Hey, peeps! Happy Friday! Anything fun planned this weekend? I’m working all weekend, so nothing too exciting over here. Come Monday, however, Matty and I will be en route to the Hamptons for our mini getaway. We can hardly wait!
Workout
Today, I completed my second HIIT workout of the week: Amanda Russell’s latest full-body cardio circuit. I loved it! The entire thing took me just under 19 minutes to complete and left me glistening with sweat!
I wore my Oakley wristband because a.) it’s cute b.) it’s cute c.) it’s cute. 
Something about wearing a little extra fitness garb – even if you’re working out in your home like me – puts an extra pep in your step. You with me?
Lunch
There is a new salad in the house over here – and I’m royally obsessed. In my quest to get back my period, besides reducing my HIIT workouts, I’m increasing my fat intake. I’ve been monitoring it at each meal, simply jotting down the grams of fat I’m consuming for each meal and snack, so I can give the endocrinologist an idea of my average daily fat intake. So far, so good. 
This salad is a new favorite that contains 27 grams of heart-healthy fats and is so satisfying.
Here’s the goods:
- 3 cups raw kale
- 1/2 cup raw broccoli
- 1/4 avocado, sliced
- 1/8 daiya cheddar wedge, diced
- 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
- 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
- 1 Tbsp. Annie’s Lemon-Chive vinaigrette
Bye Bye “Cheat” and “Treat”
Guess what I did on the 4th of July? Besides having an amazing time with friends and family…
I enjoyed ice cream – right out of the container.
I enjoyed lots of pretzels with hummus.
I enjoyed lots of tortilla chips with guacamole.
Was it atypical from my usual eats? Yep. Would I consider it a “cheat?” NOPE. Would I consider it a “treat?” NOPE. Would I consider it “indulging?” NOPE. My dear friends, it is simply another day of this beautiful thing we call life. Quite a few of you have asked how I overcame my “fear foods,” particularly on occasions like BBQs and holidays with family and friends.
I’ve realized, through therapy, praying, and a lot of self-soul searching, that, like most people suffering from eating disorders, my inability to eat certain foods and my fear of consuming certain foods stemmed from a constant quest for perfection. Now that I’m comfortable with being imperfect (falling up the stairs and spilling water everywhere in the process is totally acceptable) and living a life of enjoyment, I have also omitted the words “cheat,” “treat,” and “indulge” from my vocabulary. For me, they represent an all-or-nothing mantra that doesn’t align with my personal philosophy. Sure, I ate a bunch of food that I normally don’t. That doesn’t mean I “cheated,” “treated,” or indulged.
Plain and simple, it means that I lived.
While I respect, honor, and largely live by the philosophy of clean, plant-based living, straying from that for a day or two or three doesn’t mean that I am not a “clean eater” and it doesn’t mean that I’ve “ruined” anything. These are all labels that we should try to avoid because they only give us anxiety and fuel our quest for perfection. Besides, my lifestyle isn’t about being perfect – it’s about living in a manner that is best for my overall health and for animals.
Perhaps the most important part of all this is the fact that, when you reach that point of not caring, food is simply the backdrop to the occasion. I didn’t really think twice about choosing to eat the foods that I did. Plus, if the food was there and my friends were not, it would have been one sad 4th of July celebration. Regardless of your personal lifestyle choices, We need to always, always, always honor our bodies – ice-cream and blue corn tortilla chips included.
Okay, off my soap box and on to conquer the day! Enjoy your evening.
Stay lovely,
Heather
beautifully written, my friend. you’re amazing! have a great weekend!
SO happy to see your comment, Lindsay! I really value your opinion, love.
This is such a great mantra, Heather, and I’m so glad you got to enjoy a holiday full of tasty foods without feeling guilty about it. I agree that terming something a “treat” implies that you couldn’t just up and eat it whenever it sounded good…and that’s not a healthy mindset. Love the idea of ditching those terms!
YEAH, GIRL! Together, we’re going crushing those terms and just enjoy a life of balance…our way!
Thank you for this post. I have been struggling a lot with this lately- something about the summer means barbeques, off-schedule eating, and too much alcohol. It’s been wearing on me, and I needed something like this to snap me out of that. I often find your blog to be an inspiration. Keep it up, and thank you again!
Rach, I can’t tell you how much this fills my heart. You’re so wonderful – keep striving to challenge yourself and find your personal balance. I love you, girl!
