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Live Lightly

Yoga at Y2Yoga was incredible. I am making the commitment to go to hot yoga once a week! It’s just that good – for every inch of me.

Y2Yoga‘s studio is much closer to my house, and I really loved the feel. Totally modern and hip, and it had that zen feeling. Kelsey and I did a 90 minute hot vinyasa class led by Tanner. I was dripping and shaking at the end, per usual. I loved  how intimate the studio was – from the small room to the personal attention I got from Tanner. Details such as the lighting on dimmers and the MUSIC (!!) made it extra fun. As we were laying in savasana, I was wishin’ and hopin’ and prayin’ that I would be presented with a lavender-infused cool towel on my forehead since that is my very favorite part of going to a hot yoga class.

And a moment later – there it was!! Best moment of the day.

And as if the towel wasn’t enough, I got a quick foot massage during savasana too!!

I’ll definitely be going back to Y2Y 🙂

Molting

I molted during class. Literally – my skin was peeling off!! – but also metaphorically.  I just started a new year of life and made a few new year’s resolutions as I flowed. I reflected on year 26 and how I approached my healthy habits. During the past year I’ve really embraced intuitive eating. I eat whatever I want. That includes both sides of the spectrum – salads and oatmeal and beer and chocolate. I love exercise as much as I love frosting. I make choices based on how things will make me feel. I try to live with no regrets.

However, I feel like there is still a piece missing to the puzzle. As evident from both my clothing and my reflection in the mirror, I’ve put somewhere between 3 and 10 pounds. I’ve asked myself is it worth it to be able to eat whatever I want and be a little heavier. The answer> is yes, it is. But on the other hand, it would be so easy to just tone down the partying a little and molt out of those party pounds. I’m not unhappy with my body, but I’m not as happy as I used to be.

I have no plan for changing anything moving forward to year 27. I’m just going to go with the flow with the mindset of living lighter. If anything I just need to drink less alcohol and keep my hand out of my dark chocolate drawer. And not have a birthday for another year 😉

***

Lunch today was a mosh of leftovers –

Spaghetti Squash + Sauce plus Broccoli + Spinach

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Topped with some parrano cheese and red pepper flakes

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Hot tea season is here!

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Love the statement that this big bowl makes!! The set-up from Dr. McDougal’s is so pretty. Perhaps I’ll try another soup tomorrow!

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[This blog post took me entirely too long because my computer is SO FREAKIN’ SLOW. I need a new one ASAP….]

Gotta get crankin’!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Can I just say that either way you look absolutely stunning?

    Eating intuitively is so key and your meals show your love of health and your love of life all at once. It is hard when we feel a little off in our bodies, but I’m sure you’ll adjust in whatever way you need to to feel your best again. Just want you to know that you are gorgeous at 27 and don’t have to worry about changing anything.

    Reply

  2. Do you watch your sodium intake at all? I know that I am sodium-sensitive and just a little too much makes the water weight pounds compound if I don’t scale back on my sodium for awhile and let my body “deflate.”

    Love that big bowl! 🙂

    Jenn

    Reply

  4. I agree that I’d much rather be a little (little is the key word) heavier and enjoy the foods and drinks i love (in moderation, of course) rather than restrict myself. for my, restriction = frustration = deprivation = binging.

    Reply

  5. Kath,

    I’m a fairly new follower to your blog and I just wanted to say that I find you very inspirational! The reason I’ve enjoyed reading your posts every day is because I share mostly the same sentiments as you when it comes to life, exercise and eating. The only difference is I haven’t gotten to the super happy body place yet, but I found that being too strict on myself was affecting my overall happiness. I know I’m healthy even with the few extra pounds.

    You look amazing anyway 🙂 And thank you for your continued inspiration! Maybe by living lighter I can shed these last few pounds without noticing.

    Reply

  7. Glad you are happy no matter what, makes me want that feeling of eating what I want and have no regrets! You are a beautiful person and great inspiration for healthy living! Hope year 27 is amazing!

    Reply

  8. that yoga class sounds wonderful even to someone who is yoga-averse & not flexible at all. i think it must be the foot massage you mentioned…

    your living lighter approach sounds healthy and doable. dieting never works (& you definitely already look fantastic) and a healthy mindset is key. sounds good to me!

    Reply

  14. First of all, you look totally great but I understand the uncomfortableness when a few extra pounds creep on. I think your attitude about “living lightly” is a great one, and definitely something I’m going to keep in mind. With the winter months coming and the holiday season starting, I need to be more aware of what I’m putting in my body, as well as how much exercise I’m getting.
    You’re a great inspiration Kath, keep up the good work and happy birthday!

