Under Pressure

We are all busy. We are all stressed at some point. Learning how to deal with that stress is a game changer.

As many of you know, I’m getting married later this week. And last week was a tough week for me. I knew that it was going to be beforehand, so I planned ahead, put some safeguards in place, and the one thing I wasn’t worried about, which is usually one of the first to go for many peopl, was my food.

Here’s how I did it.

• Know when to ask for help. I knew I was going to be pressed for time and maybe not be able (or want to) prep my meals for days I was away from home. So I ordered us both a few meals from FitRepublic to help us out. The were easy to pick out and pick up, and This made it easier for me to not do as much evening prep and cooking as usual knowing that I would have these waiting for me. I’m also super fortunate to live with a man who loves to cook, but it’s okay to ask for help from your friends, roommate, parents, for food prep. Having someone on your team means you’re twice as likely to succeed.

• Keep it simple. When I did have things that would require prepping, they were simple. Good nutrition is best when it’s as simple as possible. So I had pre-chopped and prepped salads that I just needed to mix. Then we had chicken and beef pre-cooked for the week to pull from, plus some assorted veggies - broccoli and zucchini for me. Heat and go - 5 minutes prep for any meal.

• Look forward, not backward. For any meals out of the house, I looked at the menu ahead of time to know what I would be having. It’s easy to get somewhere when you’re stressed and decide, “You know what, treat yourself!” and go crazy with it. So I looked ahead of time to have options on the menu that would be supportive of my goals to stay clean and healthy, but also make sure I’m fully satiated (read: not salads usually). When something wasn’t quite the way I wanted it, I would accept it and move forward right away.

• Combat the stress. I put things into my daily routine to help prevent stress on my body such as zinc, electrolytes, kefir, apple cider vinegar, and lots and lots of water. In addition to this, I looked to avoid sugar as much as possible. Stress = cravings, but by having these systems in place, I didn’t experience too many cravings. I also did my best to prioritize sleep and relaxation, which meant that naps were a real thing - something I have’t done in a very long time.

• Better food means a better mood. With enough on my plate, I didn’t want to also be feeling like garbage from what I was eating. Promoting a healthy gut bacteria (probitics, veggies, etc) is clinically proven to be connected to your mood. So take care of your stomach, and you’ll feel better between your ears too.

These are obviously things you could implement on a daily basis long-term, but these were my focus for the week and helped keep me sane, avoiding hunger, and with one less worry on my plate.