Each year at the beginning of November, I start to feel a little bit sluggish.
Halloween is over and it usually involved some sort of over-indulging in the form of food and drink. This year was no exception! The sun also sets a bit earlier each night and it makes me want to hibernate. While the past month was an awesomely fun and busy month, it also resulted in some poor eating choices along the way:
- Lack of veggies and fruit
- Not taking time for sit down meals
- Not taking time to cook
- Too much night time snacking/mindless eating when not hungry
Last week Caitlin declared she was having a Back On Track month to get back into her healthy groove. It is an awesome idea to make sure that our healthy habits stick over the colder months! I am going to declare this week my Back On Track week and get into a good groove again.
Many of you on Twitter said that you want to get back on track too! The lovely ladies from Eating Bird Food, Happy Go Lucky, Balance Is Beauty, Daily Goods, Running Around Normal, @maurat, and Britney Cardona are all ready.
We are uniting with Caitlin’s Back On Track month to get back into our healthy groove and re-introduce the healthy habits back into our lives!!!
Here is my game plan:
FOOD
1) At least 5 servings of vegetable servings per day
2) Two servings of fruit per day
3) Lots of water in the form of Sencha green tea or lemon water
4) Two green monsters a day (one in the AM and one in the PM to beat night time snacking)
5) Devote time to Meal planning/cooking
6) Have sit down meals. No more eating on the fly simply because I am busy.
7) Vitamins
These are some of the wonderful foods I plan on making…
Eating fresh and natural foods makes me GLOW!
EXERCISE
I am also including an exercise component:
8.) Re-introduce cardio sweat sessions DAILY!
9) Rise early to get cardio in before work- stop leaving it for night time! Minimum 30 minutes
10) Lunch time yoga (either Crunch yoga or p90X) 20-40 minutes over lunch
11) Reintroduce resistance exercises like core work
It has been a while since I have had a really sweaty workout (since the half marathon 2 weeks ago!) and I am ready to get my heart pumping once again. As much as I have been enjoying the yoga videos (I did Crunch yoga twice on the weekend), I am the type of person who requires my endorphins each day. I just haven’t felt myself since the half, but at the same time I realize that rest is necessary.
This weekend will bring a challenge. I am going to my brother’s for a get together. These get togethers always involve lots of food and drink. I am going to do my best to consume these things in a moderate manner and not over-do it. :) I have decided to not completely abstain from alcohol all together on Saturday night because I believe most things in moderation.
This morning the challenge started off great!
I was going to hit the treadmill, but it was so sunny out I decided to bundle up for Project Snow and get out there! I was warm in only a couple minutes. I walked for 30 minutes at a fast pace and I feel so good now. I also came back and did some core work (side planks and front planks)….WOW have I ever lost my groove with these!!!!! I haven’t been doing them on a regular basis since Summer Glow Boot Camp, so it is time to get my tight abs back!
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Does your eating and exercise routine tend to get a bit wonky during this time of the year?
Would you like to join us?
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{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
im still hungover from this weekend. :(
yayyy excited for this! i got my booty outside for a run yesterday and it felt amazing! time to start kicking things back into gear :) love it!
Hey girl! I’v already started get back on track with with a pb chocolate amazing grass green monster :):) So yummy and filling And last night/yesterday I did 30 min cardio and 30 min yoga.
I hope to continue with a shake in the morning and at least 30 min of yoga, 30 min cardio per day an WAY WAY more green veggies throughout the day :):)
I’m confidant we can all do this with a little planning and sending each other motivation over twitter of course haha ;)
I’m in! I’m just going to make 2 adjustments to fit my lifestyle: 1. Yoga/Pilates in the evening, since I have class over lunchtime 2. Still eating some meals on the go because I have class and am gone for 5-8 hours at a time… but I’ll use my meal planning to pack a healthy and nutritious lunch! ;)
Oh yea! I’m going to post about this tonight. I’m excited. This weekend is going to be a challenge for me as well though I’m going to the Foodbuzz blogger festival- all about food. :)
I’m definitely up for Project Snow. Although it doesn’t snow a great amount here in Portland, we do get A. LOT. of rain!!…and cold and dreary days. I can’t believe I used to only run on the treadmill and didn’t dare venture outside on a rainy day. I’ve grown to love to hike and run and ride and in P-town, that means getting wet and cold for many months out of the year.
