When a lot of your friends are food and fitness bloggers, or gahhh healthy living bloggers, it’s easy to feel a little like the black sheep for not spending more time in the kitchen creating beautiful master pieces from nothing but food that you foraged in your own backyard.
Every time I plate up a new meal for visiting family, I see shock and a hint of fear as they wonder what exactly it will taste like.
I don’t blame them, there have been some spectacular failures! Like the brownies I made without eggs that resulted in a pan of fudge (umm still delish) or the pie crust I set on fire over Christmas. Plus, they tend to assume that if I’ve cooked for them then I shall be requiring them to “burn it off” with me later at the gym.
And so with those two confessions of my poor baking skills already out there, let’s have a few more…
Confessions of Fitness Blogger
I still manage to eat plenty of veggies by creating power bowl meals, but I’d also say my lack of cooking is why at some point every week I fall in to the “nothing sounds good” mode and just eat cereal instead. Usually about that time I’m scrolling through Instagram seeing the fabulously plated meals of my friends and feeling like ughhh I’m a fake.
But I’m not, I’m just real.
I Have No Idea What to Say when You Ask “what do you do”?
I hate the term influencer to be honest and never describe myself that way…but I do know that a person who talks non-stop about working out and eating well as their job, probably falls in that category. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that when we’re coming from a place of honesty!
I’m a researcher, a writer, a book author, a running coach, a speaker…and yes all of that gets wrapped in to working with brands and creating content that drives traffic.
Undramatic Weight loss
I didn’t have a massive 50lb weight loss in a few short months by cutting out an entire food group. Instead, I made little changes that helped me to create a new lifestyle, slowly losing weight over the course of years. The result being a weight loss maintained for over a decade without angst.
In fact, I detail it all in the Running for Weight Loss Guide.
I don’t stretch after the run
While I am fanatical about the pre-run warm up, I basically suck at everything after I finish running and then walk for 5-10 minutes. My post run meal isn’t always 100% perfect, which is why I appreciate things like Core Power for a big hit of protein in a green smoothie or by itself with a big handful of Cheerios.
I do however, foam roll all the dang time and when I’m not exhausted, I stretch in the evening!Sweaty Chic
Related to the previous statement. Working from home means that my day begins with a run and leads directly in to writing, checking social media and responding to emails. You might notice there was no shower in that process. I’m in such a productive mindset after my workout, that I often don’t shower until I take a walk in the afternoon!
So, while I try to pull myself together for Instagram Stories or for a brand photo, usually I’m in my sweaty clothes or in sweats and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Chocolate is Required
I can’t count the press trips I’ve been on, where people seem enthralled by my choice to enjoy dessert daily. “Are you going to tell your readers you eat that?!” Um yes. There is no dogma around here about perfect eating, just focusing on 7-9 servings of veggies daily.
It’s also why I frequently share on Instagram my weekly slice of pizza. I’m not a perfect eater and I’m not really trying to be one. However, I am working on upping my nutrition game in 2020!
Tired of feeling like you need to make perfect meals? Kill every workout? Confessions #fitnessblogger Share on XI Hate Following a Plan
When I first started losing weight, I tried following the 30 Day Ab Diet and then I played with low carb and now I tend to focus a bit more on high protein. But honestly, I’ve never once been able to follow a meal plan or a training plan.
I don’t like being told what to do I guess! My training plans change day by day based on my goals and how my body feels. When it comes to food, I’ve learned that eating intuitively just feels better and less stressful. So yes, I’m over here creating training plans for runners, but I don’t actually like following one.
Cereal is Dinner
I know breakfast for dinner is a totally normal thing, but usually that’s referring to eggs or bacon. But honestly a lot of days, I’m just not terribly hungry in the evening and nothing sounds as delicious as a bowl of cereal…yes my weird cereal, carrots, nut butter concoction.
I will give myself credit that in the pas year, I’ve had made sure this cereal life is always accompanied by protein and that’s certainly boosting my recovery.
I Don’t Care About Your Workout
OH MAN that sounds really harsh, but it’s the truth. As soon as I say I’m a runner, (in any non-running event) I notice the uncomfortable shifts as people start to toss out all the reasons why they don’t run. I’m not judging anyone for not running, it’s hard!!!
I don’t care if you want to Zumba, CrossFit or sit on your couch. That my friends is all up to you, I’m just here to love what I get to do.
Plyo Who?
I will happily run for hours over being asked to do a 20 minute HIIT workout. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t feel good after it. I need a lot of recovery from it and I don’t feel one tiny bit bad about it. These workouts are GREAT for so many people, but I’ve learned they don’t work for me and I’ve reached a point where I don’t feel the need to pretend I like them.
I will do box jumps or skaters or other small plyo movements during my strength training sessions, but always less and to a lesser degree than HIIT.
