My main focus is, and always will be, my health. I use the Tour de Jasper as a tool to help me visualize a goal, a goal that will only be truly achieved by getting healthy. Sure, I could hop on the bike 'day of 'and likely, through sheer competitiveness, struggle my way through the 400 km to Jasper, but I don't want to struggle, I want to keep up with the fittest in the group. My competitive nature compels me to want to be near the front of the pack, not lagging behind with the sweeper.
To gain back my health, the toughest yet most important aspect of this journey for me is changing my relationship with food. I didn't start out being very disciplined with my eating habits. I allowed myself a lot of wiggle room because, in the beginning, the pounds came off fairly easily. I could afford to eat my beloved heaps of pasta on a pretty regular basis, have nightly cheats of chocolate or popcorn and still see consistent results. I used a popular 'points' system as a way to make sure I was eating within my allotted 'range' and thus still able to lose weight.
Not so anymore.
I made the conscious decision that if I truly wanted to achieve health, not just weight loss, I needed to change the way I ate completely. This isn't something that happened overnight; it's been a gradual change that still needs some tweaking, but I can honestly say my relationship with food has changed in a big way and I see it as something that I can live with for life. I dropped the 'points' system, in favor of calorie counting using an app designed for this. Through research, I calculated a daily calorie goal that allows me to lose the amount of weight I desire and have been fairly diligent in tracking all of my food throughout each day (I still need some work on recording faithfully though).
I no longer tempt myself with nibbles of bad food, I don't steal fries from my son's McDonalds treats anymore and I resist the urge to say "YES!!!" to donuts being passed around the office. It's still far from easy but every time I say 'no', I increase my resolve to be healthy and hit my goals. It's not about depriving myself; it's about feeling empowered and in control.
I still have one 'cheat night' a week. It's a pre-planned meal where I eat whatever my heart desires. I usually make this a night out to one of the many great local restaurants with my friend Kimi Robinson. We share, we laugh, we talk and slowly my cheat nights are becoming less about the actual food and more about enjoying an experience.
A run down of a regular weekday of eating for me:
Breakfast: Whole grain cereal with fruit and skim milk, or oatmeal with skim milk and grapefruit on the side.
Mid-Morning Snack: 2 light Baby Bels, and fruit (usually berries of some sort)
Lunch: Soup, or if I'm in a hurry, a 'Boost' shake. I also frequent Pita Pit for a small chicken breast pita loaded with veggies, feta and tzatziki
Afternoon Snack: A fruit & nut bar, or a protein bar (I try for a boost of protein here, as shortly after this I hit the gym and protein helps my energy level).
Dinner: The only meal that varies a lot, but always healthy, including some carbs, lean protein and veggies.
Dessert: If (and only if!) I have enough calories remaining, some frozen yogurt
{italic}Grace Flack is an award-winning graphic designer at the Prince George Citizen. Her column will appear weekly, leading up to this year's Tour de Jasper, a four-day bike ride from Prince George to Jasper. {end italic}
