Author: Hayley Posner

My name is Hayley Posner and I am a digital marketing professional by day and healthy lifestyle blogger and Crossfit athlete by night. I have had a passion for storytelling since high school which is how I found my way towards journalism and photography work and eventually digital communications and social media management. I am a New Yorker at heart and currently live in colorful, Denver Colorado with my devious cat and wonderful boyfriend. My life is a chaotic adventure filled with good friends, good food and lots of self love, and shoes! The Who WOD Wear Blog is where I share my love of fitness, fashion and healthy foods with the occasional peak into my personal thoughts, feelings and musings. Follow my Instagram for the latest posts and updates @who.wod.wear

Beauty, Fashion

The Case For Functional Fashion

July 23, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

One thousand blisters and barefoot walks home later I have finally found comfort in functional fashion choices. I used to be a habitual uncomfortable outfit and shoe wearer. Despite all of my better judgements and decision-making abilities I used to constantly choose discomfort over comfort when it came to my fashion choices. Stuffing and shoving my body into uncomfortable and completely un functional for life clothes and shoes was a regular ritual for me when getting dressed to go out to parties or events.

Younger me was always so obsessed with fitting in and seeming “cool” or “trendy” that I would completely ignore my throbbing feet or suffocated arms because I was convinced that it was cool to sacrifice comfort for fashion. I used to make fun of my mom’s Teva and Merrill sandals in the summer because I thought they were the least fashionable thing I had ever seen. Now the thought of wearing Tevas to work is dream come true for me!

It wasn’t until I was out of college that I slowly started to reject mainstream fashion trends that did not align or equal outfit comfort for me. I stopped spending money on clothing and shoes that were not full day comfortable for me and slowly started to re frame my hierarchy of priority when it came to my fashion choices. Comfort is so key for me now, especially when it comes to my office and going out clothes! Nothing bothers me more than coming into the office and feeling uncomfortable with my clothes or shoes and making the wrong outfit choice can leave me distracted and bothered all day. Same goes for my going out outfits! Some of my best nights out at the bars in Denver have been when I was wearing “scrubby” outfits that were comfortable to move and dance in.

Functional fashion is a huge turn on for me when I am shopping! I love investing in pieces that are functional for life and easy to wear. Most my most frequently worn outfits are ones that are comfortable and functional because they make me feel my best. Even the chicest of fashionistas needs to have a good walking shoes, so why not make 90% of your shoe collection functional for everyday wear!

Gone are the days of 6-inch platform heels for me, but hello mules and slides. Any kind of backless shoe has a place in my closet, no more blisters and callouses for me!

Fashion, Personal

Silk Midi Skirts For Summer

July 21, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

The mid-summer heat is here, and we are in full skirt mode now! Skirts have always been a somewhat non-existent staple in my adult closet, probably due to having to wear a brown wool plaid one every day for 4 years when I was in high school at a Catholic girls school in New York. I tepidly bought a skirt here and there in college never really loving anything I found until recently. The silk midi skirt trend has been on the rise since 2019 and is making a 90’s comeback like no other this year! At first, I was unsure how I felt about this throw-back Thursday look but as I went through Pinterest and found styling ideas that spoke to me the more, I felt like I needed to have one of these skirts in my life.

My first silk midi skirt purchase was from NastyGal and I went with solid black to start before I jumped into some of the crazier prints and styles. Much to my surprise this slim piece was the new office staple I was searching for! From a business trip in Calgary mid snowstorm to stomping around NYC with my sister this skirt could do it all in style. I loved that skirt so much that when I was traveling in Tulsa, I ended up buying a coral silk midi skirt from a local boutique and it has quickly become a summer staple for me.

I love pairing my midi skirts with a grungy band tee or a slinky summer blouse for an easy look that can go from day to night in an instant. What I love about this trend is the versatility and ease of styling! Nothing bothers me more than buying what you think is a staple only to find yourself having nothing to style the piece with and eventually letting it collect dust at the back of the closet. The silk midi skirt is not that piece for me! My silk midi skirts are go to summer pieces that offer a wide array of styling options and always feel fresh when paired with a different shoe choice. These skirts look fire with cowboy boots to platform sandals and everything in between!

