Why easing up on healthy living may be the healthiest thing of all

I spent the month of October traveling in Asia. Food, as always, featured prominently in my trip. I ate my way through Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Bali and even cooked a few times. I learned about traditional Indonesian foods in the markets of East Bali and about Cambodian snacking habits (crickets!!) in the streets of Siem Reap. But the most surprising thing I learned was the importance of taking a break from “healthy living.”

If you – like me – sometimes get a bit too focused on being “healthy,” here are some reasons I found to take a step back:

• Give your body a break. I trained for and completed two half marathons this year and kept up a fairly strenuous workout routine even after the Lake Placid Half Marathon in June. I became a little obsessed with “keeping my base,” ie, staying at the same general fitness level I’d achieved after almost 10 months of non-stop training. (FYI: I do NOT recommend doing two long-distance races in a six-month period. Too much.) Well, that pretty much went out the window when I was in Southeast Asia. I did run a few times in Indonesia, but it’s tough when you’re dodging stray dogs prone to chasing and motor bikes manned by kamikaze Balinese drivers. So I took a break from running for the most part. My knees have thanked me many times.
• Give your brain a break. Worrying about what you’ll eat and when you’ll exercise is exhausting sometimes! I recently encouraged a client who was feeling overwhelmed with meal planning, choosing the right foods, etc. to stop worrying about it for a while. The universe is funny like that, asking you to offer the same advice that you need to hear when you need to hear it. I took my own advice and stopped worrying so much about what I was putting in my mouth while I was traveling. I just ate what I wanted when I wanted it…and I feel just fine. Great, even. Imagine that?
• Conduct a great experiment. Deviating from your normal food and exercise routine can lead to surprising discoveries. Because I was in Ubud, Bali for about 10 days, I did a lot of yoga at an amazing outdoor studio called The Yoga Barn. I also did more than my fair share of swimming. (It’s freakin’ HOT in Bali!) Now I have two new things to add to my fitness routine, things that will help balance out my Pilates/running heavy schedule. I also learned that I’m a little over-obsessed with staying hydrated and with always having snacks. In Cambodia and Indonesia, I learned the true value of fresh water – it’s not easy to come by, so you pay for it and you don’t waste a drop. I can stay perfectly hydrated on one large bottle a day. My obsessive water chugging is a thing of the past. And seriously – what do I think’s gonna happen if I don’t have a Larabar in my bag at all times?! I can go longer between meals than I thought.
• Reconnect with why you love what you love. Not doing Pilates for a while makes me soooooo appreciate it now that I’m back and remember why it became my passion in the first place.

A favorite quote of mine from Oscar Wilde pretty much sums it up: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.”

Are there any “healthy habits” that you may have taken too far? What’s one thing you can ease up on this week? Tell me in the comments!