    Reply

  15. I agree with your sentiments: finding a balance between a healthy weight, a happy weight and a ideal amount of indulging is tricky. I truly think we can have it all. You are a great example to many, no matter where your new year takes you.

    Reply

  16. I love this post! “Live Lightly” is a goal I am striving toward as well. 🙂

    No matter the number on the scale, you look fantastic! Oddly enough, I had been thinking you’d lost weight lately based on how you look in photos you’ve posted. Maybe some of that scale gain is muscle, not fat! 🙂

    Reply

  17. Glad you had a good yoga class 🙂
    Also glad that you’re being really sensible about everything and just acknowledging that you can make a few different choices and all will be good.
    Hope year 27 is a great one!

    Reply

  18. I’ve been thinking the same thing recently – is it worth it to have a few extra pounds and eat the ice cream/cookie/chcolate, or be thinner and not enjoy as many treats. I’m still struggling with it.

    I admire your approach to eating, you enjoy sweets and wine but are healthy and don’t stress about every morsel you consume. You eat bread and dessert and hit the gym every day with no apologies.

    Reply

  19. I’m so glad you enjoyed the yoga studio, sounds like it is a wonderful place. That is how I feel about one of the studios I have just started going to. The one I am doing my teacher training in overlooks the ocean which is totally cool but it has more of a hippy chick kind of feel.

    Reply

  20. Thank you for presenting a well-balanced and healthy perspective on your weight. Like you said, though you might LIKE the way you look more when you’re a couple of pounds lighter, it’s not worth making drastic changes, nor is it NECESSARY. You ARE healthy, and you ARE at a healthy weight. Any changes would simply be for your own personal aesthetic pleasure, ’cause you still look like your same, great, healthy self to the rest of the world! Thanks for not falling into the diet trap, the “I need to look a certain way” trap, and the superficial trap . . . it’s refreshing.

    Reply

  23. It seems like a lot of us bloggers are going through this right now. Maybe it’s just the summer splurges catching up with us? Either way, you look great Kath and I love your positive attitude.

    Reply

  25. You should start your 27th year with a bang and get your self a MAC. Once you go MAC, you won”t go back. They are really expensive, but totally worth the money. We have a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air. Zero problems. Super fast too!!!

    Reply

  27. It sounds like you have a great approach to eating. Whenever I “eat intuitively,” I usually end up LOSING a few pounds, which isn’t good, because it’s a sign that if I’m really “watching it” I obsess over my intake and end up eating more than what I’d want in the first place! So even though those few extra pounds are pesky (we’ve all been there!), you look great and it’s so inspiring to know you have such a healthy mindset. As someone who’s struggled with disordered eating in the past, your blog is always a treat to read and reminds me that food exists to be enjoyed, and everything can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle! Enjoy the rest of your day and happy (belated) birthday!!

    Reply

  29. I did hot yoga for a couple of sessions in the past. The heat was too much for me to handle. I couldn’t last the 90 minute sessions. T_T It was a interesting experience tho. People who do it regularly swears by it.

    Reply

  33. I think I needed to read this today. I just ended a strict 12-week bootcamp and diet, I lost 11 lbs and I feel great but I was also living a life that wasn’t maintainable (is that a word?). And now I’m feeling frustrated because I’m scared I’m going to gain the weight back but I also want to enjoy my life again (which I haven’t done for 3 months). So to hear that you, who seems to have it all together (and who looks awesome in her photos, I might add), struggle with this too, is really eye-opening for me. I don’t know how personal you want to get on this blog, but I’d be interested in heraing more on your thoughts about how “living lighter” is going.

    Could not agree more: That includes both sides of the spectrum – salads and oatmeal and beer and chocolate. I love exercise as much as I love frosting. (well, replace beer with wine!)

    Reply

  34. Happy belated birthday!

    My boyfriend and I recently cut back on alcohol by deciding that we don’t have to have a drink because it’s there. That means that if we have beer in the fridge, we don’t need to have one (or two, or in his case, three) just because we have them. We can only have one if we really want one. It’s amazing how much I’ve cut back because of this–I’ve found that I rarely actually want a drink during the week.

    Reply

  35. I had the same thoughts about eating and a slight weight gain over my birthday weekend as well. I am looking forward to eating cleaner and getting back to a happy size-great post!

    Reply

  37. When I switched from a diet-based lifestyle to intuitive eating, I gained nearly 10lbs.

    And I struggle with the same questions you pose. I still think I look great, but I had to buy a lot of new clothes, lol.