My advice for buying your first silk midi skirt is simple, stick with colors and cuts and that you know will flatter your shape! If you hate large leg slits, then don’t look for skirts with leg slits. If cheetah print is too intense for you (me too girl!) opt for a more neutral print or color to start, then slowly explore more bold prints and patterns. Have fun with it and don’t be discouraged if this trend doesn’t ignite your passion fire. There are plenty of other summer skirt trends and thousands of other cuts out there that you will surly find another look that is more to your liking!

Food, Uncategorized, wellness

Greek Inspired Summer Salad Recipe

July 20, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Getting your greens in shouldn’t have to suck! I will be the first to admit I am not much of a salad aficionado and have only added them into my diet regularly as of recently. It has taken me a long time to figure out what kind of salads I like outside of dressing heavy take-out salads from restaurants. Homemade salads used to be a huge turn off for me mostly because I did not understand how to combine ingredients to make something that not only was good for me but that also tasted good and was filling enough to keep me satisfied post meal.

Kale has always been one of my favorite leafy greens, but it is bitter when eaten raw and can burn in the oven easily. I have experimented with kale-based salads in the past but have always felt dissatisfied with the flavor or combination of ingredients. After some experimenting and an on the fly pot-luck holiday gathering I finally created the perfect summer salad!

This salad recipe was actually one that I found on Pinterest for a 4^th of July BBQ and then have modified to add some extra leafy green volume for a workday lunch meal. Here is my easy and colorful Greek inspired summer salad!

Ingredients:

150 Grams of Raw, Peeled Cucumber, Chopped
50 Grams of Red Onion
50 Grams of Cherry Tomatoes, Halved (* Can sub for any tomato of choice)
10 Grams of Kalamata Olives, Chopped
1-2 Tablespoons of Crumbled Feta Cheese
50 – 100 Grams of Raw Kale (Depending on your desired volume/ration of toppings to lettuce)
12 Grams of Peppered Salami, Sliced Thin
1-2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing

Instructions:

Simply chop and combine all ingredients, pour and mix dressing then serve!

Hope you enjoy and check out my Instagram stories for more of my daily meals and healthy recipe ideas! @who.wod.wear

Beauty, Fashion, Personal

Freck Beauty Review

July 17, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

No beauty look is complete without my Freck Beauty OG Freckles. Who knew that little fake freckles could make me feel so cute and flirty! Now, I will preface this review with the recognition that these little freckles are pretty expensive for the small packaging size, however I will argue they are totally worth it!

About a month ago I saw a post from one of my favorite podcast comedians boasting about how the addition of some fake freckles on her nose and cheek area made her feel like 1000 bucks. Instantly I was intrigued! As someone who has real freckles along my nose, I was especially interested in how simply dotting some eye brown pencil on my real freckles could help them pop and look more noticeable.

So, I gave it a go with my Anastasia Brow Pencil in dark brown. I loved the way the eyebrow pencil made my pale freckles pop! I went from city chic to girl next door cute in a matter of minutes but was disappointed at how my sunglasses and sweat would wipe the fake freckles away. This went on for a few weeks before I finally decided to take the plunge and invest in a real fake freckle make up product.

Enter Freck OG, this teeny tiny little bottle filled with fake freckle goodness is my new favorite beauty product of summer 2020. Simply dot these little bad boys on your nose bridge/ upper cheek area, blot and go and these freckles will stay put all day long. Only a shower or a workout can swipe these fake freckles away. I was amazed at how natural they looked, despite the strong staying power. Do be careful of how you dot since they are pretty strong and if you do wrong you will be left with an all-day stain or awkward looking blot on your face. I like to blot them quickly with a tissue before I leave to make sure they are dried on but not too dark or unnatural looking.

Now I don’t leave my house without these cute freckles splattered across my face! They are the perfect selfie accessory and make even my sweat pant work from home outfits look cute. Even better, that little bottle has lasted me over a month with near daily use! If you are in the market for a fun new beauty product, definitely check out Freck OG or any of their other products. What I love about the brand Freck is their inclusivity and commitment to showcasing models of all races in their marketing campaigns. Not only are their products long lasting and cute as hell but they are also changing the beauty industry, by bringing freckles to people of all races, ages and genders!

Check out my Instagram @who.wod.wear for more of my daily beauty looks!

Fitness & Health, Personal, wellness

We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Before meeting my current partner, I used to find myself seeking validation from men who I felt I deserved. Rather than finding value and worth in myself I was always craving attention from others, specifically romantic partners. I can very vividly remember chasing after some sub-par frat guy in college in hopes of finding someone who would love me the way I loved myself. Little did I know that that love for myself was lacking, and that the rock solid, healthy relationship I was actually craving was one with myself and my body.

