I have a confession: I make poor choices often in my life. I’m learning how to accept this about myself and have compassion, opposed to beating myself up and calling myself a failure every time a poor choice occurs. Often my poor choices are related to my diet and my lifestyle, but I AM HUMAN and sometimes I get sucked into the comfortable pull of what my life “used to be like.”
When I didn’t have to think about what I ate, or the intensity of my exercise, I could just do…what I wanted.
A recent series of poor choices began after I bought a bag of coffee. Coffee and I are not the best of friends, but I have come to accept that I will likely forever try to be friends with her. The problem is – sometimes coffee works, and sometimes it doesn’t. This hot/cold temper of my old friend makes it difficult to fully kick the habit.
It’s very easy for me to fall into the addictive nature of coffee. Coffee to me was never something I drank for the physical boost (although it was nice) until more recent times. When I take long breaks from coffee and then enjoy a cup the energy hits me in ways I then begin to crave.
As someone who struggles with fatigue, the surge of coffee makes me feel like I’m invincible.
I go long stretches of time without coffee, but somehow it always calls me back. After endless trial and error I am learning it’s not just the coffee, it’s often what I pair my coffee with, or HOW MUCH coffee I have that causes an issue. I decided to buy a bag last month and told myself I would ration it.
I drank it two days in a row and felt good, so of course I continued to push the boundaries.
The problem arose on the second day of consumption, when I went for a long bike ride, a 30 minute jog/walk, and a small hike. All three…in one day. For a normal body this wouldn’t be a big deal, but for an easily overtaxed body this was a lot. I have found a decent balance between pushing myself and resting, but the problem wasn’t this specific day of activity, the problem was it left me wanting more.
More coffee/rice cakes (big no no for me), more running, more long days in the sun, more, more, more. The days to follow I kept drinking coffee, I kept trying to jog, I kept biking, and my body started talking. I didn’t want to listen, but after a week of this I knew I had to stop. I am listening to my body better than I used to, but I still make these choices sometimes.
I regret nothing, because this day of adventure was so much fun it was worthy of this blog post.
This day of adventure took me on my bike to Eschenlohe, one of my favorite towns to bike to. I stopped halfway and jogged for 30 minutes (more like jog/walk) and it surprisingly felt good. Once in Eschenlohe, I hiked up to a small church I had seen many times to enjoy a small view below. I also found a creepy cave and walked through it, and the lights flickered off at one point causing my life to flash before my eyes.
It was really a very lovely day.
All of this rambling is to say I’m not perfect (not that anyone ever thought I was) with my lifestyle, and I continue to struggle often. The positive in this is that I am better today with my choices than I was yesterday, and so on. I know drinking less coffee on a stomach full of food helps me to feel “ok,” and these loopholes keep me coming back.
Sometimes it’s ok to be a human being, to make choices you know you might regret. What’s not ok is letting these choices control you or your day. For so long I would be controlled by my actions, and I am still a work in progress, but it’s a progression I don’t intend to quit improving at. I keep shifting, keep trying, and keep learning the best way to honor my body, while still doing things I enjoy.
One thing I no longer do is reward myself with sugar after a long workout.
I continued to drink coffee daily for about three weeks, and I found a good balance of foods to eat with the coffee. I cut out the foods that I know don’t work during these three weeks, but eventually my body said: “YO, please stop.” I also stopped trying to run (Brittany, let this go – you don’t even enjoy running.)
What started as a difficult time of stillness in my life (being on LWOP), transitioned into a time of self discovery. These discoveries are continual, and will shift as time goes on. For the first time since my life started to really change in my mid 20’s I am finding excitement in these moments of discovery. Most of the time. 😉
I’m also more proud of my physical accomplishments these days, and compare myself to others far less. Baby steps.
Q: What is one lifestyle choice you continue to come back to, even when it’s not always the best choice for you? GRAINS ARE NOT MY FRIEND, and coffee needs to be moderated.
