Fit Momma Question: Back to Normal?

I've had several versions of this question come through my inbox in the past few months.  It is thought provoking:

I've been watching what I eat, exercising more than ever.  I have lost some weight.  When is it safe to go back to normal?

My thoughts on that immediately turned to our most recent (and if I have anything to do with it, the LAST) trip to a very popular restaurant that shall remain nameless.  

A few clues to figure out where we ate:   

-  Their menu is as long as the latest novel I've been reading

-  They always has at least a 30 minute wait

-  They sell a bajillion flavors of cheesecake.  

Did you guess? :)

You may remember that the Doc has lost about 40 lbs in the last year.  He's been a rock star when it comes to cutting his portion sizes, eating nutrient dense foods, and faithfully working out.  His results have been nothing short of exciting.

Due to the Doc's work schedule, we ate ENTIRELY too late.  We were starving.  It was the perfect storm:  two starving people, one endless menu of high calorie foods.  This was not going to be pretty.

By the time we ordered, he had thrown all healthy habits aside and declared he was going to "eat whatever he wanted."  I have learned the hard way to keep my trap shut when it comes to offering my opinions about his eating choices unless asked, but I could not be still.  I warned him that he couldn't eat like "he used to", because he was no longer that person.  He simply could not eat that many calories any more since there was less of him to feed!  He was convinced that he could down the same amount of food like the good ole' days and set out to prove me wrong.

Out came the unlimited bread baskets, he order appetizers of lettuce rolls, a main dish of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and a few steamed veggies, and a dessert.  Oh, and don't forget the unlimited refills of Dr. Pepper.  Mind you, the portions were off the charts Texas-HUGE. 

This is an actual photo I snapped after the gorge.  

And before the gagging started.

He did it.  He ate every single crumb.  It would not be appropriate to report what happened afterward, but let's just say that the man was ill and had some seriously digestive tract issues for hours afterwards.  It was not pretty.  I had to wear earplugs.

I see people, myself included, make this mistake over and over again.   They do what it takes to get the weight off, then go back to their old habits.  And guess what?  Surprise! Their body goes back to how it used to be.  When we eat well/workout, then drop it all after a while, then start it up again -- that's called yo-yo dieting, and healthy people don't do that.  We -- yes, I'm including you here! - eat well and responsibly, workout regularly for the long haul.  It's called taking care of our bodies.

There simply is a "new normal".  It looks something like this:

-  Eat responsible portions
-  Eat nutrient dense food -- Veggies, baby!
-  Eat for quality, not just quantity (no matter what restaurants in Texas try to tell you)
-  Cardio 5-6 days a week -- sweat!
-  Lift weights 2-3 days a week
-  Rest
-  Stay hydrated

Is it safe to indulge occasionally?  Of course!  I cheat regularly and enjoy every chocolate-licking bite!  However, there is a big difference between a treat occasionally to the way I used to eat.  That looked something like this:

-  Brown, brown, brown.  Lots of breads, cereals, and crackers.
-  No vegetables.  Yuck.
-  Lots of processed food.
-  Dessert was my main dish.  Honestly.
-  Absolutely NO sweating allowed.
-  No lifting weights.
-  Candy, sugar, cupcakes, cookies in all shapes and sizes -- you got the picture, right?
-  Buying bigger and bigger clothes to accommodate my growing back side.

My point is that after adopting new healthy habits the idea is to keep living those healthy habits -- FOREVER.  Until we die, folks.  And after a while, we willingly leave the old ways behind and it becomes who we are.  It is a wonderful place to be :)

Hey, Fit Momma, how have you adjusted to the new normal?  Or have you always had healthy habits?  Have you gotten off the "on again, off again" roller coaster? What is the hardest part for you? Comment below!

Just so you, I appreciate any emails and questions -- click here to send them my way!  I love this stuff!

Like this?  Want more?  Subscribe to Trainer Momma's RSS feed by clicking here.  Thanks!