I was constantly jumping from one toxic fling or “something” to the next never understanding why things weren’t working out for me romantically. I was constantly down on myself and felt like I was unworthy of a decent partner because I could not see my own beauty. At around 22 that the lightbulb finally went off for me, I was seeking relationships that were a direct reflection of my own relationship with myself and my body. Even after losing 30 lbs. I never felt worthy of a solid, healthy relationship because I didn’t even have one with myself. I was shocked and angry that my dating habits at 125 lbs. were not all that different than when I was 155 lbs.

How could I ever expect a man to love and respect me unconditionally if I could not even do that for myself? It was then that I realized I had been seeking the love I thought I was deserving of, which as I look back was a very low bar for any adult male to meet. I was letting romantic partners treat me like trash and manipulate me because I was so focused on the attention they were showing me that I rarely took a step back to evaluate how I was lowering my worth to meet their lukewarm feelings and actions. The truth was that I didn’t think I could “do better”.

Putting in the work to repair my relationship with myself and my body was what finally set me free from the toxic dating habits that had gripped me since my high school boyfriend, dumped me during my 1st semester of freshman year of college. I spent most of my early 20’s believing that I didn’t deserve a partner who cared about me, respected me or who met my social-emotional needs because I didn’t see my own beauty and worth. After confronting my issues with myself and my body I was able to solidify my own self-love and respect which eventually helped me in navigating my needs and worth when it came to my dating life.

I actually met my current boyfriend when I was still in the process of understanding what a healthy relationship looked like and as we very slowly eased into dating, I began to see what love could look like for me. Love free from judgement, filled with respect, support and acceptance of one another. A love that would push me to be my best self and would never ask me to show up as anyone else other than me.

Perks Of Being A Wallflower said it right, we truly do accept the love we think we deserve. I truly believe that until we can at least respect and love ourselves to some degree, we cannot expect anyone else to meet us on that same or even higher level. Now we don’t all have to have Lizzo level of self-love and confidence to find romantic love, but if you have a negative relationship with yourself, I can almost guarantee that that negative mindset affects how you choose your romantic interests. If you are like a young me, jumping from one rotting/toxic romantic fling to another then I highly recommended taking a step back and evaluating how your own perceptions of yourself are contributing to your negative dating behaviors.

Take a note from Lizzo’s ultimate bop “Soulmate”

‘Cause I’m my own soulmate
I know how to love me
I know that I’m always gonna hold me down
Yeah, I’m my own soulmate
No, I’m never lonely
I know I’m a queen but I don’t need no crown
Look up in the mirror like damn she the one

Fitness & Health

Cardio Can Be Fun

July 15, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Back when I was in college, I used to be a strict cardio bunny who never touched weights or barbells. My workout routine consisted of some light treadmill or elliptical work coupled with hiking and outdoor activities and plenty of weekend walking from frat party to frat party. I never followed any kind of strict schedule and was more of an occasional exerciser who hand little idea of how to exercise to achieve the body compositional changes I was seeking. Growing up I had been active through dance and sports but once I entered adult life, I realized it was going to take a lot more than just occasional elliptical training to see changes in my body and to build a long-term exercise routine. Cardio was my go-to exercise crutch for most of my late teens/ college years that was minimal effort and made me think that I was “healthy” enough that I did not have to do more…WRONG! Little did I know at the time that cardio alone would not help me in achieving my long-term body transformation goals.

When I first started my weight loss journey HIIT training was my new BFF. I did hours of cardio and body weight circuits in hopes of the fat melting off me like all the magazines raved. Much to my surprise, doing Fitness Blender cardio workouts in my dorm room worked! Once I started doing consistent cardio exercises 4-6 days a week the pounds started flying off me, yet my body did not look “fit” like I was hoping. Slowly I stepped away from the cardio and started doing more mixed training with some light weights, eventually finding my way into build building type training. Instantly I became obsessed with the way weightlifting made me feel and was even more hooked on the way it shaped and toned my cardio bunny body. Even with the resistance and weight training I was doing the fear of weight gain was real for me, so I kept doing at least 3 steady state cardio sessions per week. Sometimes I was lifting for an hour and doing elliptical training for a second hour to ensure I never got too “beefy” or “bulky” from the weightlifting alone, which I would later learn is a totally made up concept.

