05/07/2020
Making a double batch of chocolate chip cookies, mid-shutdown, may very well have been my biggest mistake of 2020...😬⠀
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Even if COVID-19 related-shutdowns have contributed to less daily movement and disrupted health/fitness routines, there are still SO many effective strategies you can implement into your everyday life to support fitness, wellbeing, and overall health! YOU have the power to make meaningful, positive change.⠀
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Processed, packaged, and hyper-palatable foods (cookies, cakes, snack mixes, crackers, pastries, desserts, candy, cereals, chips...) are frequently high in calories while having low "nutrient density." Nutrient density refers to the presence of a variety of nutrients that are naturally found in minimally-processed, fresh, and whole foods. TAKE HOME: these foods are high in calories, low in everything else, and designed to make you want more. Don't believe me? Individuals who include these foods in their eating pattern, on average, consume 250-500 ADDITIONAL calories each day WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING.⠀
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Try to identify these high calorie foods that you know you tend to crave or over-do. Once you know what they are, do your absolute best to keep them out of the house and off of your grocery list. Ice cream is usually the culprit for me - If I don't want to eat it, it can't be in my house. And if I do want some, I make a conscious effort to identify a time and scenario where I can enjoy it without feeling stressed or guilty. This simple practice has been paramount in finding *true* healthy balance in my own life. So while I don't usually go crazy over baked goods, it's clear to me that they're not the most helpful thing to have around right now. And that's ok! I'm not a failure because I consumed an alarming amount of cookies 🙄😹 , and by no means does one hiccup mean it's time to throw in the towel. Instead of abandoning your goals, do your best to learn from each challenging experience, adjust your strategy, and move forward. And you don't need any fad diets, s**t supplements, cleanses, waist trainers, sketchy workout routines, or unfathomable amounts of cardio and burpees to do it. YOU ARE POWERFUL 💪🏼🏋🏻♀️🤓