Blissfulbritt 
38 thoughts on “Bike, Jog, Hike”
Sheree
I am not allowed, soy, dairy, animal products, eggs or fried foods. I do occasionally pinch a few chips off my beloved’s plate.
Brittany
Sometimes we just have to live our lives!! I avoid grains of all kinds (especially gluten), dairy, sugar, and used to avoid nuts.
I have been eating nuts again, but definitely notice when I do. At this point I pick my battles. Fried foods don’t make anyone feel good though, so I avoid those too!
thechrisdotcom
My guilty pleasure that I tend to go back to every once in awhile is McDoanlds. I’m not gonna lie, I love me a cheeseburger. But honestly I don’t eat as much fast food as I tend to think. I feel like I eat too much but ask me the last time I had it, couldn’t tell ya. I’m sure it was more recent than I remember but I guess I don’t feel bad because I really don’t get it as much as I did when I was younger. I try to be more mindful about what I eat, and I’m far from perfect.
How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? And how much water do you drink? Obviously your body reacts differently than mine. I limit myself to 2 caffeinated drinks a day. Doesn’t mean I will drink it. Usually coffee in the morning and maybe something after work, maybe dinner. Yes, another guilty pleasure, I like a Coke every once in awhile. But I try to limit my caffeine intake because I feel like I’ll be up late at night.
In the end, I’ve been going on more walks, hikes, and riding my bike(and tumbling downhills with said bike). So I feel a good balance.
Brittany
You’re not alone in your love for Macd’s. I was always more of a BK fan, but I can’t remember the last time I had either. That’s not to say I don’t get down with some garbage food, but mine usually comes in the form of white crystalized crack. Sugar is my weakness.
I make my coffee very weak, and I usually drink 1-2 cups (10oz cups.) I try to drink at least 75 oz of water a day, but realistically I drink around 50 oz. I do want to get better with my water intake, I used to drink SO much more. Especially with my Sjogren’s, I need all the help I can get in the liquid department.
Balance is all you can ask for! I wish I could still counteract my food choices with exercise, but I cannot. So I have to be extra mindful. 🙂
thechrisdotcom
Oh BK, BK Stacker was my jam. It went away then came back but it’s not as good as I remembered. If I’m gonna do fast food I usually try just go to Dicks instead.
I used to be really good with water intake. I really need to step it up. I’m trying to get a little more active so I should drink more water. I could really use it.
Keep on keepin’ on!
Brittany
I’ll keep you accountable if you keep me accountable! HAH.
Also, I don’t tell many people this…but when I broke my vegan diet years ago (for a myriad of reasons I won’t go into) one of the first things I ate…was a Whopper. WHY!? I don’t know…but something about that flame grilled burger from trashy BK was just what I was craving.
I also cried while I ate it, but I’m a mess of a human. HAHA.
thechrisdotcom
Tears of joy of getting to eat what you really want. Haha jk.
In 1997 I went to a skateboard/BMX camp in Woodward, PA. Hence the name, Camp Woodward. One of the other campers in my cabin was a vegetarian. They had daily burgers and hot dogs outside the skate shop below the cantina. He broke his diet and ate so many burgers that week. We became friends for the week with some others. He was so funny whiling eating the burger. You’d think he was making love. Hahaha
Brittany
LOL. Mine were DEFINITELY tears of sadness and confusion, but I don’t regret eating the burger. I also cried a few more times as I began eating meat again. I didn’t reallllyy want to eat the meat…but now I eat half a chicken daily. I love myyyy chickennn.
B
I know I need to cut out soda but it’s just SO hard. I’ll do good for a week or two and then it’s back to old habits.
Brittany
I gave up soda when I was 15, because I was SO obsessed with my teeth. My dentist told me when I got braces I needed to stop drinking soda and it was the ONLY time in my life giving something up was that easy.