After losing 30lbs I basically abandoned all cardio training. I got bored of walking on the treadmill and doing long elliptical sessions and pretty much swore off steady state cardio. It wasn’t until I started training for a triathlon that cardio started to be interesting again, but even then, the idea of doing cardio on top of my strength training plan was a bore. I was desperately longing for a workout style or plan that would allow me to strength train all parts of my body while also getting that cardio training in all at once so I could get in and get out of the gym fast and have more time for my friends and social life.

WOD style workouts quickly caught my attention and interested when I joined Train Denver in 2018. What I love about short interval style workouts is the variety and opportunity to do both strength and cardio in one session. WOD’s combine the endurance and high rates of cardio with the power of strength training to provide me a mentally and physically challenging full body workout. Since joining Train Denver, I have learned how to create short cardio WOD’s for myself at home and have found that there are so many fun ways to get my cardio in! Tabata cardio is one of my favorite ways to get my heart rate up without getting bored. My go to cardio is a circuit is a mix of burpees, jumping jacks and skate jumps/lateral jumps. I have also found that even doing a short 1 mile run outside can be a great way for me to move mindfully, enjoy the summer weather and get my cardio in.

Cardio training is super important for heart health as well as improving WOD endurance. Since adding in some extra cardio, I have been able to greatly improve my ability to push through when the WOD is long and my strength feels low and have found my athletic performance increasing across the board. Below are a few of my go-to sample WOD’s for when I want to get a quick home sweat in or just am in the mood for some fun cardio. These workouts are so easy to modify and personalize as well. Not feeling burpees, just sub another plyometric movement and you have yourself a full-on home WOD!

AMRAP 15 or 12

(As many reps as possible in a given time frame)

10 Burpees
10 Sit-ups
10 Push-u[s

EMOM 15

(Every minute on the minute complete the given work, alternating movements)

5 Burpees
10 Box Jumps
15 Jumping Jacks

3 Rounds For Time

15 Jumping Lunges
20 Burpees
30 Sit Ups

21-15-9

(21 reps of each movement, 15 reps each movement, 9 reps each movement)

Push-ups
Skater Jumps
Kettlebell Swings

Fitness & Health, Food, wellness

High Protein Snacks That Are Not Powders

July 10, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Unpopular opinion alert! I do not like protein shakes, I actually really dislike them. I have tried a dozen protein powders and have yet to find one that really speaks to me and I would much rather eat my calories than drink them anyways! Because I am a protein shake hater, it can be super tricky for me to get in adequate protein without having to eat weird egg white frankemeals that are odd and unsatisfying. Over the past year however, I have really been able to hone in on the snacks and extra meals that help me hit my protein goals and leave me feeling happy and not hangry.

One of my absolute favorite clean protein packed snacks are Epic Bars! These bad boys have no weird ingredients are made from natural animal-meat to provide long lasting energy and superior snack satisfaction. My favorite high protein flavors are Chicken Siracha and Turkey, Almond, Cranberry! I also love the Bison and Bacon flavors as well, however those do have a higher fat content. What I love about Epic bars is that they are low in sugar and carbs and won’t leave me feeling icky and bloated. An added bonus is my cat loves them too!

A second, high protein snack that is always a go to staple for me is Kodiak Cakes Frozen Buttermilk Vanilla Power Waffles. These are soooo damn good you will not even realize you are eating 12 g of protein per 2 waffles. What I love about Kodiak products are their versatility, whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner these waffles will make you one happy camper. I have also been recently experimenting with their pancake mix for some high protein banana pancakes and all I can say is those are fire and I have to resist the urge to make them every single weekend!

A few other of my favorite protein snacks include Turkey or Beef Chomps Sticks, dry roasted almonds, Trader Joes Teriyaki Turkey Jerky and of course any flavor of Halo Top or Enlightened Ice Cream. I also greatly enjoy high protein wraps for making quick and easy lunches for work. I have even found a few pre -made high protein cold brew coffee choices at my local Kroger or Safeway stores. When it comes to getting in my protein, I am always on team eat it not drink it. I find that drinking my food is far less filling and will lead me to snacking more later on in the day, so it is usually better for me to just avoid liquid protein in all forms. Protein coffees are great though for when I am traveling or just have a really hectic week and need to not think about packing snacks.

