Back to the Future

Awhile ago there was a really fun #fitblog chat on Twitter hosted by Jack Sh*t. If you haven’t checked out his website or follow him on Twitter, I suggest you do because he’s absolutely hilarious. Here is just a taste of his wicked sense of humor:

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/JackSht/status/232586320592138240″]

If you missed the fitblog chat he hosted, I’m going to share the questions here. It was a fun topic and really made me think about where I see myself in the future.

Q1) If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your parents on the day you were born?

I would ask my mom to not give me a food or body complex. I’m sure she thought she was helping at the time but her comments really did the opposite. It made me rebel against her restrictions, I’d binge eat at friend’s houses and sneak and hide bad food. This wasn’t a healthy way to grow up. I never developed a healthy relationship with food or exercise. I hated soccer and gymnastics but my parents made me do it, thus it felt like exercise was punishment.

I would ask my parents to actually TEACH me how to eat a healthy diet and learn what calories really mean. Sure it seems like a “duh” kind of a thing but I really, honestly had no idea what “eating healthy” meant until I started counting my calories.

Q2) What advice would you give your teenage self?

I would tell my teenage self several things. The first thing is that FOOD IS NOT THE ANSWER. Food is not where I should turn when I’m angry, sad, grieving, etc. It may temporarily salve the wound but it’s not a real fix and just leads to more problems.

I would also tell myself that exercise can be fun. It doesn’t have to mean torture and humiliation in gym class–it can be something fun if I choose the right activity.

Q3) What advice would you give yourself one year ago today?

I would tell myself last year to learn how to stress less about the little things that don’t matter, learn how to relax, learn how to take a break without stressing out about it. I would tell myself to do more yoga and just live in the moment. Something I struggle with.

I would also tell myself to do more fitness events, even if they are smaller goals I want to achieve. Sometimes it really is about the journey and not the finish line. I wish I had done a few 5k races this summer, and a 50 mile bike event or two. That’s my goal for next summer!

Q4) You visit yourself one year from today; what happens?

My sincere hope is that I have my book published, or in the process of being published.

QUESTION: How would you answer these questions?