    At the end of the day, I am healtheir eating real foods and not obessing over cals/points/etc. But healthy, for me, also means healthy in the brain, which means enjoying beer and wine and dark chocolate.

    I wish you well in your molting!

    Reply

  38. You look fabulous. Would you be able to keep up with all of your varied activities and lose? I have enjoyed reading your blog for a while, it seems that you are doing challenging workouts and your running speed is great. Would you be able to continue to improve and lose weight?

    Reply

  39. I love the big Starbucks mug — I went on a hunt all over Seoul to find a large cup and finally, of course, settled on one from good old Starbucks. 😀

    Reply

  40. i would adopt this mindset, if I didn’t always want to eat dessert after every meal! 🙂 But if it works for you, I think that’s great. I need to consciously say to myself, no you do not need dessert 5 times a day, even if you want it. oh well…once a day is still good 🙂

    Reply

  41. Kath, thank you for this. I’ve been following your blog for about 2 years. During one of those years, I got married, lost about 20 pounds, ran several marathons, and felt unbelievable. I felt so good in everything I wore, never worried about how something looked from behind, and rocked my bathing suits. The wedding was the impetus for the weight loss, but I actually lost about 5-7 of those pounds AFTER the wedding, because I was on such a high and was loving how I looked and felt.

    During the past year, I’ve moved to a new place (with an hour-long commute each way) and gained back about 10-15 of those pounds. I have stopped abiding by all of the self-imposed rules that allowed me to lose the weight–eating half of all restaurant portions, skipping dessert, really limiting alcohol, not going out to lunch during the week. Once I started gaining a few pounds, I felt like it was just inevitable that I’d gain it all back, and everything started slipping. The bad thing is, I am just as cognizant of my diet now as I was before, it’s just that I’m (intentionally?) making the wrong choices instead of the right ones. It’s almost as if I’m sabotaging myself, and I have no idea why–as if I’m telling myself “you deserve this” and “you should enjoy this” and eating it all, but not getting any of the enjoyment that should be the whole motivation behind such indulgences.

    That said, I just ran another marathon, and actually set a personal record. I ran faster than I ran 15 pounds ago, and re-qualified for Boston. I can run forever and not get tired. So, I’m struggling with the fact that this body can do pretty awesome things and still be such a source of anxiety and annoyance. I’m strong and healthy. Isn’t that enough? For me, I guess it’s not. And until it is, I need to focus on getting back to a place where I was not being restrictive, but was being good to myself and not just eating or drinking things “because I could.”

    I’m going to try to remember this post as I head into the holidays. Indulging isn’t fun if I’m not *really* going to enjoy it.

    Reply

  42. This is so relatable: maintain a weight you’re thrilled at but takes effort possibly brinking on burden, or come to be happy at a weight that you may not be *as* thrilled at but is just as healthy. You can rest assured, at least, that any weight gained was from “real (healthful) food” — no crazy drive-thru binges there or anything. But, like you said, I think a little less alcohol/dessert indulgence, especially in preparation for the upcoming holiday season, is not too restrictive. Of course, though, it’s a personal choice. Thanks for bringing this to light.

    Reply

  43. I really enjoyed this post.

    In 2002, I lost 57 lbs. I got down to 125 lbs, which is really small for me (I’m muscular).

    I worked really hard to stay there. Then I gained a bit back, got pregnant, had a hard time losing the baby weight. Worked really hard to lose the last 25 lbs, back to 125.

    Worked really hard to stay there. Then gained weight on vacation.

    Now here’s the thing. I’ve been 132 +/-2 lbs for a year and a half. With no effort. Really. Okay, I cut back on the chocolate when I hit 135. But otherwise, it’s been pretty effortless. Am I okay with 132 lbs at a muscular 5’2.5″ if it’s this easy?

    Yes, I am. I’ve been training for a 1/2 marathon, and my resting heart rate is freaking 59!! That’s AWESOME!

    Reply

  45. Kath, Thanks for this post. I, too, struggle with the fine line between eating what I want and watching my portions and my choices. I don’t want to be counting calories or worrying too much about a treat here or there- but I also know that too much of a laxed attitude can lead to a quick weight gain. Maintaining weight loss is always the hardest, but I also want to be at a weight that my body can sustain and be happy at for the long-term. I am still struggling to find that place.
    Thanks for your honest post!