Good stuff as usual, bb. It’s true that my body craves ice cream sometimes…and it craves salad! Those are both OK and I am working on remembering that! If I’d skipped out on banana pudding or cheesy Mexi-dip on the 4th I’d have been bummed and kicking myself later. These aren’t everyday things! And you know I love the Oakley wristband. I never take mine off!
This is why we’re BBs. I’ve had salad every day this week…and ice cream three times. And it rocks!
I always think of you when I wear my Oakley wristbands. <3<3
I love this post! I’m bookmarking for when I am having a rough day! It is such a great reminder that there is no need for the quest for perfection! I tend to forget that a lot and could always use the reminder! There is no reason anything should be labelled good or bad, treat, or cheat! It is all just food and I think we could all stand to forget perfection and listen to our bodies! Thank you for this post!
This totally makes my day, Danielle! The fact that you would bookmark this and return to it absolutely makes my day. You’re so supportive and such a great person, girl!
Yes. Yes yes yes. Love the idea of eliminating these words, and just living! We get too caught up in words and language sometimes. Have a wonderful weekend!!
Yeah, girl! You’re so right. Have a beautiful weekend too! Enjoy every morsel of it.
I love this. I hate the word “cheat.” Especially when people are like, “It’s my cheat day!” Just live life
And how freaking good are pretzels and hummus? I enjoy those a little bit too often 
Aaaand this is why we’d be BIFFLES.
Brilliant post Heather! I haven’t eaten a real cheat or dessert in far too long, I’m at the point where my body doesn’t even crave it, but maybe I should “challenge” myself since I don’t ever. It is definitely okay to indulge and there is no such thing as perfection. In fact, most people eat these things everyday and are perfectly healthy and thriving. Have a great weekend girl!xo
You’re so right, Lisa! People DO enjoy these things often and are perfectly healthy. Recovery is all about challenging yourself. Sometimes, that means searching for a new challenge. Keep listening to your body and striving to find that balance between “want” and “need.”
[...] sure you check out Heather’s post from today, because it’s a highly important one, and also happens to be something we discussed over the [...]
Love this post! I’ve actually always had a pet peeve and hated it when people say they “cheated” because they had a cookie or whatnot. If you’re living life, you eat cookies once in a while. It’s as simple as that!
Amen, sister!
LOVE this! I agree with you completely, and it’s so refreshing to see you put this out in writing!
<3
Thank you so much for this post, this is exactly what I needed to read right now. I am notorious for using those words and beating myself up about a day (or two) of not-my-norm eating. I’ve too struggled with allowing myself to enjoy holiday and family get-togethers, agonizing for days beforehand what I would and wouldn’t “let” myself eat. I’m slowly but surely realizing that nothing should be off limits and that moderation, not restriction than bingeing, is key. Thanks for the wonderful reminder
Megan, I’m so happy that you read this post at a time in which you needed it the most. It makes me so happy to hear that. Thank you for being so open and honest. Keep being true to yourself on your journey. You’re living it, girl!!!
Obsessed with this post, you’re wonderful!
YOU’RE WONDERFUL, ALI!
One of your best Heather! Sharing it on my FB page right now
I love how you omitted those words from your vocab. I wish more people would have your mindset <3 You are going to help many babe! I LOVE YOU LIKE A SISTER
Meg, thank you SO much for sharing this post. YOU ARE INCREDIBLE. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have you in my life. I literally thank God every day. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Just found you through Meg on FB– I LOVE this post. Love love love. One of the most toxic things about the blogging world, and the fitness world in general, is they way it glorifies people who NEVER EVER eat outside their norm- or at least try to appear as though they don’t. REAL bloggers are my FAVE bloggers!! Thanks for posting this
xo
Aww, I’m so happy that you found the blog through Meg. She is pretty fantastic.
I totally agree with your comment, Danielle, and it’s really important for bloggers (especially those who work in the nutrition field like me) to be honest and show a true life of balance! You’re amazing!!!
I loved every letter of every word of every sentence. Great post. Way to take control and embrace Alan things big and small. I’m forwarding tho post over to my sister. I think it’s a great inspiration to many girls/women who stress over what has gone into their mouth and if it wil land on their thighs!
I love every bit of every part of YOU, Lauren! You’re so sweet. I’m SO happy to hear that you’re spreading the love to your sister. That seriously makes my day.
