Back in the day, this shirt would have suited me to a tee (hahaha). No, really, it would have.
When I was training for marathons, I was running between 30-40 miles a week. So ice cream, brownies, cookies – you name it – I was “allowed” to have them, right?
Lisa had an excellent post on an article posted in Shape Magazine, “You Ate It – Negate It!” Basically the post says that the calories consumed in one slice of apple pie = 50 minutes of dancing. Like Lisa, I sort of have a problem with this. Is this to say that EVERYtime we want a slice of pie (or bowl of ice cream…or brownie, or whatever), we need to ensure that we burn all of those calories consumed?
I definitely used to think this way. In all honesty it’s been VERY hard to get rid of that way of thinking. When I go out with my friends and know I’m going to be drinking 5 or 6 beers and inhaling an order of some breadsticks late night, I FEEL like I should workout more that day to “make up for it.” But you know what? I DON’T have to burn off all those calories. My weight hasn’t changed, either. I think it only set me up for the negative cycle of thinking, “I can only have (insert food of choice) if I (run/spin/swim/exercise) for XX minutes.”
My friend (who also teaches spin class) that I adore remarked to me recently that she only spins in order to eat chocolate and drink wine. And though I understand that way of thinking to a point, it only makes me think of making that statement in front of my niece or another impressionable mind. Do I want them to think that, in order to have chocolate and winejuice they, too, have to burn XXX calories? NO. I don’t. I want them to realize that it’s important to be active and move in some way everyday, but also that it’s not about “indulging” only if you’ve worked out for at least an hour that day.
Have you ever struggled with the need to “make up for” treats by exercising?
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I used to reallly connect exercising and eating. I think I am doing better now, and just want to exercise because it makes me feel good- but sometimes I get trapped back into that mode of thinking without realizing it, especially after the holidays or a more indulgent day.
Oh man, I can totally relate to this and am trying SO hard to get out of that mentality because I do fall into the trap of “OMG I totally overate last night I need to workout like TRIPLE time today to make up for it.” Um, no. I’m still the same size, shape, figure that I’ve worked hard to build, but I’m actually happier and more balanced because I can indulge and I won’t blow up as a result. BUT I do still sometimes beat myself up for no good reason when I do overindulge here and there and that needs to stop. All part of the whole “loving yourself” mantra I’ve been trying so hard to build up this past year, ya know? Hmm there may be a blog post lurking in here for later today
Yes… I think this is the way a lot of people think. I still sort of do- but in a much less strict and more round about way. I know if I listen to myself (easier said than done, I know), it all balances out in the end…
I used to be like this big time hence the reason I had an ED. Now I am nothing like that and love the freedom of not having to think how much I have to exercise in order to eat a cookie. In addition, I would always save “bad” food for the weekend and basically binge on it, now I know I don’t have to do that and it is completely bogus to not be able to have a cooking during the week. Looking back, its hard to believe that I thought that way….so sad!
I definitely used to think that way. its freeing to just be able to ENJOY something without freaking out about trying to burn it off!
I guess sometimes my thought process is that if I’m not going to be working out as much that I should eat less. Like now that I’m not marathon training I’m not eating ice cream every night. But I don’t think “oh my god, I’m eating pizza, I need to run an extra 5 miles this week”. And when I do things like go on vacation or travel for work I don’t think about it all. I figure it will even out in the end.
However, I do like that the outcome of exercising a lot on a regular basis means that I can eat and drink without being too worried about the calorie count.
Although I think the t is cute, I kind of side with you. I think we all need to understand better the concept of everything in moderation. Its the only way to maintain a healthy balance. And yes! My dad’s bday is sunday! Have fun celebrating with your mama
I have totally been there. I can remember one weekend I ate wedding cake for breakfast (it was a Sunday morning after the wedding and the family was trying to get rid of it) and afterwards I felt insanely guilty. I proceeded to go out and run 9 miles. It felt like I had barbed wires in my belly b/c I was running with sugary cake in my belly. But I all I cared about was getting rid of those calories.
I’m finally to the point where I don’t even think about calories being burned while working out. I think about how much healthier I will be b/c of it. I still indulge, even on rest days b/c I know things will even out in the end. That article you mentioned really angers me. Such a terrible message to send. Like you need to punish yourself for eating a slice of pie… ugh, so ridiculous!!!!
On a daily basis! I struggle with it all the time as well. I usually eat fairly healthy, so when I do splurge, I feel the need to makeup for it. Great post!
Needed to read that today! So true. I get into that mindset too and it’s hard to break out of it, isn’t it? Glad you are, and hopefully I will too!
Sort of. But more I struggle with worrying that I’m going to gain weight if I don’t work out. It’s not always correlated to what I eat though.
i need this shirt because i exercise so i can eat what i want too!
thanks for sharing this post, i think many women (and men) struggle with this thought pattern including myself at one point in time… thinking that treats were “off limits” unless i had done ‘x’ amount of exercise that day. now i think about it on more of a global scale (no pun intended of course), if i live a healthy & active lifestyle then indulging in treats should just be part of that every once in a while
Such a great post, Holly! I think this is something a lot of people struggle with. I was certainly this way in the past, and it’s hard to not play games like that yet. “Oh I worked out or went that extra mile, I deserve that beer with dinner!” …more using food as a reward versus exercise as a punishment. I’m not sure if one is better than the other, but I always try to focus on what’s best for me and the situation and to distinguish a valid need for something, compared to an impulsive want for something.
So many people fall into that trap and it’s sad. What I really can’t stand is when instructors at gyms say things like that. They’re supposed to be positive examples! I’m lucky that I actually really enjoy exercise and never really tie it to how much I eat. I mean I know there is an obvious connection – i.e. if I stopped exercising, I would need to eat less to maintain my weight but since I’m not going to stop – who cares! I will say that when I used to run – those days when I ran double digits, I did feel like I should eat extra. But it was never the other way around!
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