Operation Fit & Healthy

Dieting has been my “thing” to cope when everything in life feels like it’s out of my control. I should say, it’s the “thing” to one extreme; the better thing, maybe?

My other “thing” has been alcohol since I was about 19. Never EVER wanted anything to do with the stuff, then suddenly I was immersed in a world in college where it was the number one social activity. I immediately had a terrible relationship with alcohol, but young me didn’t want to believe it, and I wish so badly she had just said, “Oh, wow, that’s not for me,” and been done.

I’ve quit so many times I can’t count them, and even now, I’ll go months without any, then decide a wine or some beer is fine. My life, my rules and all.

At my best, I am 100% alcohol-free. I know this. But still, I get caught up in the “fun” and genuinely just like the taste of some wines and beers.

Back to my weight loss journey. If you’re following, please know that I did not include “no alcohol” in my rules, but I haven’t had any so far and probably won’t. It’s not ruled out, but if alcohol is something that consistently holds you back and you’re interested in following similar rules to the ones I’ve given myself, it would be realistic to add “No alcohol” as well.

The reason I chose 30 days is because I’ve done Whole30 before, and I know that 30 days is long enough to feel like a real challenge, but not so long that it feels unattainable.

Why am I not doing Whole30 again? Well, the first time I did it, I lost weight and honestly got into the best shape of my life aesthetically, but my subsequent “rounds” didn’t carry the same impact. In addition, I feel like each time I finished Whole30, I wound up with more intense cravings for carbs and sugar than I’ve ever had in my life. This also coincided with childbirth and postpartum, so I know there are a lot of related parts.

All of this is to say: I’m a mom of young children. I teach middle school. When every day feels like “survival mode”, I want to set myself up for success. My current plan is how I think I can achieve goals while putting my mental health first. If you’re anything like me, I hope you’ll find some peace and motivation in your own journey.