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True or False on Thursday

-Last night at 9:30 I watched Cougar Town in bed with hubs, 2 spoons, and a jar of Nutella--and felt no guilt. TRUE
Sometimes you have to indulge a little, and there's absolutely no reason to feel guilty about it. Plus, it's made with skim milk, right? Hello protein!!






-I skipped a scheduled run last Tuesday for no reason, so I failed. FALSE
Your schedule is not set in stone. Ever. Maybe you're busy, maybe you're injured, maybe you're exhausted and can't handle the thought of going for a run. It's OK. It does not make you a failure. 


-We should compare ourselves to other bloggers who do more, eat healthier, run further, or run faster. FALSE
I'm so guilty of this. I start to believe that I'm somehow inferior because I don't run 60 mile weeks, or 7 minute miles, or eat a vegan diet. The beauty of the blog world is that we get a peek into someone's life, but that's all it is--a peek. We rarely know the full extent of their struggles and daily lives, no matter how honest or open their blogs are. Focus on your own achievements and choices and take pride in them.


-When I weigh myself in the morning and don't like the number, I'll be in a bad mood for the rest of the day. FALSE
Don't let a little number get in the way of your happiness! Yes, weighing yourself can be a valuable tool in making you a healthier person (sometimes!) but it should never be what defines you or your mood. If the number on the scale bothers you, clear your head of it and think of something amazing your wonderful body can do. Run a marathon? Heck, run a mile? Carry a child? 


-EMZ is basically my hero. You should all head right on over to her blog now to see the amazing thing she has planned this weekend. TRUE
When we can use our passions to do something good for others, it's the ultimate win-win. Take what you love to do, whether it's baking, writing, running, or anything else, and try to find a way to help someone else through it. 
Doing what she loves (running) and helping others too!




Have you ever forgotten the real answer to these true/false questions?
Oh yes. All of them. I'm constantly on guard to fend off guilt or failure when I don't feel adequate. These are reminders for me more than anything else!


Does your weight ever affect how you feel for the rest of the day? What do you do to change that?
Even though I'm at a healthy weight for my body, I still struggle with this. Even if it's a small gain, or even a temporary one. I try to focus on the positives of my body instead to redirect my focus. 




Comments

  1. Actually most of Nutella is palm oil and sugar. I'd go get some really, really good stuff instead :).

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  2. I totally agree with you about the number on the scale. Some days I step on the scale and hate what I see then two days later I love what I see, mostly it is water weight I know and have come to terms with that. I measure my weight by how my clothes fit.

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  3. I love this post!!! I love reading blogs and realizing someone else feels just like me.
    I am so guilty of all of these, but I will tell you after a run it goes away and I feel strong and empowered and not defined by weight or how fast or slow I am.
    I think we all get a little stuck on the number on the scale. I know from someone else's perspective it's silly, but it happens, and I think I'm 100x better than I used to be about it.

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  4. Oh,Nutella..how I <3 thee! So yummy, even if its a lot of sugar. It was actually really refreshing to read this post; I have a tendency to get really down on myself when I have a bad "weight" day, or have an unscheduled dessert, or miss a workout. Its not going to affect my life five years from now. Need to learn to let it go sometimes.

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  5. I love how the commercial for Nutella says that it's a healthy way for kids to start their breakfast. Yeah Right...but I'll take it! If "they" say it's healthy...who am I to judge!

    When I joined the blogging community I compared myself to Oh She Glows, Fitnessista, and the like. I soon learned not to do that because that's just not me. I look at them for inspiration and motivation and that's all now! :)

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  6. I watched Cougar town (more people should watch that) while inhaling ice cream sandwhiches and plotting how to get me a "Big Carl"

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  7. You are not alone on this one, I think a lot of women (even the ones that seem confident) still struggle with the scale. I was like that too but one thing that got me past the bad mood was reminding myself it is ONLY A NUMBER. Every woman is built differently and as long as I feel good then that is what matters!

    I hope this is a helpful reminder! :)

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  8. Great post!! I've still never tried nutella. I think I am too scared that I won't like it. What does it taste like? I don't weigh myself so I don't worry about that. I just go by how my clothes fit!!

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  9. Awesome post! I agree, it's so easy to let yourself feel bad compared to some of the amazing runners/bloggers out there!
    I'm trying to stay focused on being inspired by them and not feel like I need to BE them :)

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  10. I never have gotten into the habit of weighing myself, but if I dont get a certain amount of exercise in a day I will feel the guilt and feel as if pounds will attack me overnight...which I know deep down is silly.
    I am very bad about that too, comparing myself to other bloggers. I love reading blogs, but I too can get caught up in what they are able to do and what I wish I could do as well!

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  11. I'm crazy about nutella :) I try to keep myself away from it though, because I would seriously go through two jars a day if I could.

    But you're right... athletic women, and just women in general, tend to be too hard on themselves. I think we need to lighten up and remember that life is short! So if you want to eat a jar of nutella, go ahead, because a small indulgence won't hurt you in the long run, and who knows what tomorrow will bring!

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  12. I've struggled with disordered eating, and now when I feel myself getting really scale focused, I just put that baby away for a few months and push those thoughts out of my mind. :)

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  13. I can relate to all of those. I really struggle with the scale, and have tried to give it appropriate value in my life (read - using it as a tool to measure progress, not the end all be all for my life).