WHYYY can’t it be that easy to avoid sugar in other forms?!
cstanski
I have cut back on carbs quite a bit but still need to cut back more, so I hear your struggle. One mental exercise which helps me not be so hard on myself is looking back and showing myself, look how far you have come. Blessings to you Brittany! Keep it up! 🙂
Brittany
Carbs are such a difficult thing to give up, but I can only tolerate certain ones! It’s definitely easier some days than others. I need to be kinder to myself though, and remember how far I have come too! Thank you for the reminder.
cstanski
💖
Omatra7
Really love this post!! ❤️ connected with your words
I drink coffee … not tons just maybe a cup a day when I wake up – just starts my day.
Is just my one guilty pleasure, so I’m ok with that lol 😄✌️
But I did love this post, your story, your words and your photos! Nice one ✌️
Brittany
Hey, if you can handle the coffee KEEP DRINKING IT! It’s such a nice start to the day.
Thank you for the kind words. ❤️❤️
multitaskHER
I want to limit my
sugar intake!
Brittany
It will definitely make you feel better! Even if you already feel fine. Ha!
Amy
You are SO not alone, especially with coffee and exercise!! It’s so hard to cut back on things that bring us joy, even when they don’t fully agree with our bodies… It’s like a teeter totter between our heads and our hearts, and finding that delicate balance where one side doesn’t crash to the ground isn’t always easy. 😉 For me right now, it’s sleep. I *know* I need a lot of it (my mom has told me since I was a baby that I’ve always been the person who needs 9+ hours a night, even as an adult!), but… With everything going on in the world right now and how many people are now cooking/baking all of their food and therefore how many people are asking questions through emails, comments, and DMs… I’m working WAY too much (ummm 10-12 hour days? 🙈) and sacrificing sleep. And turning to coffee in the afternoons to compromise. 😂🙈 I’m definitely right there with you and spending the next few weeks getting that teeter totter in my life back to balanced! 😉
Brittany
Sleep can be so hard to balance, but I’m definitely a psycho about mine at times. 😂 Just remember how good your gut feels when you sleep! (Easier said than done after I ate gluten filled pancakes three days ago and only just feel a bit better.)
Amy
Ohhhh man, the pancakes… I’m sure they were worth it, right?? 😜 I was TOTALLY a psycho about sleep before COVID! I seriously love my sleep… So I’m kind of surprised that I’ve been pushing myself on this little sleep for almost two months now. 😂🙈
Brittany
Yea, they were worth it. HA!
aleenamaria111
Really motivating and comforting words. superb pics.
Brittany
Thank you!
Pam
Argh Sugar it’s my nemesis 😩
I feel like I eat a fairly balanced meal could get away with a bit less volume…..and definitely could add more H2O
At the end of the day I just don’t want to do something that makes me feel bad….so I try to apply that to how I eat and how I exercise, you don’t have to hurt to feel good
Now that isn’t to say I don’t have bad days….sometimes that ice cream calls and I’m talking about the whole pint…..I just try not to do it with regularity 😂😂😂
Keep working at that balance, you’ll find it’s worth it👍❤️🙋♀️
Brittany
I am convinced sugar is everyones nemesis, even if they don’t realize it!! I have been quite on top of sugar intake lately though, lots of fatty nuts help with that! It’s been over a month since I have had any sugar. The monumental part is that it hasn’t felt like restriction!!
That’s not to say now that the mountain huts are open I won’t finally try Kaiserschmarrn…can you believe I have lived here this long and still have not had it!?
Pam
Yum…..🍴Move over….😊
I want to hear all about it……by chance have you had the crepes, there’s a push cart in Stuttgart just as you come up from underground tunnel from park at edge of city center this guy makes the best crepes, and of course I get the Nutella with banana😌
Almost as good as the Prague donuts off the metal pole….great memories
Oh my and don’t forget scones and clotted cream ….❤️
To the pleasures in life 👍🙋
Brittany
Scones are my absolute favorite, I’ll never forget the one I ate in Scotland on our Highlands tour! I haven’t been to Stuttgart at all yet, and the only crepe I’ve had since living here were right outside Norte Dame in Paris. It was amazing!
