Who ate all the Oreos?
I am sure you are all hearing something similar in your own house right now (It was me BTW, I have been eating all the Oreos!). My husband and I have been 85% Paleo for the past 2+ years and it is a great lifestyle for us but all that has gone right out the window. I feel like I am moving just as much as before (maybe even more with some of my favs offering virtual sessions now) but wow I have been eating a lot more than I normally do. Who’s with me?
Like I have said many times before, this is not the time to be hard on yourself. This is the time to allow yourself some comfort and some grace, but I have literally been eating (and drinking) my feelings over here. This, while initially enjoyable and comforting, has actually started to add to my stress because in the aftermath, I feel like garbage. Plus, I am going through groceries like it is going out of style, and I can’t make trips to the store like I am use to doing.
So this is what has been helping me these last few days…..
- Try to start the day right: For the last 4+ years I have started each day with a green smoothie (almond milk, greens, banana, pineapple, mango, chia seeds and collagen powder). So no matter what I do the rest of the day, at least I know I got some fruit and veggies in my body. During these times of short supply and minimum grocery trips, this might be hard one to start, so whatever you would consider a healthy and balanced breakfast (cereal, eggs, oatmeal, yogurt, etc) try to at least keep your breakfast (and let’s be honest, second breakfast) balanced and healthy-ish.
- Drink a ton of water: Water is so important to your overall wellbeing during anytime, but especially when you are trying to keep your immune system running strong, it is essential. Plus it helps curb bloating and flush out all the garbage that I have been stuffing my face with. To cut down on the dishes try using a refillable water bottle and see how many times you refill it each day.
- Ask yourself….Am I bored or am I hungry: 9 times out of 10, I am bored. So I have found ways to distract myself from mindlessly eating by doing something equally mindless. I have taken up playing Mario Bros. on my kids Nintendo Switch, I am rereading Harry Potter (because it brings me great joy), playing cards or a board game, and if I really need to switch gears, I grab Luke (dog) and head out on a walk (probably the most healthy and productive option, but I’m not fussy these days).
- Exercise: I am sure you knew this one was coming. Exercise is always a great option to distract and tap down boredom, but to be fair, many of you are already doing a lot of that and frankly, there are still lots of hours in the day. So I am putting it down because it is certainly essential to your overall health and wellbeing and a great form of entertainment but understand that you can’t (or don’t want to) do it for hours each day.
- Lastly, take each day as a new day: so what if you ate like a complete A$$ yesterday. Tomorrow is another day. Do not be hard on yourself (certainly need to take my own advice here), just start the next day with your best intention. Just because you ate a whole package of Oreos by yourself and then blamed it on the kids does’t mean you have to do it tomorrow or even feel bad about doing it today!
These are crazy and uncertain times, and there is NOTHING wrong with having a little (or a lot) extra. For me, I was noticing that my overindulgence was starting to add to my anxiety (but you do you) so this is what has been working for me. Let me know what you are doing. Also let me know if you have created any amazing snacks/meals/treats out of common pantry staples because I can defiantly get behind that too (and honestly we are out of Oreos).