Heather, I LOVE this! I won’t lie I was a little concerned when I saw the title – I thought perhaps you were going to enter a figure competition or something of the like and therefore had to restrict your diet! I am much more of a fan of this post – so beautiful how you are coming to accept a new perspective, one with much more respect. I completely empathize with and support this. Rock on!
Restriction is another word that is no longer in my vocab.
Bikini competitions are also a nay. Not in a million years! Haha. You’re awesome, Kasandra!
Hi Heather! I just discovered your blog via Meg (a dash of meg), and I absolutely love it! This post is fantastic – I have a similar story, eating disorder past and I’m now trying to get my period back – and I still struggle with those “fear food” for the exact reason you mentioned, feeling the need to be perfect! I’m an endurance athlete so I don’t really do the whole “clean eating” thing and I eat far more carbs than most, but when I can’t train and race (like right now, trying to get my period back), I feel as though I just don’t “deserve” those foods because I didn’t “earn” them. But like you said, food is FOOD, it’s not a “treat” or a “cheat” – treats are things you give pet dogs and cheats are what kids do when they don’t study. Not food. Love that you’re striking those words from your vocabulary and realizing it’s all a part of life – thank you for the inspiration to do the same!
Kate! I’m SO happy you discovered me but even more happy to learn that you discovered me through Meg! She is truly amazing.
You deserve what your body wants and you deserve what your body needs. Recovery is all about finding that balance. It doesn’t happen overnight – it happens over time – but that’s okay! As long as you continue to work hard and stay true to your recovery, you will be fine! You’re doing amazing, girl. 
Great post! Totally agree with this
Thanks, Matt!
This post is SO beautifully written. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Too often we get caught up in “eating clean” and maintaining a healthy diet that we forget to LIVE. Food should never come before enjoying life and I’m so proud of you for truly embracing that. You’re a rockstar! (:
Aww, Emily. Thank you that warms my heart! I believe that YOU’RE a rockstar too!
Great article Heather. Honestly I completely agree with your mindset regarding “cheats” and “treats”. I feel like once anyone swears off a certain food that is all they can think about. Rather than using up all that energy fighting against yourself, why not use that energy for putting together a super healthy meal and then enjoying a healthy and delicious treat. And don’t “reward” yourself with food. Food is not meant to fill an emotional void or replace the feeling of pride – it’s meant to fuel your body. It’s all about being mindful.
So well said, Erin! I couldn’t agree with you more. Mindfulness is KEY!
Love this post! I feel the same way about those words. I know that I’m a healthy eater, why do I have to justify certain foods to myself? I still do it but I’ve been trying hard not to.
All that matters is that you are aware of it and working on it, Kate! You’re a rock star! <3 xoxo
That salad looks so good, just what I need! Do I see tempeh in there too?
It was amazing! No tempeh though.
WOW! Hi Heather! I love love love this post! This is such a great mindset to have – ridding those words from my vocabulary when talking about food would do me so much good. Life really is about living and not trying to be ‘perfect’ all the time. What even is perfect, anyways?! I think your approach to food and life may be considered imperfection, but I think it is perfect! Imperfection = perfection. Does that make any sense?!
Thank you for this post. You have once again proven to be a huge inspiration! Reading your thoughts make me feel happy and worthy and excited about life! Keep it up, girl! YOU’RE AWESOME!
Sarah, that makes so much sense. It is absolutely the way we should live our lives! You’re amazing, girl .
WOW what an amazing post! Thank you SO much for sharing! In my recovery too, “cheat” and “indulge” have been words that ultimately hold me back and keep the focus on food and my feelings of imperfection/inadequacy. I love that you have eliminated them from your vocabulary…I definitely will start to do that too!
xoxo Sloane
I fall up the stairs all the time, even in public. It makes for some fairly awkward situations.
I definitely like looking at treats as living life. Obviously if they make up a majority of your diet, that’s not a healthy way to live, but I think it’s equally unhealthy to put such a stigma and restriction on them. I don’t want to live a life with out ice cream and chips and guacamole!
[...] post at For the Love of Kale: Bye Bye “Cheat” and “Treat” ~Such an awesome girl and so [...]
[...] the word “treat” from my vocabulary when it comes to food. You can read more about that here. I did receive a special, non-food related”treat” in the form of Caitlin Croswell [...]