False Assumptions and Rainbows

 

Family & F.I.T.  |  Debbie Hatch

I’d like to talk for a minute about false assumptions and rainbows.  

 

FACTS:  I’m a personal trainer.  

               I’m certified in nutrition.

               I’m pretty good at what I’ll call “bull-dogging”

                             …setting goals and not letting go until I have accomplished them.  

 

Because of these things, many people assume I must exercise and “eat right” all the time.

  • These are both false assumptions. 

 

First of all, there is NO right or wrong way to eat!!  What people usually mean when they use those words is that I only eat “low fat, low sugar,  ‘healthy food like fruits and vegetables’.”

 

 

Here is the truth about my diet.

 

Everyday that I’m home {Every. Single. Day.} the first thing I do, when I get out of bed, is eat one frozen chocolate chip cookie and drink a cup of coffee.  I put a splash of Bailey’s in that coffee.  Every. Single. Day.  I’ve been doing this for seven or eight years.  If you want proof of these statements, I can provide references! 

 

Here are three further facts you need to be aware of though:

 

(1) It’s only “every day I’m home”, and I’m only home two or three mornings a week.  I spend a lot of time on the road for business.

(2) I don’t have Bailey’s with a little coffee.  I have coffee with a little Bailey’s.  It’s a regular sized cookie – not 3 cookies made into one.  I don’t eat cookies all day.  I don’t stuff my body with fat, sugar, and things like that all day.

(3) I always follow-up my cookie and coffee with a high protein meal (pretty typically either protein waffles/pancakes or an egg white omelet).

 

Here is the truth about my exercise.

 

 

I’m prepping for my first ever powerlifting meet right now.  I work out 4 days a week, normally for 30-45 minutes each time.  I spend that entire time lifting weights. 

 

Only.  

 

 

 

I do not get on the stair stepper, elliptical, bicycle, nor treadmill and gut out an hour of cardio.  Ever.  Not because “cardio is bad” no more than “food is bad”.  Not because cardio doesn’t serve a purpose.  Cardio IS good for our heart, lungs, and circulatory system.  I do very occasionally add in a short run, some rowing, go to a class, or do a video both because I like to, and because they’re good for me.   Most of my cardio comes from walking, sprinting, or hiking – because I enjoy those things and – another fact – if I don’t like it, I’m not going to do it.  The same is true for you… 

 

Hours of cardio is what many people believe is required in order for them to lose weight.  

  • That’s a false assumption.  

 

Diet and exercise are both critical components of losing weight – AND staying healthy.

 

Sleep and stress reduction have a lot to do with it too!  Increasing muscle mass is an excellent way to lose fat and reshape the body.

 

 

So what does the rainbow have to do with any of this? 

 

I snapped a photo of the rainbow over my back yard, this morning.  It was only there for a couple minutes, but long enough for me to see it.  Long enough for me to sit on the porch sipping the coffee and eating the cookie my husband made for me, and enjoy its presence. 

 

It was there long enough for me to think, “I might only come home for weekends but, I’m so glad I DO get to come home for the weekends – to enjoy this place and these things.”   It was there long enough for me to consider the fact that so many people make false assumptions about my “healthy life” and to realize that I wanted to (once again…) share the truth.  The only reason I wrote the blog is because of the rainbow.  Is it waxing poetic to say, “I’ll consider it a little bit of gold”? 

xo

9 comments

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  1. Awesome that you’re going to do a powerlifting competition! Once I get down to a healthy weight, I hope to set some new fitness goals!

  2. I love this!! I love that you eat a cookie every single day! And the fact that you enjoy the moment. You have an amazing attitude towards health, fitness, and life… so inspiring!

  3. This is an interesting analogy about how we look at things differently through the eye of the beholder. Thanks for sharing. Your rainbow is beautiful.

  4. Not only is the post about false assumptions people might have about YOU, but falsely assume that a person cannot thrive (and be slim and fit) without extremes. It’s about balance; balance in intake and balance in perspective. Working and relaxing, setting goals and reflecting. I like your perspective!

    1. Thank you so much, Tracy. You’re so right! We make a lot of false assumptions for ourselves in addition to what other people might place on us.

  5. You have shown that being healthy doesn’t mean denying yourself everything you like and engaging in a lot of activities you don’t like so much. There’s something to be said for moderation and self-monitoring. I have changed the way I eat and I’m slowly losing weight, but I try to eat mostly unprocessed whole foods with one “unhealthy” indulgence daily. That’s usually a sliced banana and a half cup of fresh blueberries with a cup of ice cream. I’m sure it will change now that i’s getting cooler and fresh blueberries won’t be in season much longer. Maybe I’ll eat more chocolate.

    My favorite exercise is taking photo walks to get pictures for my blogs. I’ve had to settle for the exercise bike at the gym most of the time now because the doctor says it’s good for my knees and I don’t have a walking partner. I have health issues that make walking alone somewhat risky. I compromise by sacrificing my walks on lonely paths and sticking to more traveled trails.

    1. Your reply put a huge smile on my face this morning Barbara!!!! I’m so glad you’re doing what you can. Moderation really is key. <3

  6. Very interesting and amazing post. It’s best to look things in another way and just be who you are. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Just be who you are <3

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