Hettie D.
Well … my idea of going to bed at 10-30 PM didn’t quite work… I am still missing 30-40 min of sleep each day.
Brittany
In a normal world I go to bed before 10, lately I have been going to bed after 10! I don’t know who I am anymore. LOL
wisconsingarden
Ahh, coffee! I think that if we met in real life we would be friends. But the coffee might be a problem. Here is what I did on my first month of working from home: Had my usual 2 morning espressos, and my usual evening espresso. Drank many cups of irish breakfast tea during the day. Maybe an espresso after lunch. Then one day, I didn’t have that evening coffee. Woke up at 3 am with a raging withdrawal headache. Had to get up and drink an espresso at 3 friggin am! I am a junkie and not proud of that. I did taper off so now it is just the 2 espressos in the morning, chamomile tea during the dat if I want a hot beverage. Have to be careful of not drinking too much coffee when I return to WFH in June…
Brittany
Oh my goodness!! Espresso at 3am!? I don’t know what’s crazier – getting up to drink it, or that you can sleep after it! But I get it. I totally get it. The withdrawal is so real and it’s painful.
gpavants
Hi Brittney,
Funny you mention food and change. It seems like everything during COVID is flaring up. Like milk and lactose. I like dairy, but I also think it’s stress. Who knows. Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks,
Gary
Brittany
My body had been on the flare up train for years, so it’s something I’m used to. 🤪
Judith P. Dionne
I am always gluten free; it’s forever off the table. Dairy though. We have a love-hate relationship. It’s like that ex that keeps showing up saying he’s changed. Then you let him back in and in a little while you regret it! 😂😉
Brittany
HAHA, this analogy is spot on.
ReidIvinsMedia
I’m allergic to shellfish (and some fish) so I don’t touch those but anything else is good. Not in the least tempted by what fast-food chains laughably call “restaurants” but do support local cafes, drink lots of coffee (9+ mugs a day) and strong tea on top, devotee of spicy food especially Indian and Chinese but Thai or Mexican will do.
There are two things that hit me like a freight train that I find impossible to give up. The first is real ale; not the carbonated fizz served freezing cold to disguise the vile taste dished out in many pubs and bars around the world. The latter doesn’t tempt me at all. I mean beer made purely from water, hops, malt and yeast, kept alive by natural carbonation and served between 50-55F. The second is nicotine be it delivered by a cigarette, a vape or snuff. Horribly non-PC I know! Indisputably not good to do, etc, etc.
Ply me with coffee, real ale and a decent smoke and I’m happy. Add in a good hike and a curry for a seventh heaven result😀
Brittany
While I don’t drink or smoke, I can agree we all have our “non-PC” vices. If this stuff brings you great joy who am I to argue! You know the risks, and as an adult you can make that choice.
For me – it’s sugar. Lots and lots of sugar. But I don’t have a good control over it and it makes me ill so I try to avoid it completely.
Key word is try.
ReidIvinsMedia
Definitely we all have vices and foibles to make life interesting. As a little kid I loved sugary things but as I got past about eight years or so I lost my sweet tooth well and truly. By the time I made the teens I didn’t enjoy fruit anymore as it was too sweet. That’s stuck with me throughout my life.
I can understand how sugar makes you ill. It does me too. Pre the covid plague I decided to have an alcohol-fee night, went to my local pub and ordered a bottle of Fentimans Dandelion and Burdock pop/soda. As it tasted quite dry and refreshing I had another and started to feel really weird (faint, sick), read the label and was amazed to find out each half pint bottle contained tons of sugar so I’d got a massive sugar high. Felt really off well into the next day. My theory was that because I don’t have a lot of sugar my body was unused to it- perhaps your being ill with sugar is the same?
It’s intriguing how what presses one person’s taste buttons leaves another person stone cold and vice versa. Yet whatever is the thing a person really likes it’s always bad for them; salt, sugar, caffeine, nicotine, fat, etc, Very unfair but I guess it’s hardwired into our genes.