-No Canestrelli

-No biscotti

- No double chocolate muffins

- No Starbucks Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso (with cream)

- No almond croissant

- No pistachio croissant

- No glazed donuts

- No juice

- No lemonsoda

- No prosecco

- No piccolo from La Romana

- No Aperol spritz with ice (no aperitivo either)

- No cocktails

- No Burger King

- No KFC

- No brownies with cream!

Just counting calories and making sure I reach my daily macro goals because I decided to go on a calorie deficit at the end of July in Italy, just after the first heatwave and before the second one. 

It may seem foolish, but this pandemic weight has over stayed and it needs to go. 

I know... I know ....It may not look like it, but I am putting myself first. 

I’ve become more active and improved my eating habits; now I just need to stop wearing XL sizes in Italy. Surprisingly, everything has been working well. I’m battling through the hunger pangs and still managing to stay active every day with walks and resistance training.

On August 13, a heatwave warning came through online. I left the office for my evening 40-minute walk and kept a good pace because I needed to stop by the supermarket. Ferragosto was just a day or two away, and the population of Turin was dwindling as people retreated to the beach, with all the shops, bars and cafes closing. I didn’t want to worry about food for the next couple of days. 

I came home with three shopping bags, drenched in sweat. The sunscreen was peeling off my face in order of the layers of application and re-application throughout my day. Using the last reserves of my energy, I climbed the last two flights of stairs to my apartment on the top floor. My neighbor, whom I hadn't seen in three months, swings open her front door and looks at me with pity. "I’m so sorry; it must be hotter than where you came from. I'm here if you need anything."

Yes, it is hotter, I thought, but I did this to myself, Signora.😭😭😭 I need to keep up my routine so I can lose the weight. I didn’t have the heart to tell her all this, so I simply nodded.

On August 14, it was 36 degrees outside, and I was working from home, with occasional dizzy spells while sitting on the couch. I finished my work early and did my resistance exercises with heightened awareness because I couldn’t afford to faint in this heat when everything is closing for the August holiday. Luckily I felt fine afterward, had dinner, and slept like a baby.

On August 15, I headed to work, and it was humid; I felt sticky within four hours of leaving home. I was surprised that I managed to have protein and fiber at lunchtime, with only complex carbs and protein—my body had no complaints. As I proceeded with my evening walk, it felt like I was walking through a sauna for 40 minutes with no cold plunge breaks. I made it home without feeling dizzy, but my back and knees ached. After dinner, I checked to see if I had reached my daily macros and slept like a baby again.

I am using an app to track my meals, and it is dawning on me how much I was overeating pre-deficit. That muffin with my cappuccino in the morning, that Starbucks coffee every other week, the occasional ice cream and cone on the way home, the dessert with my lunch then KFC burger or wrap for dinner... all while lying to myself that because I am now active I am burning it off...not good...not good at all. I also learnt I wasn't drinking enough water and yet somehow I thought I was🤦‍♀️... this app and the heatwave helped me double my intake, especially now that I am eating more fiber. 

Now I have to be creative...I want to maintain my exercise routine because my mood has improved, and I feel good about myself, so I need to ensure I’m fueling my workouts while staying in a deficit. This is a great challenge for me and I am enjoying using my motivation and self-discipline tackling it.  A lot of this is mostly pacing myself, being in tune with how I am feeling and knowing what my body can do in the moment. 

What about you? What crazy things are you up to this summer? How committed are you to putting yourself first? Share in the comments.

I have accidentally discovered how to recover from burnout 

while on lockdown during this COVID-19 pandemic.

I did not know that one needs to recover from burnout.... did you know?

I thought if  I took a few weeks or a couple days off and rested, 

then that would be enough to recover.

 I have been walking around tired, 

but also possibly dehydrated and  probably nutrient deficient too. 

I have been trudging through life wondering, 

"Why the daily constant struggle to get out of bed?"

but still the same lack of energy and motivation persisted.