I need to get back on track, too! I’m not so bad with the eating, but I definitely need to work on the exercising. The weather here in central Indiana has been chilly but beautiful, so I don’t have a good excuse. My schedule is too busy tonight, but I am hoping to squeeze in a quick run on Tuesday between work and class.
This is such good inspiration to get my butt in gear,too.I’m in that comfort workout zone…time to take it up a notch.cc
Mine does! It gets darker earlier and it so cold I want to stay in bed! I am with you this week!!
I am totally in! I just found out i am pregnant a few days ago and want this to be the healthiest pregnancy possible. My last one was filled with junk food, no exercise and extreme weight gain. It took me two years to get all the weight off plus an extra 25lbs and i am NOT doing that again!! I started my last pregnancy at 150lbs, but am starting this one at a much happier 125 :)
My plan is to exercise everday-i have purchased a prenatal yoga dvd and a workout one as well. I hope to keep running as long as i feel up to doing it :)
Congrats — and good luck!
I am also trying to get back on track! I am definitely down….more vegetables are a must!
Yesterday morning I had a little pep talk with myself about getting back on track this week. Saturday was my first race ever, and sunday I just let everything slide. I was excited when I saw the tweeting going on yesterday evening and was hoping there would be some blogging going on about it.
It’s so much easier to face the honesty of “umm… I really did that?” And go full speed ahead to “back on track” with such a great community of women :)
Thanks for the mention! (I’m @Maurat)
The blog is back and running and I have you to thank for the inspiration. :D
I love this idea! I need to get back on track, count me in :)
Thanks for the shoutout ;) ! I try to keep my exercise and eating routines as, well, routine as normal year round. It helps me think of them more like a “brushing my teeth” task rather than something I have to work to get done every day.
However, there are so many extra things I could be doing to help myself out (and not bother others with my sour mood.) I always get in a mood funk in November. Great idea to make a separate goal lists for exercise and eating. I’m excited to participate and plot out my goals, too! :D
I need to get back on track too! I have been running, but the eats are not good. Cleaning it up now.
I definitely want to join! :) I have been thinking the same way. I set new consistency goals for lifting/sit-ups/push-ups. I want to stay strong and fit during the holidays :) then i feel better eating the pie and christmas cookies :)
I love the fact that you posted this topic today. I have been thinking all day about getting myself back on track, as, with the change of season and exams picking up, I’ve not been focusing on the healthy lifestyle I prize. Alas. No stress. I will be joining you in your “Back on Track” project thought!! Thanks for the added incentive :)
My exercise and eating has become lax since the summer. I made a committment to myself on Friday to get back on track I made to the gym both days this weekend and got back in the clean eating groove – feeling terrific! Woot!
I joined the Pile on the Miles challenge so I’m with you!
Absolutely! I also want to hibernate at this time of year :)
I’d love for you to share your veggie recipes with us, since I’m making an effort to me eat vegetables at this time of year as well.
Awesome idea! I’m in. I was hoping to get back into the groove – this is perfect motivation. Good luck!
i am down for this challenge!!! i started the “no eating on the go/endless snacking” rule a few weeks ago and have noticed i am more satisfied with meals and even have shed some excess lbs! i definitely need the core work though – i did a body pump class this weekend and i was surprised how much I struggled during the crunches/core work section. i had to do easier exercises that i modified while the rest of the class kept up with the instructor :(
I just completed a 31-Day Yoga Challenge, but I could still definitely use a jump-start, as well. Count me in!
I want to join! I need a back on track plan!
I am so in!! I am doing fine with exercise, but I committed to getting back on track this month (November) by reducing my sugar consumption. I realized that I have been eating WAY too much sugar recently and it’s just making me crave more sugar and eat too much crap. Thanks Angela!
I definitely am getting back on track this month. I think I’ll need it to keep me sane (and healthy!) with all the work I have to do.
