You Can't Out-Exercise a Bad Diet

 "You can't out-exercise a bad diet."  I've heard this saying many times but it's suddenly very determined to prove itself true in my life.  If you happened to read my last post, you know I let my weight get out of my maintenance range.  I hit the trail and the treadmill with a vengeance this week - I ran 5 days in a row, Monday through Friday, completely ignoring my rest day (I know - a big "no no" in running, but I just felt guilty if I didn't run).  I even got a personal best on my 2 mile route (18:53) and came close a couple times on my 5k route.  I certainly wasn't taking it easy.

My diet was a different story.  It was more like a rollercoaster compared to my steamroller of a running routine this week.  I started out the week really well.  I reverted back to my healthy eating habits with pride and motivation, only to slowly face a fight with my own self control as I walked by the chocolate chip cookies several times a day, watched my friends eat taco salads and pasta for lunch, and listened to my hubby whine about the lack of "hearty" food anymore.  I began to slide again.  I'd pig out for a whole day.  Or start out the day really well but eat a bad lunch and then follow it up with too much food for dinner and chocolate chips or cookies later at night. 

I am just having such a hard time in the self control area lately.  I'll exercise till I'm blue in the face.  I'll run my heart out till I can't feel my legs and I'm ready to pass out from lack of oxygen.  But ask me to pass up a box of chocolate chip cookies or a bag of chocolate chips that I know are in the cupboard?  That's actually harder for me than running 3 miles in under 31 minutes. 

And needless to say - the old saying is true - for me at least.  Turns out I really can't out-exercise my bad diet.  Because the scale hasn't budged.  Well it budged for a couple days while I managed to control myself and eat well.  Then it shot right back up out of range as I lost that control.  I'm not anywhere near my highest weight, but I'm still not happy with myself.  I'm hoping that I can suck it up from here on out and get back into my healthy eating habits.  Once I'm back in the habit I'm certain I'll be fine.  I just have to get over craving the chocolate and the sweets so much.  Ha!  Wish me luck! 

Although my love of chocolate has led me to an awesome discovery!  In my endless searching of Pinterest, I came across a recipe to make a "skinny" version of boxed brownie mix.  I thought this might be a great way to help me get through my cravings while not eating so poorly, so I decided to give it a try.  Plus it would give my hubby something seemingly unhealthy to chow down on.  I crossed my fingers and gave it a shot.  The recipe called for using a boxed brownie mix, but replacing the oil with half the amount of 0% fat greek yogurt, and using double the amount of eggs but only using the egg whites, and then using the same amount of water as the box says.  The mix seemed really watery compared to normal, but I stuck it in the oven anyway.  (Side bar - I added some baking chocolate chips to the mix - which raises the calories - but this is what I always do and the husband and I adore it.  I also added frosting, which the recipe doesn't either.  So - not as healthy as the recipe, but still healthier than if I had made them the regular way.)  I tried one a bit later and was pleasantly surprised!  They actually tasted normal - and really good!  I didn't even tell the hubby they were the "skinny" version, and he couldn't tell when he ate one!  This recipe comes highly recommended: "Skinny" boxed brownie mix

Anyhow, wish me luck this coming week that I only eat the "skinny" brownies and can stay away from copious amounts of junk food!  I've done this before; I know I can do it again.  I just have to believe in myself.  :o)