Ice Cream and Oreos For Days

 IIFYM- If It Fits Your Macros.

Macros: Fats, Carbs, and Proteins.

Each day I have macro numbers that I meet. I can eat whatever I want as long as I eat enough fat, carbs and proteins!

I started this back in August because I saw a lot of my female fitness ideals using IIFYM and I wanted to know more. How they could be successful eating Oreos or bread… After all I thought bread was bad for me?

 

Hey, look I am still eating vegetable noodles!

So I researched a little more and found the IIFYM women’s page on Facebook, I figured out my macros and here I am four months later I am finally being successful with both fitness and eating, for the first time in a LONG time. I will admit, I did not get serious until after my marathon (October 19^th) because I had too many excuses during training that made me overeat and under eat.

  

This right here was one of the best creations EVER. So many egg
whites (all the protein baby) and 4 slices of Sara Lee bread. Topped with
cream cheese and PB + chocolate chips. This IS food porn.

I have never felt so full (in a good way), I have never felt like I have had such a good relationship with food, I have never felt happy after eating ice cream, I have always felt guilt while eating treats, UNTIL NOW.

Sometimes this is what I am eating at 9:00 pm RIGHT
before bed (yes, eating before bed lately has not effected me at all,
in fact it has helped me sleep). Anyway, I need carbs (sweet potato chips)
and proteins (chicken sausage) and fat (chicken sausage + chips + hummus). Winning.

Now, do not get me wrong, I am still eating healthy foods 90% of the time. But most days I get a treat. Or eat peanut butter. Straight from the fricken jar. Without even feeling bad.

Now some people might not feel guilt when they bad eat foods. But I did. I think it had to do with being smaller then gaining weight back. Not sure though.

The only cons about IIFYM is weighing everything. Yes, it is very time consuming. But the results I am feeling make everything worth it.

The results I am having are not just weight loss or being smaller. I am feeling more confident on the inside and outside. To me, that is winning.

I am NOT against eating whole foods. But what are whole foods even? What is clean eating? Not dirty food? Not half foods? What??? I do not know. But it psyched me out and caused me to binge. Eat half a jar peanut butter. Eat too many donuts in one sitting. Or stupid things like that. Now with IIFYM I am eating in balance and allowing myself ice cream if it fits.

Maybe weighing your food is not for you. Maybe you are a clean eater. Maybe you do not give two shits what you put in your mouth. But for me, IIFYM has been nothing but a positive change in my life.

EVERY SINGLE person will have different macros depending on your weight, height, age, sex, activity level, etc. I can try to help you figure your macros out if you just want to see if this would work for you :)

Have You Ever…

Have you ever.....

Gone to DQ and gotten two blizzards?

Eaten whole pizza after school?

Eaten three tortilla roll ups from T-bell?

Eaten a whole box of pizza rolls?

Eaten ice cream until you felt like puking?

Had a pop for breakfast because it got you started, gave you energy, and was quick and easy?

Made brownies then put them in your bedroom so you did not have to share?

Eaten a jar of frosting in one day?

Gone to McDonalds and gotten a double cheeseburger, chicken sandwich, fries, and caramel sundae? I mean it was all only a one dollar so that made it better, right?

Gotten fast food for dinner then gone home and eaten a second dinner?

Gone to subway pre hockey game getting a foot long, cookies, chips and chocolate milk? But I got milk! And ate at subway... Soo I guess it was healthy!

Eaten endless bowls of lucky charms, fruity pebbles or captain crunch?

Your answer is probably no. But these are all things I did in HS. I made some pretty unhealthy choices but never realized it until I sit here and type it out. It did not seem that wrong to me to do these things, but now looking back I don't know if I should cry of embarrassment or laugh at how much of a dummy I was. 

Either way, this was my life. I was a hockey player, I worked out at least 5 days a week, but how did I find myself at 215+ lbs? Where did I go wrong? Clearly the nutrition and the food I put in my body.

It is not easy to admit. I know I am not the only person in the world who had food issues. Heck, sometimes I still think I do have food issue. But what I know now is that I am working at making healthy changes and not eating a whole batch of brownie batter before I can even put the brownies in the oven.

I'm still working on balance. Not bingeing, trying to follow IIFYM {post to follow this week!} and when I really want something that's not the best for me -- HAVING IT! I don't want to deprive myself. Do I have chocolate cake daily? Um no. But when I want a fricken piece of cake you betcha I will have one. 

Exercise is one thing that will trigger weight loss. However if you do the elliptical for 2 hours; run 15 miles; lift the heaviest weights possible it will do you no good if you are no aware of the food you are putting into your body.  

I have found surrounding myself with people who have similar wishes to me is one way I succeed. This weekend I was around Catherine so it made it easier to make healthy decisions and then when I did eat out at Applebee’s I did not feel bad for eating fried food  (that girl always keeps me in check). Today I weighed in at 160.8 – OH.MY.GOD. I am so close to the 150s and when I do get there I will be waking up my cousin (roommate) so she can give me an effing high five!  

Are They Judging Me?

Are you ever exercising and looking at the person next to you wondering if they are judging you? Critiquing you? Complimenting you good looks? Laughing at you? Admiring you? Smelling your ass sweat? Checking out your brand of workout clothes? I mean they could just be thinking how boss you are!

Unfortunately I am SO guilty of this. When I am sprinting my heart out at speed 11, I wonder if the girl next to me is wondering what the hell I am doing and why the treadmill is making some weird sounds {because lets be honest it never gets this much action}.

Or the runner on the OPPOSITE side of the street while running outside. I look over and they are cruising, like what? I am pacing under 10 minutes/mile and they are flying by me. I wonder if they think I am a turtle? Are they judging for me slowing down while walking on ice? Are they laughing because I took the break at the stop light instead of trying to make it through before the crosswalk hand goes up? {when I get a break at the stoplight my heart skips a beat because it is so happy – finally I can catch my breath}.

If I am lifting and accidently grunt is the person to my left laughing at me? Are they thinking maybe the weight is too heavy? What if I chose lighter weights and do more reps, are they judging because I am weak?

This is when I start the POSTIVE self-talk. I literally say to myself:

NO ONE KNOWS YOUR STORY. DO YOU. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT OTHERS.

CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT. WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK. YOU ARE DOING SO WELL. YOU ARE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN BAILEY MCKENZIE!

Literally, that is what I say to myself. Because at the end of the day they are exercising for some reason, whether it be to get a rocking body, to compete at a race/show, to feel good or so they can go home and eat a pint of ice cream {no judging} ------- They SHOULD NOT be exercising to critique the girl across the gym.

It is hard to admit that I care what others think about me. Especially when working out, I mean I am a certified trainer and I train kids to NOT worry about what others think. But the truth is I struggle and I know I have a few friends and family members that do too!

One thing that stuck out to me while I was going through training to become a trainer was when another trainer brought up this situation:

*Client looks nervous*

Trainer: “what is the matter? Are you worried about what others are thinking about you?”

Client: “yes”

Trainer: “Well guess what? They are worried about themselves, their own form, speed, performance; they are not worrying about you. Remember that.”

So next time I am at the gym I am going to remember to worry about me, myself and I. I will not worry about what Sally and Bob are thinking. AND THAT IS IT.