To the gym I go!
thanks for including me in the post! eating whole fresh foods AT HOME rather than out at restaurants is my main goal this week. oh, and in case anyone tries to click on the link, it goes to the wrong site, it’s brittanycardonaphotography.com
Angela, your post could not have come at a better time for me. Now that I am entering my 6th month of pregnancy (wow), I find myself taking the “eating for two” mantra too literal. I know that I need to be eating more than I did pre-pregnancy. But I don’t think it needs to come in the form of half a dozen mini-candy bars (gotta love Halloween). I shoudl be fueling my body with healthy things. And as the holidays approach, I know that well meaning family members are going to try and “encourage” me to eat more….
Knowing that there is a group of women who are focusing on healthy choices will help cement my own resolve to say “No thank you”.
I’m in for sure. I really need to get more fresh produce back in my life again.
I always tend to feel the effects of winter this time of year.
It’s funny you mention it because I just did a post about it.
Go Project Snow!
You can definitely count me in for Back on Track month! I was just thinking on my walk to work that I’ve totall skimped on fruits and veggies lately. And nighttime snacking has most certainly made its way back into my life. Time to rein things in a bit so I’ll feel my best for the holidays!
Good luck on getting back on track! I only started running this spring and I’m about to get a gym membership so I can start swimming again even through the cold weather! This year I’m hoping to see major improvements throughout the winter. When it comes to my eating, I just started eating healthier ever since I started reading blogs and I’m not as healthy as I should be but that’s also something I’m hoping will keep improving :)
you are such an inspiration! I think I’m gonna go running outside before school today! if you can do it, I can do it right? since I’m sure it’s colder in Canada ;)
have a great day!
I had decided to work on this too, I need a good routine going and I need to drink more water and get my meals in.
Great idea — this has always worked for me in the past. Also, I am definitely snagging the suggestion of a green monster in the evening to beat snacking. I used to “sneak” them in during the early morning right before work, but I’ve been heading out so early, that’s just not an option anymore. So now the GM will serve double-duty for veggies and anti-aimless snacking in the evening!
i’d love to join! i’ve been sidelining myself from heart pumping, sweaty cardio, because i was having knee and back pain, and blood sugar issues that caused me to drop to a borderline too skinny weight. so, i’m going to join the challenge by adding physical therapy exercises and stretching to my workouts to aid the recovery of my body in addition to adding high quality protein and complex carbs before my workouts so i have energy! thanks for the motivation!
Looks yummy! I need to join. My goal is to start swimming and biking more (spinning it’s cold here) to try to get in shape to even think about a tri. Plus eat more fruits and veggies fewer sweets. It will help me cope with the busy month I think.
YESSS I am so down for this. Especially after this weekend!! I’m sure it was an indulgent one for everyone. And, gaaah, planks get so much harder when you stop doing them for a while! I am with you on gettingmy plank endurance to where it used to be :)
I would totally like to join you guys in this challenge! I have been feeling just the same lately – too much indulging has left me feeling less than stellar! This is an awesome idea and I am happy to join in :O).
I’m so with you in this challenge! Next week my family, boyfriend and I are going to Jamaica for my brothers wedding for 4 days. I know I will not be working out while down there so have to make sure I keep myself healthy while still indulging in the all inclusive food and drinks and of course wedding cake!!!
I would love to join! My roommate and I were just talking about “getting on track” last night- it will be much easier to continue good habits in the colder months if we start them now. :)
I am in Sissy! There is way too much Halloween candy in this house though! It has been getting the best of me, but that ends today! :) I am going to get bck on track with my elliptical and strength training 2 times a week as well. :)
Cold weather always makes me want to snuggle up at home. I have to remind myself how nice and warm I am after a good sweaty workout and how much the exercise affects my mood!
i need to get back on track too!! i haven’t been eating right/exercising as much as i used to. I’m in college and i was doing so well in the beginning of the semester..but now that its November, I’ve been slacking! I’m going to try to eat more fruits and veggies and well and try to take care of myself!! good luck!
