A Holiday Tale: The Binge Bandit Versus The Control Freak

The Utah SWEAT Spot

A Blog for Sports & Wellness Therapy

POST #10

MONTH: December

WEEK: 2

TOPIC: Nutrition Spot

Spot of the Week:       A Holiday Tale: The Binge Bandit Versus The Control Freak

When I was a kid, well actually a young adult, I guess an adult… OK until about 3 years ago, I was a hoarder when it came to food. Those around me find it hard to believe given my shape, but in truth, it hasn’t been until this past year that I’ve grown into my natural way physically and mindfully. These patterns are things that I tend to reflect on as I close out yet another year (with half empty thoughts), and welcome a New Cycle (half full and then some!)

I met with a client not long ago who I hadn’t seen in months. We talk regularly and as his Coach, I’ve been building his training plan consistently for endurance sport, specifically triathlon, for a few years.  Not only has he made incredible gains as a seasoned short and long course triathlete, he has undergone a health make-over. I believe it started from finding joy doing sport- having fun, feeling success and seeing life change. With some nutrition guidance, his body shifted quickly. Like most recreational enthusiasts, he took time ‘off’ from his training plan and found his body composition bouncing right back to where he started. The older we get, the faster this tends to happen. After a few tough races dabbling into the next season, this man I’m calling ‘Ambo’ (sounds like Rambo), took a step back and honed in on nutrition. He gave over to a highly structured and medically facilitated program and WOW! Huge gains with not only weight loss, but education, awareness, and confidence- some critical keys to long-term success.

Ambo was not morbidly obese by any means. His energy can spread like wild fire- he expresses with conviction, half-full (vs half empty) nature, and he can turn a rainstorm into a rainbow.  I imagine him like an Amphetamine Boost (therefore his nick-name ‘AmBo’), medicinally going right to my blood stream, providing a motivating high. But he left feeling remorse, even with his success to where I could barely recognize him,  exposing common signs of internal battles we all face, especially this time of year.

The Sweat of the Matter by sharing AmBo’s story is that my recommend could be for your nutrition program to follow a strict diet in order to reach your goals, but I’m not. I do commend AmBo and the Program on his successes, and I look forward to seeing him move beyond performance goals again 2013 season. Instead, AmBo triggered memories of my hoarding days. When he left the office, we joked about him sounding like a ‘girl’ fretting over a few extra pounds gained since Thanksgiving. When he called me a few hours later, he was still kicking himself- rather his Control-Freak conscience had his Binge-Bandit in the line of fire. I’d like to share some personal experience, some professional advice and some progressive tips to gift you if facing your demons this holiday season.

In my little days, I remember running from the dinner table crying often, typically before I got to taking a bite. As I’m writing this I realize that I began to associate food with emotion very early. I grew up feeling like I had to fight for everything- love, attention, fun, food… I was a shy pea of a thing, a girl in tom-boy pants having three older brothers, in a very male-oriented household. And from a young age, I always had stuff stashed in my closet and school bag, just in case- not just one thing but lots of the same or a small variety. Food became my survival kit when I needed to feel so living and breathing without it within my control was like asthma without an inhaler. I resolved to my stores often as an athlete natural born and raised, aside from make-shift dinners in my room.

Strike a chord? If you’ve followed my blogs, you will likely see that I use writing as a tool. This Spot has revealed yet another layer of my onion, and when I find these joyful moments of awareness, I become lighter, faster, stronger from the inside out.

That’s my wish for each of you, especially Ambo, this holiday season, whether we are talking nutrition, work, love, etc.... Take time to:

1. FIND YOUR MEANS- what’s your tool to access your layers? We all have them being human, both tools and layers. First step is to face the fact that you might have some need to find them. Then take a fun journey spending time doing things that bring you great joy with the soul intention of accessing, for the greater good of you and all you touch.  Once you find your tool, build it into your schedule like a workout and start peeling away.

2. DOCUMENT WHAT YOU’RE LEARNING- in some way shape or form. This could be writing, taping yourself talk, or some cool techno gadget. It could be investing in a specialist that can support your journey, or it may be best to go with it and let the process unfold without order.

3. GO ALL IN- by prioritizing time, attitude, perhaps dollars, etc... I’ve found the half way process could leave you in a worse place battling the Bandit and the Freak. So, begin by  ‘feeling-full’ with the intention of reaching ‘empty’, and knowing you will then re-fill with only what you really need. This is one way of describing a ‘cleanse program’. A healthy one though!

And most important, if you’ve accessed a layer or even simply bought the onion and don’t know what to do with it next, I’m only a phone call away (see office contact on our website).

Into the New Year, I Wish You Well In Life & Sport!

Cari Junge

Nutrition & Therapy Director

Utah Sports and Wellness

www.utahsportsandwellness.com