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  14. hmmm i am SO guilty of letting that scale number dictate how i feel :( I do it multiple times a day and I really need to let it go. thanks for this post... i love the true/fasle (kind of reminds me of So True/So False on E! news...sorry i watch a lot of trash!)

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  15. Oh my goodness, I can't be around nutella with a spoon. Or with my fingers. Actually at all. I swear they must mix crack in there

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  16. Great post! And yes, I sometimes get the answers to these wrong as well! Especially the "feeling inferior from reading blogs" part. I have to be really careful not to feel like poo just because I can't run every day like I'd want to, or can't run as fast as others do.

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  17. Oh, and I forgot - that's so cool that you were born in South Africa!! It would be awesome if you did a post about it sometime - and how you came to live in Hong Kong for a while. Just curious, do you speak any other languages?

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  18. NUTELLA IS BOMB!! Nom Nom Nom!!! Never feel guilty enjoying that pure pleasure of awesomeness!! Great post girl, very inspirational:)

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  19. Ugh, I really struggle with the scale. That arbitrary number can totally wreck my mood, even when I'm feeling good and strong beforehand. I've gotten better about just staying off the scale a little more often lately.

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  20. Ahh, you posted this just for me huh?? I honestly have such a hard time with comparing myself to others. It's so easy to get caught up in what other people are acheiving, that we for get our own. Such a great post!

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  21. definitely can get hung up on some of these every once in a while. blah. when ever I get caught up in my weight I just remember...my body fluctuates and I am loving the way I am right now and am okay with how I am and have no plans to make major changes right now...so i am usually okay with it after a few minutes :)

    have a fabulous day! love this post idea :)

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  22. I've never had Nutella. I know, totally, terribly deprived. But from the looks of it I think I need to stay away.
    ALmond butter and dark chocolate chips seems to be my undoing lately.

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  23. Oh I like this post, very well said, as for weighing myself. When I moved last Feb, I broke my scale and haven't bought one since. And that's probably a good thing, I don't really care how much I weigh but for some reason I would always find a reason to weigh myself lol Now I just try to stay fit and make sure that I feel good about myself! who cares what the scale says!

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  24. You have such a healthy perspective Vanessa! Great T or F questions--and responses.

    I am so with you on avoiding the comparison trap. Appreciate and learn from others, but don't measure!

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  25. I really struggle with lots of those too! Especially the ones about comparing ourselves to other people and the weight thing.

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  26. I like this post. Thanks, you are so right that it is easy to compare yourself to others and what they are doing but you really have no idea what their life is like beyond the blogger world.

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  27. I still haven't tried Nutella....I hear it's the bomb.

    runningtobeskinny.com

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  28. Can you just come live by me so we can be friends because I think you are my twin. We would have such good times!!!

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  29. I'd finished a jar and then some of Nutella ;) it's sooo yummy!!! xoox

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  30. Love this post!

    I try not to compare myself but sometimes it happens and I have to remind myself that I run for me not for others.

    My first marathon training cycle I would beat myself up for skipping a run. This time around I followed a plan but told myself it's not set in stone and also don't cheat myself cause it will show come marathon day. If I have to skip a run I try to make it up another day or even break up the run to morning and afternoon when I have more time.

    Emz is freaking awesome!!

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  31. I've always been at a healthy weight but the number on the scale or the measuring tape would still get to me. Since I've gotten more into running though, it doesn't bother me as much. And I don't criticize myself for eating what I want like I used to.

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  32. Skim milk and protein is right! I'm saying the same about white chocolate chips, straight outta the bag, this very minute :-)

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  33. Ok...need Nutella stat.

    And thanks for this post. It's SO easy to get down on myself for skipping out on a run. Sometimes I'm just not feeling it. Self-discipline is great, but "rules" are sometimes meant to be broken. =)

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  34. Wow I really loved this post! I definitely struggle with putting a lot of pressure on myself and then becoming disappointed if I'm not where I think I should be.

    All we can do is take it day by day, read the amazing re-inforcers in the blog world and try our best to turn our negative thoughts into positive ones.

    Thank you again for such a great post :)

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  35. freakin' awesome post with lots of great reminders!!!!!!

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  36. Ooooh I have just discovered Nutella and was eating some last night, too.

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  37. Thanks for this great post and reminder not to compare ourselves to others! And yes, EMZ is amazing :)

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  38. Great post! I think that these are important things for everyone to keep in mind. I think the healthiest thing you can do for yourself is to just accept and love yourself no matter what.

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  39. We don't have a scale and haven't for years and its incredible

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  40. Great post! I find myself doing the comparisons to other bloggers, it is something I need to check myself on. I definitely get tons of great inspiration from reading other blogs, and I love that...but I need to remember that everyone is in a different place and has different abilities. I started blogging because I wanted to run ONE half marathon, maybe a full. But within weeks I was thinking about a race SCHEDULE, and maybe I should do triathlon, and maybe I can qualify for Boston one day...

    I need to remember to pace myself, and enjoy the journey instead of focusing on the destination.

    Also: Mmmmm, Nutella :)

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  41. I've learned to not weigh myself often. It DOES affect me too much. Especially if a race is coming up, then I can't look at a scale. If I didn't like what I saw I would let it affect my whole mental state - and I don't want it affecting my running.

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