Its all about balance- Guest Post!

Our trip ends today and I am sure we are super duper relaxed and tanned and happy. Hopefully we will stay that way for a while! I’m sure I will have a gazillion pictures and stories and all things Mexico in the following week, but until then…you get a post from one of my favorite bestie blogger friends. FBBF (Hey! A new acronym!) (Seriously, she’s awesome!)

Take it away Kristen!!

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Hello, to all of Cinnamon’s readers!
My name is Kristen, and I blog over at Confessions of a (Not-So) Domesticated Newlywed!

I absolutely adore Cinnamon, so I was super flattered when she asked me to write a blog post for her. At first, I was going to share a recipe with you, because that’s what I typically do when I write guest posts.

But I’ve had another topic on my heart recently, and I thought now would be a good time to share.

I often have people comment on my body size, and they assume that either: a) I don’t eat enough or b) I am just fortunate to have a speedy metabolism. I think perhaps that last part may be a little true, but I am not someone who never gains weight. I actually used to weigh about 15 pounds more than I do now, and that was back when I wasn’t fueling my body properly (i.e., not eating enough and working out too much!).

I am a believer in living a balanced life. So today, I wanted to share what a balanced life means to me!

The “rules” I try to live by:
1. Eat!

For the love of all that is good, please eat. Feed your body properly. Your body needs sufficient fuel to function properly. Take care of it. If you don’t, I promise you’ll regret it.

I’m a firm believer that you can eat more than you might think and still maintain a healthy and fit body. Even when I’m not working out, I probably average 2,000 calories a day. Occasionally a little less, quite often more. I know every body is different, but please, do yourself (and those around you) a favor, and give your body the energy it needs!

2. Eat (mostly) healthy foods.
This isn’t rocket science. If you want to have a healthy body throughout your lifetime, you have to fuel it properly. But that doesn’t mean you have to eat raw broccoli all day long.

If you don’t already do this, start reading lots of healthy living blogs. You will find more healthy and delicious recipes than you know what to do with!

Here are just a couple of my favorite healthy recipes from myblog:
-Fruit Smoothies
-Healthy Tortilla Soup
-Sausage, Broccoli, and Cheddar Frittata
But I’m not suggesting to just read my blog. Instead, go do a search on Pinterest. You’ll have healthy recipes coming out your eyeballs!

3. Don’t be scared of a Twinkie. It doesn’t bite.

If you follow my blog, you know how much I love food. Especially sweets.

And I refuse to give up sugar all together. I tried that once in college. It lasted for a month, before I ended up at the grocery store at 2 a.m. stuffing Oreos by the handful down my throat (true story).

Eat the foods you love. Just eat smaller amounts of them. No, you probably shouldn’t a sleeve of Chips Ahoy every day. But if you want to eat a couple after enjoying a healthy dinner, I say, GO FOR IT!

4. Move.
Spend some time figuring out what form of physical activity you enjoy, and then do it.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Hiking
• Walking
• Running
• Swimming
• Weight Lifting
• Bike Riding
• Dancing
• Playing a sport
• Taking a fitness class, like Zumba or Spinning (And if you are blessed enough to have a membership to a gym that offers various classes, try a bunch of different classes and instructors. I used to dislike group classes, but I’ve recently realized that I just prefer certain instructors over others!)

I have also found that I am much more motivated when I have a goal set on the calendar. Even if you’re not a runner, sign up for a race, like a 5k or 10k. You don’t have to run. Walk. Jog. Find a friend that will join you. I promise you’ll have a good time! The energy on race day is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced!

5. Fidget.
OK this might sound like a weird one. But there have been some studiesto support this idea (though how reliable they are, I have no idea). And I really think that my need to constantly be moving has helped me stay slender throughout the years.

Here are some examples of silly things I might do to move more throughout the day:
- Stand up while talking on the phone.
- If I forgot something upstairs, I’ll actually goup the stairs to get it (rather than just thinking “Eh, I’ll get it later.”).
- While I’m waiting for something to heat up in the microwave, I’ll do squats.
- During commercial breaks, I’ll do push-ups or lunges (DVR has totally ruined this for me, since I can now fast-forward through commercials. Darn you, technology!).

6. Pray.
If you read my blog, you know I am a Christian. And I believe in the power of prayer. If you’re struggling with willpower, or body image, or anything … seek the Lord’s help! He wants you to put your worries on Him, no matter how big or small they may seem!
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything,but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

7. Prioritize.
Life is not about the next meal you’re going to eat. Or about the next time you get to work out.

What (or who) is most important to you, in your life? Are you giving those people or things enough time, or are you letting other obligations get in the way?
Life is short. Spend time with those you love.

Oh, and go ahead and eat the cupcake.

Disclaimer: I am not, nor have I ever been a personal trainer or nutritionist. I am just a girl who likes to share what works for her. I’m also by no means perfect. I still have my days (or weeks!) of struggling to maintain balance. We are all works in progress!

Tagged as: balance, guest post, life