    Reply

  46. I’m so glad that yoga was such an enjoyable experience for you! That studio sounds wonderful!

    And I love your “molting” realizations. It’s so difficult to find that balance between eating healthy and not letting that take away from living life to its fullest enjoyment. You truly have come a long way! 🙂

    Reply

  47. This is interesting. I am not the kind of person who can eat whatever I want and be the same weight, no matter how much I exercise. I am currently working on not having something (the bowl of ice cream, the cupcake, etc.) simply because I do not want to deprive myself of things I want. For what it’s worth, I did go back and read most of your posts from your old blog after I learned about it this summer (creepy?) and you seem much happier and care free now.

    Reply

  48. hey kath,
    i know this seems ot counterintuitive (especially to the whole intuitive eating thing) but have you ever thought about weighing yourself? you say you think you’ve gained 3-10lbs — well, that’s a big difference! maybe if you knew where/what you were exactly, you’d see where in the “healthy weight range” (’cause no doubt you are still there) you are and feel better about it?

    Reply

  51. Happy Belated Birthday! I love reading your thoughts on this issue. I find it refreshing to know that people such as you and Caitlin (Healthy Tipping Point) struggle with “getting back on track” or making sure your clothes are fitting just right. We all go up and down and we all need to step back sometimes and look at exactly what were taking in and why. It seems that you have a really good grip on this and are doing everything in the most healthy way for your body and your mind. Keep up the great work. You look fabulous!

    Reply

  57. Happy Belated Birthday Kath….I have only commented one other time. But, I have to tell you what an inspiration you are to so many others. To watch you enjoying life with your husband the way you do….it’s very heartwarming. I know how it feels to see the numbers on the scale go up, it’s not where we want it to be….But, consider the fact of what a healthy eater you are, you indulge but you don’t over do it. I admire the way you go out , or stay home with your hubby and have a few cocktails. These are times that you should be embracing, not that you don’t….but when the babies come along those moments will be fewer and further between. Enjoy your life, you are a wonderful, healthy inspiration to SO many of us!!!

    Reply

  58. I ask myself the exact same question that you posed – I have yet to figure out the answer.

    What works for me, in terms of cutting back a bit, is to not drink at home. Now there are exceptions, but for the most part, I only drink when I go out to dinner.

    Reply

  59. Living lighter is a great way to approach it. You have had tons of vacations/conferences/celebrations where you splurged a lot the last year and it all adds up. Maybe just adjust the way you approach these events and not go overboard so much.

    Reply

  60. I love your “living lightly” attitude! A couple more things to keep in mind – even if you enjoy the occasional alcohol/dessert/chocolate indulgence, 95% of your diet is healthy, whole, real food. That’s way better than a lot of us can say (me included). Also, even if your weight is a little higher than you’d like it to be, don’t discount what it can DO – carrying you through a super-speedy 5K or a 90-minute hot yoga session are incredible accomplishments! You are a great inspiration to us all. 🙂

    Reply

  62. Thank you for this post. I’m puzzling through many of the same things. I went through a phase of completely intuitive eating, which was really healthy and necessary for me. I gained a few pounds as a result. I am coming to the conclusion that slightly more structure and planning to my eating is probably good for me, and I am trying to figure out how to implement that while still maintaining some of the emotional gains from my completely unplanned intuitive phase.

    Reply

  63. I have been feeling the same way! I still love by body but I still long to be the 5 pounds lighter I was this time last year. I do feel stronger though and that makes me happy. I am trying to dedicate this week to getting back on track. It seems to be a theme among the blogs. I guess our bodies are trying to pack on the extra layer for warmth. My problem is my body is telling me consuming a lot of alcohol is really fun, but I am working on trying to convince it otherwise!

    Reply

  64. I’ve always thought you looked slimmer in recent photos and thought it was because of all your activities…not sure where you see those 3-10lbs. You look fabulous!

    Reply

  65. Thanks so much everyone!! Your comments really brightened my day 🙂

    Jenn,
    No I don’t really and I do see the effects of salt 🙁

    JessicaR,
    Maybe I have relative to a few weeks ago!? I doubt its muscle because my clothes and eyes beg to differ and I haven’t even weighed myself!

    julia,
    I used to never drink during the week either…

    ri’chele,
    I’m not sure what you’re asking??

    S,
    LOVE LOVE your comment. SO true about the “rules” that we all know from reading magazines and all. Where do you draw the line between “i deserve it” and your waist? I suppose by asking if the item is worth it. And then the problem becomes when you have a worth it event every day!

    Sara,
    Yes, I suppose I could. But I guess I want to prove to myself that the numbers really don’t matter. It’s how I feel. But you do have a good point.