Getting adequate protein does not need to be flavorless challenge nor do you have to rely on shakes or meal replacement drinks. The key to getting your protein in is planning, planning, planning! The better I plan my meals and snacks ahead of time, the higher chance I will hit my protein goal. Strategically adding snacks into my day has been a huge help in making sure I am getting close to my protein numbers on a given day. So, get creative, try some new snacks and be wary of any kind of packaged goods that have more than 10 ingredients! The more natural and less processed the snacks are the better they will make you feel and don’t be afraid to double up on eggs in the morning or collagen powder in your coffee since those are easy ways to start your day off right.

For more about my healthy eating tips and wholesome habits subscribe to my blog for new stories delivered directly to your inbox and follow my Instagram @who.wod.wear for my latest posts!

Fitness & Health, Personal

Why I Don’t Weigh Myself Everyday

July 8, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

I used to be someone who religiously weighted themselves as soon as I woke up before food, water and vitamins and would let that number dictate the mood, training and food choices for my day.

Scale up meant time to cut the carbs and up the cardio, scale down meant I was being good and was deserving of a treat, rest day or to wear a crop top. I was a slave to the scale number, letting it control how I viewed myself and my worth. Every workout I would twist and turn in the gym mirror making sure I looked the exact same way I did before, begging the mirror and scale to confirm my worth. My lifestyle was bound by how much weighed and my entire fitness routine was focused on getting the number as small as possible.

Making the shift from traditional body building workouts to functional crossfit style training was one of the biggest factors that contributed to me letting go of my obsession with the scale. There were no mirrors at the box, so I could constantly pick and stare at my stomach during my workouts and as I began doing more functional fitness style workouts my body composition rapidly began changing and I started to realize that that number meant little to nothing about my physical fitness or even the size of my body. I saw people of all sizes, shapes and walks of life at the gym and some of the best athletes at my box were people who were older or of different body shapes than my own.

Crossfit helped me see that I could weight anything and not only be fit and lean but also be an incredible athlete. It also helped me to see fitness as functional for life not just a function of weight loss which in turn greatly shifted my mindset about my body and lifestyle choices. So I started to weigh myself less and less. I have been relying more on photos to help me see my body change and to my surprise as my weight has fluctuated a lot in the last 2 years since starting crossfit style training my clothes still fit, nothing is tight. The only thing that has changed is my body’s relationship with gravity and hell maybe I grew a cup size along the way due to my hair re-growth process! So why let such an insignificant number control so much of my happiness?

I say screw the scale! I would rather rely on other metrics to track my progress when working towards an aesthetic goal than be a slave to the digital number gods. The scale is helpful if you are just starting your weightless journey but I highly recommend tracking other metrics such as measurements and progress photos to help inform changes to your weight loss plan.

Fitness & Health, Food, Personal, Uncategorized, wellness

Tracking Macros & Meal Planning When You Live With Your Partner

July 6, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Moving in with your partner is a huge life step! This relationship milestone can be particularly scary for many reasons, but my biggest worry was actually one that very few people think about when taking the leap to cohabitate with their romantic partner. When my boyfriend and I decided to self-isolate together this past April, I was most worried about how I was going to keep up my healthy food habits and continue to track my macros while learning to live and cook with my man.

My boyfriend does not track his macros and does not have a structured meal plan or eating schedule like I do, which initially caused me to be nervous about us living together. I am definitely more OCD/type A when it comes to meal prepping and planning while he is more of a mindful eater who does not pre track or weigh his food. This stark contrast could have potentially negative side effects for us as roommates and life partners and I was super anxious about making things work when the time came for me to move into his apartment.

So how do we eat meals together if I have to weight and track my portions, and he doesn’t! It’s actually super simple, we just make equal portions of food and try to spit things evenly! If I am making 6 ounces of ground beef for me, I will simply weight an equal portion for him as well and make 1 giant pot meal that we simply split down the middle as best as possible. While this is not an exact science, it does work well for me when I am eating for maintenance or being a less strict with my macro tracking. Overall, this cooking method works super well for nights when we both are craving pasta or a ground beef taco bowl but is less cut and dry when it comes to cooking more complicated dishes or want slightly different meals that have some common ingredients.

