Intuitive Eating and Intuitive Playing.

Yesterday I finished week 2 of Nia Shank’s 15 Week Muscle Sculpting Program.

The program has cued me into two new things that kind of have nothing to do with the actual program. Both things you can apply to your own life, if and however they might make sense.

Intuitive Eating

Yes, I have been on some crazy-stupid diets in the past. Almost a year ago I thought I had moved past all of that. Who was I kidding? When I started lifting weights and completely changing up my training, I began another “crazy diet.” I started obsessively tracking all macros; weighing, counting, measuring each gram of protein, fat and carbs. I taught myself the art of macro perfection – tinkering and toying with my perfect ratios to stumble upon my ideal self.

During this time, I would have periods where I would stop tracking altogether. I stayed off My Fitness Pal. I ate when I was hungry, and I ate the foods my body was craving. And you know what? I liked myself during those periods the most; I also made the most progress then.

As a gutsy girl, I already track the different foods I eat daily. I don’t need any other pointless, obsessive behaviors to take part in.

I eat super clean. Rarely will I ever eat anything processed again at home. I’m not training for anything, except life. Counting all the time only adds to stress; stress goes against everything I preach.

I agree with all the awesome Nia said in her video, “My Biggest Nutrition Mistake.”

Welcome to my Life Unprocessed, Intuitive Eating.

Intuitive Playing

The first phase of Nia’s program is a 4-day/week workout. The second phase is a 3-day/week workout, and the third phase is a 4-day/week workout.

I admit that when I first saw the program I wondered how I would ever stay out of the gym the other days.

But then I started to embrace it. The days that I’m “off,” I’m doing light and easy things with GaiamTV, walking with Ryan and the dogs or simply just being.

And then….Ryan and I decided to get on the same lifting days schedule. So for this phase of Nia’s program it looks like: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We chose this so we could start intuitive living; not having workouts to do on the weekends and not making plans around workouts, food and the whole “planned-fitness-9-yards.” We decided just earlier this week that today – yes today – we would take a little day trip. I’ll tell you where we went when we get back:)

Life is too short to live for fitness. Fitness is the “play” part of the “eat. play. love” part of my equation. I work freakin’ dang hard when I’m in that gym and I love it so much, but there must also be balance.

Besides, spending time with him is much better