and some other miscellaneous things that you always end up with at Costco. I spent a good chunk of Sunday preparing meals for us for this week, and it seriously makes healthy eating so much easier. Being prepared! Who would have thought?
So friends, here’s to not being perfect, to being the best you that you can be, and to making your life worth it however it fits you. Don’t fall into a stereotype because that’s what social media has told you to do. Don’t fall into bad habits that hinder you from being your best. If you want to live life but be healthy like I am trying to be, join me! Everyone of us has our own vision, and life takes us on a winding path to get there so be sure to enjoy the ride.
I know this post isn’t really related to home decor (minus the photos), but I want to connect with you all more and show you the other side of me! I’ll be going into more detail about our home life outside the projects, but still will be keeping my blog centered around the home aspect.
PS ~ I wanted to give my friends over at Tipsy Bee Candle a shout out for their awesome candle scents! We will be continuing to collaborate together, and they just scent me an unbelievable scent! This is their cozy cottage scent, and folks I’m in love! It’s a perfect scent to add to the kitchen, and I’m just waiting for the perfect day to light it! All of their candles are amazing though, and each candle I have received from them smells delicious. You guys can head over to their Etsy shop here: The Tipsy Bee Candle Co
As always, thank you so much for tuning in and I really hope you enjoyed today’s post. If it inspired you, intrigued you, or even sparked some questions about me, please feel free to write into me or leave your comments! I would love to hear more or answer any questions you have!