    Kath

    Reply

  66. Great post! I have three kids, and while I am very happy with my weight, I have plenty of “jiggles” that I could probably get rid of if I stopped putting cream in my coffee or having a beer with dinner. Or if I stepped up the stomach crunches, or stopped eating dessert. But at this point, it’s not worth it to me at all. It took me a long time to get to this point, and many things contributed to it. I wouldn’t trade it for the borderline eating disorders of my past for a million dollars.

    p.s. The comment layout is much better … thank you!

    Reply

  68. Who is this crazy anonymous cheese poster? That just ruined the flow of my reading all of these fantastic and uplifting comments. Boo on you. Cheese is awesome. AND healthy.

    I just did a hot yoga session last night. Seriously, LOVE that stuff. And my skin molts too. Haha, love that part as well. It’s such a detox experience. I prefer the flow of hatha and power yoga classes, but it’s just such an awesome feeling at the end of a hot yoga class to lie there knowing that you survived and didn’t keel over!

    Re: living lightly, I think this sounds fantastic and it is definitely something that I’ve started trying to actively think about before I eat/drink something. Will I feel uncomfortably full afterward? Or light, energized, and uplifted? Healthy foods in moderation will leave me feeling healthy and happy. But, going out for margaritas and enchiladas is going to make me happy tonight too – so you better believe that I’m going to order what I want off the menu. Half of it will just be coming home with me in a takeaway container!

    Reply

  69. Beautiful post kath, thanks for the healthy, intuitive reminders 🙂

    I joined a Hot Yoga Studio a few months ago, and it was the best decision I ever made. Fabulous!

    Reply

  70. Good luck with your living lightly approach! I hope it works out for you! I don’t want to be a total buzzkill but I tried to lose weight while still being an intuitive eater for about 2 years and it did not work for me. I run about five miles a day and do a lot of circuit training as well as eat a very balanced diet. I don’t even like alcohol so those calories are not a problem for me. I can give or take bread so that’s easy for me to avoid and while I do have a sweet tooth I never have a big portion of that kind of thing. A little is enough for me. Still, in order for me to lose weight I have to pay attention and actively make changes. Losing weight is VERY difficult when you are talking about those last five pounds. I struggle with trying to just be happy where I’m at and thinking, “but if I give in and accept these five pounds what will keep it from becoming ten, etc.?”
    Seriously, I wish you the best and maybe your experience will be better than mine. I just wanted to say something because we are very much alike in activity level and diet and I have been dealing with exactly this for awhile. So, if you really are happy at this weight with this lifestyle than that’s AWESOME but I wouldn’t expect changes unless you are really comitted and actually MAKE a consistent, documentable change. Do you think if you made an effort to lose a few pounds that you could go back to this lifestyle and maintain the lower weight?

    Reply

  73. Kath-you would NOT have written this post 2 or 3 years ago. You are also at a much happier and healthier place (I think). I love that you are going to focus on “Living Lighter” and that you are NOT going to impose a bunch of rules on yourself (1126, anyone? 🙂 )

    Remember the squiggly line! You’ve had lots of peaks lately and not as many valleys but it has been an AMAZING last 6 months with a TON of travel. The fact that you still fit into your clothes with all the travel you’ve been doing is amazing. So many people use it as an excuse to eat crap and that you have not!

    Chelsea

    P.S. We got the go ahead from Shaun. SO EXCITED!

    Reply

  76. Christie,
    I actually have been very successful in the past 2 years of maintenance just cutting back a bit and slimming down. Usually this happens in times when I don’t have a lot of travel or celebrations. So I’m not that worried about it “working” or not. I know it will if I make the choices.

    K

    Reply

  77. Hi kath,
    A while back I think it was Caitlin who said “Your skinny weight isnt necessarily your happy weight”. This is one of the strongest, truest comments that I have heard on this subject and I really am trying to remind myself of this. It is hard for me to accept but 3-5 lbs above your “skinny” weight is a much happier place once you get there. You look amazing.

    Reply

  78. Thanks for writing this! You kind of read my mind lately with how I have been thinking. I stopped counting calories after my wedding and over the past year have noticed a slight weight gain and more of an ebb and flow. Although at first I freaked out, largely due to losing the control I once had, I slowly began to realize that I do have control and that everything in moderation begins to even itself out. As well as I feel a whole lot better mentally than I ever did!

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply

  79. I look to your way of eating a lot for inspiration, as I’m trying to be a lot more intuitive with my hunger and cravings as well. I used to kill myself to stay skinny and muscular. But my social life took a huge hit because of it. I decided that it was worth it to be maybe 5 lbs over my dream weight, if that meant I could go out for beer(s) with my friends and feel a little more carefree 🙂 I agree though, it’s always important to re-evaluate and reel ourselves back in sometimes!

    Reply

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