If I’m being honest, using the phrase “back on track” bothers me a little bit. It insinuates that I was “off track” when really I was just enjoying my weekend away. As part of intuitive eating, I listen to what my body is telling me and it just so happened that in Annapolis my body was screaming “FIND MORE CRAB WOMAN… and a cocktail while you’re at it!” Who am I to argue?
But now that I’m back home it’s asking for a return to normal eating patterns, which brings me to the most important factor in righting the ship (clearly the boat show influence is sticking with me).
The most key element in feeling back on track with healthy eating is simple:
Make a list and go grocery shopping.
Oh, and beg Nana to come and help before she leaves too.
But truly, getting good food in the house after being away trumps laundry, cleaning, heck- even showering.
Kidding.
Between Oak Island, the Georgia football game and then Annapolis, we’ve been on the go a lot lately and now I’m looking forward to hanging around and settling into fall. Along with that comes a return to meal planning and working out, as both have received only a sliver of my attention lately.
I am a believer in focusing on bringing good things back into my routine (fresh food, exercise, water) instead of concentrating on eliminating the not-so-good habits. The positive, healthy choices will naturally push out and eliminate the less healthy.
So yesterday I made my meal plan and grocery list. Then I stocked up on groceries and prepped some lunch options for the week.
This black bean and quinoa salad is a simple modification of this recipe – yum! I ate it on top of greens with a little salsa.
I have a slight lingering cough, so I’m all pulling out all the stops with my beverage selection.
I’m hoping green juices, green tea, a little ACV and another day away from bootcamp (I miss youuuuu), will have me back to 100%.
Until then, having the house full of good food has me feeling like I’m heading in the right direction.
Chopped Greek Salad with Herbed Salmon
Speaking of getting back on track, that includes computer catch up too. I never announced the giveaway winners!
Congratulations to:
Linda who said she was passing out bubbles this year for winning the Target gift card! and Emily J who keeps water and running clothes in her car for winning the CVS prize pack and waterproof blanket! Check you inboxes!
Share with me!
What is the most important thing you do that makes you feel back on track after an indulgent getaway?
For more talk on natural health, check out these posts under my natural health tab.
Brynn says
I’m not sure I can pick one thing, but my morning workout, lots of water and fresh food does the trick for me. Yoga class always helps me feel refocused on my goals, too.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
Having a well-stocked fridge is definitely the best thing I can do to stick to healthier eating. Anytime we get back from a trip, the grocery store is my first stop!
Alison says
I must do 3 things in order to get back on track after indulgences/time away:
I have to have everything unpacked and put away to be able to focus on anything else. Seeing stuff piled up or bags in the halls make the blood pressure go through the roof and I cannot focus on anything else.
Start a load of laundry right away – it gets me going in the right direction.
Meal planning/eating at home!! It doesn’t take many meals “out” to get me dying to eat at home….die.ing.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
I so agree – when I know my fridge is stocked with fresh food and cleaner eats, I’m much more likely to choose those than the bag of frozen chicken nuggets I have hidden in the back of my freezer 😉
Kate says
I always start with a load of laundry right when we get home. It’s not hard to do but it makes such a huge impact on how accomplished and “back on track” I feel after a trip.
Though I do feel that indulging a little on a trip is perfectly fine – that’s part of the magic of a get-away… 😉
Hilary says
I have to agree with getting some groceries in the house, and along with that I would say making sure I am drinking tons of water! No better way to detox from too much food than drinking tons of water. I also like to do some cardio get my blood pumping and a little sweat always makes me feel ready to get back to healthy habits!
sherry says
Laundry for me first.. Then answering all the emails that could wait until I got home.
Elizabeth says
Unpacking my bags & putting things away, even if it’s the laundry hamper, makes me feel back on track after a trip.
LfWfv says
i definitely think stocking the house with healthy, whole foods works! I have a question for you about intuitive eating…how do you know you are hungry? I tried for years to eat intuitively and I could never figure this out. I think I grew up as a normal eater, but I remember eating whenever I wanted to basically…that was my interpretation of hunger. Then I struggled with an eating disorder and used intuitive eating (ie. The book and also reading people like geneen roth) to find “normal”. The problem I found was that most books talk a lot about only eating with true physical hunger, stomach growling etc. . They say that is how kids eat, but when I watch my skinny son, or think back to how I ate before my Ed, I think he (and I) basically ate whenever we thought of good, if something sounded good, and as long as we weren’t full. the problem is, if I wait for a growling stomach as the books suggest (something I remember feeling only after church as a teen…when I would have said I was super hungry), I end up severely under eating because I don’t get a growling stomach often unless I eat teeny amounts. Then, I end up going crazy and eating everything in sight because i feel starved by the third day. I am starting to wonder if physical hunger can be as mild as just wanting food (and I’m not talking junk…I eat a whole foods plant based diet, so we are talking a salad, brown rice, Apple etc). So, how do you know you are hungry? Do you always get a growling belly before giving yourself permission to eat?? Thanks so much for indulging my nosiness and reading this novel if you got to the end!!
Anu says
I LOVE seafood! 🙂 ( just thought I’d say that first.. )Hi Brittany- I’m new to your blog but am having so much fun reading about what you get upto.. Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
What make me feel back on track after an indulgent getaway?.. Hmm I think it would probably have to be a healthy home cooked meal and probably planning the week ahead-( nothing snaps you straight back to reality than making sure your clothes are washed and ironed for the work week).. 🙂
Ruth says
It’s been a while since an indulgent getaway but if I’m feeling like I’m not looking after myself, them I hit the vegetables and the meal planning. We eat so much better with a plan. I really need to start planning lunches too though.
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me says
I hope you eradicate that cough soon! Looks like you are doing all of the right things Brittany. 🙂 Also I know I have told you this time and time again, but it is always so refreshing to click onto your blog and see how balanced you are. Not restrictive. Not abusive. Just pure health.
Sara @ Oats & Rows says
Mine is exactly what you do….make a list and hit the store! I feel so much better and more accomplished after meal planning and getting the ingredients.
Emily J says
AH!!!!!!!!!! So exciting! I’ve never won anything!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 I didn’t see an email, do you think it got sent to “filtered” or something? You’re the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!
emily (a nutritionist eats) says
Couldn’t agree more! Thanks so much for trying and sharing my quinoa salad recipe – I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Destiny Ervin says
You organize your fridge so well. I was wondering if you could do a post on how you organize your fridge. I am trying to be better at meal planning and I find that my fridge has always been something I have struggled to organize to help plan for my week better. Thanks!