cleansing/back to training

I've started a new clease this week.  I read about it in Crazy Sexy Diet  and saying that it's been challenging is a huge understatement. I never realized how reliant I am on coffee, sugar, and stress eating until I try cutting those things out of my daily habits. I've learned a tremendous amount about my body, nutrition, and how to focus on eating as a means of energy/what my body needs rather than temporarily satisfying an emotion/stressor. I say that after just scarfing down a microwavable pizza. :| For shame....but I WILL get better!! I've already taken huge steps and in turn- it's really helping my kids eat better too. Abby now requests a "green drink like mommies" consisting of celery, kale, spinach, almond milk, bananas, and strawberries so I call that a win. :) And we've been eating tons of watermelon, apples, nuts, seeds, raw carrots with hummus in place of chips, cereal, pretzels, etc.  The easiest things to take out of my diet have been meat and alcohol. Gluten is pretty tough, but not as hard as I thought. No problem. On the other hand-the hardest BY FAR- coffee. A year ago, I recommended coffee to everyone I knew...it makes me happy...I couldn't fathom not having coffee as part of my daily routine...now, to be completely honest- I just wish I had never discovered it.  I hope to gradually stop drinking it and then hopefully I can have it every once in a while as a special treat. But now- I will admit- I am making constant excuses daily for needing it. :( Yes-My name is Kristi-and I'm a full blown coffee addict. First step- DONE! I will take any advice I can get at this point. Young Living's Nixgia Red and lemon essential oil in my water in the morning  have both helped a lot...but I still want coffee daily.

Another feat I've decided to take on- another marathon in October....not easy while trying to do the cleanse, but I truly feel it's the way I SHOULD be eating anyway...training or not...and I'm going to keep it up. I've been trying to increase my speed while training and it's been tough-but so empowering.  I'm also keeping a daily journal which is something else I find should be automatic no matter what changes I make in my life. It's been eye-opening to really reflect daily on what I put into my body, if I worked out that day, and how I'm feeling physically and emotionally as a result. I believe it's so important to be aware of all those things going on within ourselves.

So this entire blog post was about myself, but I really hope it encourages somebody to seek the positivity in life and to tackle a new challenge today...no matter how simple it may seem. Being aware of the things you may be too "reliant on" is the first step to transforming your health and well-being. We all have stages in our lives where we fall off the "health band wagon" so to speak- but making even the smallest steps will leave you feeling empowered and wanting to do more. Happy eating... think about what's going in your body today...and get outside and get moving. :) Lots of love.