Another way we make this work is cooking on 2 separate baking sheets. I will prepare 1 sheet for me with my pre weighted portions and 1 sheet for him with his portions if they differ from my own. This allows us to still make a meal together without having to make the exact same portions or veggies. I personally, love mushrooms and kale and eat them probably every other day, while my boyfriend is a mushroom hater and will only sporadically join me in crunching on some crispy kale chips. I am a huge proponent of simple but effective meal making and both my boyfriend and I are not into spending hours in the kitchen each night. One pan/bake sheet meals, work wonders for us when we are trying to eat together but enjoy different protein, carb and fat sources and make for a no fuss dinner.

Cooking together when you have different habits does not need to turn into WW3 or cause you or your partner to feel guilty for their needs/wants. For me and my boyfriend, we try to cook/plan 2-3 meals per week together and then will eat the rest on our own. Sometimes we do more, and some weeks we share less, but either way we make sure to clearly communicate before we cook so that one person is not left with no chicken for dinner. If you are like me and you cannot share your food without feeling anxious about it shifting your numbers, then I highly recommend cooking on separate baking sheets or in separate pans from your roommate/partner. This will allow you to portion control your food while enjoying the same meal as your dinner date! It’s a win win for you both. No need to compromise your goals or feel guilty!

Fitness & Health, Food, Personal, wellness

Guilt Free Summer Vacation

July 3, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Taking vacation used to cause me more stress than staying home.. Say what??? Who in the good heck does not enjoy a summer vacation and break from the doldrums of daily routine? This girl right here. Vacations use to cause me crippling anxiety and extreme guilt around my eating and exercise habits. The thought of taking a few days away from MyFitness pal and the gym would have me spiraling down a dark pit of fear and worry. Would I be able to eat only clean, non-processed foods while I was gone? Would my friends pressure me into eating “off track”? Would there be a gym at the hotel? These were usually the first thoughts that popped into my head when the vacation topic came up. I used to think of vacation as “ruining my progress” or as a hinderance to my body composition goals. I would go crazy eating treats and heavy foods to come home filled with guilt and shame about my lack of discipline.

This obsession with perfection and rigid mindset around being “on track” or “off-track” for my goals led me to rarely enjoying vacations because I would be so glued to my phone trying to track and measure each morsel of food or every step I took. This eventually led to exhaustion and frustration that usually ended in me saying f-it I am eating the damn fries and going ham on all the desserts and rich foods I tried so hard to swear off. As soon as I returned home the race would be on for me to exercise away the bad foods I ate on vacation, adding in extra cardio to make up for the few days I took off from training. This was a vicious cycle for me until I realized that my mindset about food was the problem, not the act of taking vacation. Vacations do not need to set you back from your goals! You also can 1000 percent enjoy vacation without feeling guilty.

The key to a successful guilt free summer trip is all about planning, mindfulness and your general mindset around food. Vacation should not be an excuse to say screw it to your goals and healthy habits. Sure, should you fully enjoy trying new foods and eating out, yes! But should you eat a whole bag of Doritos and marshmallows, no probably not. All foods have value and a place on your plate, but just because you are on vacation does not mean you should forget all of your mindful eating habits. Vacation is about making memories no stomach aches!

For me, I treat vacation as a chance to eat mindfully without tracking, however I stick to a few ground rules that help me to feel my best. Getting in my 800g of fruits and veggies, hitting 7-10k steps and avoiding overly processed foods and dairy products are just a few of the ways I focus on my health and well-being while being away from home. If I do make a misstep or have an episode of over-eating, I treat myself with love and respect and move the hell on. I do not do extra cardio, I do not do a juice cleanse or a fast when I get home and I definitely do not jump right into a cut or calorie deficit is soon as I return home. I simply make a mental note of what was going on when this less than ideal food situation occurred. Was I feeling overly tired? Did I have a particularly active day or was I just super hungry. While none of these reasons are excuses for overeating or going a bit too crazy with the Talenti, they do help me to understand and learn from my mistakes and take corrective actions for the future. Being kind to myself has really helped me unpack my toxic relationship with vacations and non-tracking days and helped me enjoy vacation more! Now I wake up after a vacation or party and feel no stress, no guilt and no shame about what I ate because I know that it is a new day with new opportunities to work towards my goals and make healthy choices.

Don’t let food rules and rigid exercise habits ruin your time with family and friends! Life is about balance, just like one healthy meal won’t lead to weight loss, one untracked vacation meal won’t lead to weight gain, so enjoy but be mindful. Vacation should be time for making memories, taking a break from your daily life and enjoying yourself, not being anxious about your health and fitness goals.