I’m definitely nervous for the winter months and making it to the gym in the snow! I also work out in the morning before work, so I’m hoping that with daylight savings ending this might help? Still, I am definitely going to be an advocate for Back On Track Month! I’ll start promoting on my blog today :)
Ange – Your post today totally spoke to me!!! Thank you so much :D I am right there with you on the Nov-Dec lack of motivation and over-indulging. Last week I missed 2 of my 5 work outs (because life happens haha) & got up today thinking I wasn’t going to hit the gym because I had all these ‘very important things’ I needed to do and then read your post… THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Just what I needed to hear. Going to grab some breakfast and go get sweaty ;D
-Mary
I went home for a week (halfway across the world) 2 weeks ago, and last week was all about jet lag, back to cold weather (yuk!), work issues and basic life up the wazoo! So yes – could use a ‘get back on track’ post – thanks Angela! I need to figure out if I am going to join the Y or if I am going to try pilates at the nearby studio. First 1/2 marathon in two weeks so need to finish out this training too. Going to invest in some new running clothes for the winter as well!
I’m definitely on board with this challenge – as the weather gets colder and the sun only shows every so often I definitely feel like slowing down and hibernating with a big bowl o’ carbs. So this will be some great motivation to continue to stay healthy & happy through the winter months & holiday season.
I’m definitely going to join you in this challenge. My work schedule has been SO NUTS lately that my eating habits (let’s just say, the Halloween snickers bars are a problem) aren’t too great. Luckily, I’m still training for my half so exercise is not a problem. (T-minus 5 days and counting!!)
What a great idea! All these quick dinners and halloween candy has taken its toll. I’m on board. Off to the gym I suppose?
Agreed…back on track. This month has been a trainwreck or excuses and overindulgences!! Started off on the right foot today with a solid 50 minutes of cardio :) and a healthy breakfast.
Haha! I think we’ve all been thinking the same thing, especially after Halloween! I was up late last night, writing out my game plan. Lots of veggies, fruits, water, sweating and perhaps a yoga class for the first time! I am definitely IN! :)
Oh you know I’m totally with you!! I’m dreading another New Brunswick winter and I do NOT want to lose my motivation so early in the winter season! One thing that really helped me the last holiday season was giving myself THREE days of excess – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day. The gym was closed those days, and I enjoyed all the food that was around me with my family. All the other days were business as usual! :)
Im in with ya!! Ive been mindlessly snacking recently and Im ready to get back on track! I hit the gym this weekend, had some maazing workouts, cooked up some super healthy fabulous food and Im ready to rock!!! Im ready to a healthy clean fabulous November!=)
YES I totally need to get back into gear with this!! After this past weekend i DEF need a boost!
Yes and yes. My eating and exercise could definitely be better (and were in the summer). So yes, I’m in! :)
Your challenge came at the same time I decided to stir thing s up a bit-I am commiting to my health, not the scale-I planed out my exercise 5-6 days of running/weight workouts-I ma going to do a 1/2 marathon in May. I am moving toward a more plant based diet and clean eating. I already choose 10 days in the next 2 months that I will indulge more. I would like to be a vegan soon, but every time a labelmyself , I don’t fail. So, I amchanging my thinking to moving toward a plant based diet. My biggest biggest change is not to step on the scale until 2010 maybe lol-I don’t know if I can throw out the scale yet-but I am moing toward it- I am already a green monster fan-tx for all the inspiration!!!!!
Angela – I love this blog and your suggestions. I do feel like I give in and let my healthy habit slip during the holiday season. So I just joined a challenge called T’appy Holidays, which is a great way to be consistent with workouts and healthy eating through the holiday season.
I definitely have a hard time when it starts to get cold and dark out. I think it’s especially difficult in the north where we get really cold. I’m in Wisconsin, but I’m betting you probably get even colder in Canada. I seem to crave lots of comfort foods that are high in carbs. (Pasta, rice…) I think it would be a good time to try cooking the seasonal fall veggies. It seems like a perfect time to get back on track before the holidays really get kicked into gear. Thanks for a great post!
I ate more candy than I gave out on Saturday night – I felt so gross afterward. I wrote in my journal last night that I want to make exercise a priority and stop letting my school work get in the way.
Its so awesome that I look at your blog today and you have READ MY MIND!
I am joining you!!
I’ve been doing a challenge to eat the gold standard of 9 servings of fruits and veggies daily..it takes a lot of planning but has been so good for me!! My goal is to keep it up during the holidays which is when I find myself falling off a bit…though with the move we won’t be enjoying a lot of the standard family get togethers.
Definitely on board!! My plan might be a bit different, but with the same goals in mind. :) Great timing on this–the holidays are the worst time for me from a health perspective.
