BB: How do you maintain The Balanced Babe lifestyle?
This is such a great question because balancing all of those elements is so tough! When it comes down to it, I don’t have any real tricks or methods, but I try my best to practice the “everything in moderation” rule: When it comes to food, I never get on any of the extreme diet bandwagons: I eat whole grains, a fair amount of lean meat, lots of fruits and vegetables, and I rarely cook with or eat convenience items. And I cook and eat healthy food during the week so that I can splurge a little when I go out on the weekends. I also make sure that I get about 4-5 cardio workouts in each week to counterbalance my cheats. If it’s a busy day or week and I can’t get to the gym, I also make a point of walking from Point A to Point B as often as possible– every little bit counts! And I have to say, I am really good about separating myself from my work when I leave the office, but I am terrible at finding time for pampering myself or for down time… I like to be busy and doing “nothing” (what normal people would call “relaxing”) makes me crazy. It’s a work in progress, for sure.
And really, aside from practicing moderation, a little structure does wonders for helping me to feel balanced. I’m anxiety prone, so being a planner is really key for me. I plan out weekly dinner menus so I know what we’re shopping for and then I don’t have to come up with a healthy dinner on the spot after a long day at the office. And hitting the gym after work a few nights a week is also key– I dread it, but it helps me wind down and having those things carved out on a regular basis keep my anxiety at bay.
