Almost 6 months postpartum, I’ve spent the last several months climbing the uphill battle of returning to my former self, albeit a busier version of Me now that I am mama to three, in addition to everything else I have on my plate. I run a delicate balancing act around here, one that requires my constant attention to fine-tuning the efficiency.
I thought I’d share some of my “Me” splurges/indulgences/care these days.
Intermittent Fasting.
A friend turned us on to this during our summer vacation. I was suspicious, but then I did some research and it sort of made sense. I mean, eating after 5 kind of sucks anyway, right? This article was helpful.
In short: you eat for 8 hours, you fast for 16 (counting the time you are sleeping).
Since I am still nursing, I am very careful. I monitor my weight daily and make sure I’m only losing the recommended one pound a week. Basically I eat from 9-5. The rest of the time I have water, tea, or coffee. I cheat a bit. I don’t think you’re really supposed to have coffee or tea, but whatever.
Juicing
We have the Breville Juice Fountain Elite.
This was more of my husband’s thing, but I’ve kind of jumped on board (but he makes the juice!). I’ve always wanted to increase my veggie intake, so this seemed like a good way.
Which brings me to my other point…
Clean Eating
I suppose there are various definitions for this, but here is a decent start. I would also add organic, non-GMO. I also look for no to little sodium, no refined sugar (the less any sugar the better), and I’ve reduced my wheat intake. My lunch these days looks something like a sodium-free rice cake with peanut butter (also sodium-free) and banana slices. Fruit. My juices. Carrot sticks. And sometimes, maybe, a little tiny splurge. I’m trying to make my own “goodies,” so we’ve had black bean brownies, peanut butter chocolate fudge, and the flourless chickpea blondie. I’m not gluten-free, but I do think we naturally eat too much wheat anyway. I’m all for balance, so that’s what I strive for.
I’m pretty much only eating chicken or turkey in terms of meat these days, and even then I’m not a huge meat enthusiast. The rest of my family likes meat, so we haven’t given it up. We do stay away from red meat.
New Wardrobe
The Classic Trench from Ann Taylor I recently purchased. You know, to pursue my francophile dreams. I can pretend I’m walking through the streets of Paris, the air brisk, on my way to a nearby cafe to pen my latest novel. I can dream, right?
Once I started fitting into my pre-pregnancy pants and nearing my pre-pregnancy weight, I was totally psyched to get new clothes. I love clothes. If only I had an unlimited budget.
Which brings me to something else I want to talk about in the near future.
Why is “clean eating” becoming only something people with money can afford? Why is access to pesticide-free, non-GMO, vegetable & fruit rich diets out of the reach of so many? When did eating become a class system?
More on this to come.
But now, on to yoga before my 8AM meeting. This day is ON!
Teresa Shimogawa 