Oh, I am so in – my regular sunny hiking season is over, so I’ve been feeling sluggish. I’m in the Seattle area, so with the monsoon coming up it will be Project Rain (and snow in the mountains).
A big part for me will be to work on getting a regular sleeping pattern so I can get up earlier and start my day with a walk.
I’m in – add me to the list :) I’ll do a post about it tomorrow or later today.
Ohhh Ange. I so want to commit but I am afraid to fail! Oh boy, negative self-talk is first to go! I am game..I will work on my list this week! Love it, we need accountability to help each other! :)
Yeah, I really need to get my butt into gear this time of year. The cold weather instantly means cravings for heavier foods (which is already happening…eeps)…and the want to just crawl under the covers. The endorphins from working out will def help my mindset, too, as the days get shorter and shorter.
What a great idea – thanks Caitlin for the inspiration and Angela for the encouragement.
I always lose it with my exercise routine in the Winter. It’s going into Summer down here in Australia but I still seem to be stuck in my sluggish, lazy Winter groove so you can count me in on the back on track month.
I’m sure that you Canadians would think our Winters are a bit lame though – I think the coldest it’s got here where I live is about 2 degrees celcius. No snow, no ice, but it’s all relative I guess. I have thought about buying a treadmill to combat my Winter lazies – anys recommendations? There’s so many on the market and the price really varies.
For my plan I want to focus on yoga and meditation. I want to become more ZEN!!! :)
i am trying to get back on track too!!! hubby and i are in the process of trying to make a baby :) and i keep saying that “when i get pregnant, i really want to eat healthy and stay active so i don’t gain a lot of weight and give birth to a baby addicted to junk food”…. well why wait until i’m pregnant?? the last couple weeks i think i’ve been eating all the bad stuff i dont want to eat when i’m pregnant, but i need to stop that and get healthy NOW! i was doing so good for so long, but i have really lost track and focus. i went to the store this morning and bought a TON of veggies and a bag of apples and oranges, so there’s no excuses! now i need to get the exercise going again too and i will be back on track in no time :)
glad to know i’m not alone!!! hehe
I’m joining. lol.
In fact I recently posted about this on my own blog….
Do I ever need to get back on track!!! Count me in!
Count me in too! I have a few other changes going on in my life, but in the health category I want to get back to the basics – planning all my meals for the week in advance, and getting in 30 minutes of any type of cardio 4 times a week. That may not sound like a lot, but I am working to set realistic goals for myself intead of feeling guilty because I overscheduled myself.
I am so in! I just bought tons of yummy, healthy groceries tonight and am planning out meals and workouts for the rest of the week.
My routine totally gets wonky in the winter … but I am going to try my best to get workouts in, and maintain my healthy eating :-)
I really needed to see this. I keep saying I need to get back on track but never do. Seeing it in black and white makes is more surreal. I feel that I do put in the effort towards exercise but not always the diet.
Your site has been fun and educational for me. I have been pretty faithful with a green monster every day for the past 2 weeks and feel great because of it. There has been a few days where I did not make the time to get to the store so I could make my green monster and those were not my better days.
Thanks for all your words of encouragement and motivation! I have been reading your blog for about a month now and look forward to your posts. Thank you!
For sure! My routine gets a little whacked right around now – the official beginning of SUGAR SEASON! We begin with Halloween candy, then continue with Thanksgiving pies, Christmas cookies, New Years Eve cocktails, Valentines day chocolates, right on up to Easter jelly beans. It’s CRAZY! I find it’s really helpful to focus on making 1-2 small changes at a time – baby steps toward where I want to be. So a few weeks ago I tried eating one apple every day. I’m happy to say I’m still doing it! This motivated me to take on more, so this week I’m committed to trying FIVE new-to-me fruits and veggies. I find that if I ADD healthy food into my diet, the sugar gets pushed out. The key is to stick with it :)
I LOVED Caitlin’s Back On Track idea and I love yours too! I’m going to join 100%. I had actually already started mine, I wrote out a list of things that were the issue and then positive steps I could take to help counter that :)
Already I’m feeling amazing!
Congratulations to you for starting to get back on track and being immediately successful!
I definitely need more vegetables… I don’t eat NEARLY as much as I should. It’s bad :(