Doesn’t a jumping photo count for enough? I mean there’s always 800 takes.Hidden Food
Soooooo in our kitchen we have a cabinet of “David’s food”, which used to keep me from eating his less than healthy treats. Now I find myself sneaking in there occasionally and yes still hiding some of my good stuff to keep him from eating it! He can’t tell the difference between my expensive gluten free cereal and that cardboard stuff, so yes I hide it rather than offering it up to make him healthier.
Ab Envy
It’s true, I still get ab envy. I’ve learned to love my body thanks to running and hey I know I’ve got some rockin’ calves, but yup I still find myself thinking “oh man, maybe I’d have more followers if I looked like that“. It’s just always a reminder to me that none of us are perfect or have it all! Every blogger I’ve talked to sees something in someone else they wish they had from abs to a puppy to a kitchen.
I’m Ready for Early Retirement
David would tell you that I should probably as for senior citizen discounts as I eat dinner before 6 and fall asleep promptly at 9 to arise sans alarm clock at 5 am. Yeah that means, I’m not out partying and showing off crazy times with friends, but dang I’m getting seriously good sleep every night!
Are you great in the kitchen?
Did this make you feel better in anyway at all?!
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marcia
Ha! Sounds like you’re doing just fine to me. I’m good in the kitchen but my photography skills leave much to be desired so we’ll leave it at that. Besides I’m more of a comedy blogger anyway. ;p Is that a thing?
Ellie
One small change I made since moving over a month ago was to cook something different for dinner every night. Even if I am tired and cooking means throwing stuff in my fridge together, I refuse to get into the peanut butter and banana rut I was in last year. Bonus: my running has gotten better :-)
amanda
That’s amazing! I don’t think I could do it every night, but I am trying to switch things up more!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home
Since my diagnosis with RA, everyone has been preaching the anti-inflammatory diet. I thought I was doing pretty well with my diet anyways but then I checked it out. All those veggies! No dairy? No eggs?
We all do the best we can, right?
amanda
I agree the diets are suppppper hard and I know I could be better, but it’s all about little steps and yes we do the best we can.
Jen @ Pretty Little Grub
I loved this, it’s always nice to hear the human side of a blogger. We all have many imperfections that we don’t always show on our blog. I eat cereal for dinner often too, I love it.
amanda
wohooooo cereal party!!!
Lindsey @ livinglovingrunner
Small changes are the perfect way to make long-term changes! I have tried “overhauled” changes and they always fail. My tummy is 121354% happier when I don’t eat dairy…but it is just so hard sometimes! I love cheese!! I need to employ your #6 small goal…but even throughout the day – I am a snacker, but mostly out of boredom…
Jennifer @ Fit Nana
I’m decent in the kitchen but sometimes, you know cereal just has to win. As long as there’s cereal, I will survive. Haha
I like the idea of immediately slicing up some veggies after grocery shopping. That definitely makes the thought of prepping dinner less of a stressor, especially if you plan on using the crock pot!!
Hollie
I can definitely relate to this. I enjoy eating healthy but sometimes it can be stressful enough let alone making recipes or taking beautiful photos. Then other nights, I just want eggs for dinner and not have to worry about it.
Susie @ Suzlyfe
I think that everyone knows by now that I am #hotmessexpress. I have some very #blogger things about me, but for the most part? I am NOT so easily put in that category!
Samara
I too caught a pie crust on fire once upon a time! We were meant to be friends! I love that you are content! This makes me even more happy for you than I usually am! ;) love you!!
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes
I fall asleep most nights at 9 pm also! One small change I’m making is eating a better lunch rather than just sort of grazing or eating a random plate of food.
Patricia @Sweet and Strong
Oh I can relate to so many of these! I always feel guilty when I preach healthy meals and vegetables and then find myself eating a granola bar for dinner. In 2017 I really wish I could focus more on eating and not be distracted by the TV or computer.
Emily
Hehe… I love this, cause a lot of it is so me. I always think a plan would be nice, but then my training plan goes up and down like mountains and valleys so they never quite work. And cereal is dinner? YES. Well, I do eat cereal every night for snack, but I wouldn’t mind it for dinner either.
Chau
Thanks for sharing your true confession, Amanda! Keep rolling with your plans. Btw, there’s nothing wrong with eating cereal for dinner, I don’t know the difference between breakfast and dinner, just eat what you like.
Sarah
I love this post and I can relate! I laugh at our cereal nights, although they are usually cereal otherwise I do have this bran flake, fig, yogurt, and honey thing I got hooked on in Ireland but rarely have it. I do need to check out yours with the carrots… sounds interesting! I feel you on the dairy and I’m the same way, I cut it out but when we are out for donuts, pizza, ect I give in. My oldest has the same issue and I tell her that I just decide weather it’s worth it to have the bloat and upset tummy and know I will feel like crap (how bad depends on what and how much) yet she hasn’t found out that balance and often overdoes it. And a million times YES on the eating plans! I can’t even meal prep because the thought of eating something that I might not even be in the mood for and don’t enjoy just doesn’t work for me.