Better Than a Gym!

Trying to be Perfect – by Jen Bratton

jenbratton2To those who get discouraged and therefor regress in their efforts to eating healthier, I hope I can be of some encouragement.
Two years ago I began my lifestyle change. I went to TriSystem, met with Jeff Kotterman, got pinched and measured, talked about nutrition (and exercise), and signed on to be a client. I was STOKED!!
When I got my personal nutrition guide and menu I took it seriously. I weighed and measured EV-ER-Y-THING. I, the person who does NOT like to be in the kitchen unless it’s to make a dessert, would make not one, but two meals at times. One for me, one for my family. I took it to the extreme. I also took it too far. I ended up stressing myself out so bad that I ended up with Shingles. Encouraging, isn’t? Haha.
I went back to Jeff and co-trainer, Kathy, and they brought me back down to reality. If it were not for them, I would have quit. I’m an all or nothing person. They helped me figure out how I can eat healthy, and not stress out. “Instead of this, try this”…type of thing. “If you know you’re going to have a dessert, don’t eat…”
Slowly, but surely I have changed my eating habits. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy my treats, however, I have learned (though sometimes I still “forget”) how and when to eat them. I still snack, actually, I am supposed to eat 5-6 times a day, but I snack on healthier foods. In fact, I just had a carrot and some protein milk. That within itself is a HUGE deal. When I started this whole thing, protein powder was the death of me. EWW!!
There are many foods I eat/drink that if you would have told me two years ago that I would ENJOY them now, I would have laughed in your face. Start slowly if needed. For example, I am not a fan of Greek yogurt. I chose Greek yogurt with “fruit” in it to put in my smoothies. Then, I learned to eat it by itself. Later I started buying plain Greek Yogurt to put in my smoothies, now I am trying to learn to eat it by itself. See, when I say slow, I mean slooooooow.  jenbratton1
Point is, getting healthier and stronger is NOT an overnight, one week, month long, or even a year long event, it’s a life time process. If you fall at breakfast, don’t beat yourself up over it. Get back up. As Jeff has told me many times, past food choices are in the past, and just like sin, they’re forgiven and done with. (He says it so much better than I do.) Just make that next meal/snack a healthier one and start again. You’re not perfect. You’re not going to be perfect. If you try, you just might get Shingles, and stressing over that last meal, or the weight/measurements of your next one, isn’t worth it.

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