These are some three of the most powerful elements that affect my ability to maintain my healthy and fit lifestyle. If I don’t get enough sleep, I’m more likely to just give into any craving or thought that pops into my head. I become careless and am able to talk myself into anything (read: mind).  Lack of sleep is part of my daily life now it seems. I’m up late cooking, up early to continue cooking. Surrounded by food when I’m starving and seem to have no time cooking or planning meals for myself, but all the time in the world to organize fancy dinners for 80.  I easily become moody because of this, and stressed.

Some days I’m pissed  or upset about a situation that just happened, and my old patterns of “what the f – I’ll just go buy a pizza and a couple of bottles of red wine” will kick in and I’m tempted to get back into that lazy old habit again. But … then I stop and think. I know I’m not going to feel better after that pizza or wine, so I choose to go for a walk with my dogs instead. Breathe in the fresh air, notice my beautiful surroundings and appreciate all the beauty that I’m so privileged to be around. I choose to focus on what I have, not on what I don’t have, at the moment.  This is also a powerful tool when it comes to dieting – instead of narrowing in on what I CAN’T eat – be grateful that you are able to eat – every 2-3 hours at that! And healthy, wonderful produce.  Every time you eat, think that you will be able to eat again, and again, and again… and stop obsessing about that food.

The mind is a powerful thing. What most people don’t understand is that a feeling is just a feeling. It doesn’t define you. You don’t have to ACT on what you feel. But admit what you feel, recognize that you are human and may be “weak” in certain moments, but that means nothing. It’s how you choose to react and act which matters. Having faith in your strength and ability to overcome any temptation and bad feeling that comes your way (and will continue to come your way, believe me) is what makes you a strong human being. Sometimes I too, will choose to go to the store and buy a pint of ice cream. But it’s not a repetitive pattern, something I do on a regular basis – not daily, weekly or even monthly. But if I happened to give into it one day – oh well, I brush it off and start again. This is LIFE. Have high expectations of yourself, but not unrealistic ones. This is how you stay on track. This is how you get fit and are able to maintain it. It’s hard – it’s easy – it’s complicated – yet simple!  Eat on THAT!