The Trade-off: Are You Tricking or Treating Yourself?

I’m training for my first marathon, and I am far from being in the best shape of my life. I realized this mid-run, as my stomach was turning from the handfuls of candy corn m&ms I ate twenty minutes before (I need the energy!) and as my head was pounding from the beers I enjoyed with friends the night before (I’m just carbing up for the run!). Needless to say, by mile three of the seemingly bazillion I had to run that day, I was ready for it to be over.

I registered for the marathon thinking it would be a good challenge, a kickstart to running seriously again. What I didn’t realize is that I would start using it as an excuse to start eating like crap, introducing donuts and large burritos into what was a relatively healthy diet. I used the running as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, since I was just going to burn it all off, my metabolism was increasing, I needed the fuel for the run, etc. etc.

It reminded me of all the other “compromises” I’ve heard of people taking, or I have personally crafted, that justify unhealthy habits. I can drink this fifth rum and Coke as long as the soda is diet. I can eat this thousand-calorie burger for lunch and just have kale for dinner. And while diets are all about balance, each of these actions would be seriously tipping the scale one way, with no hope of equalizing no matter how many kombuchas I drink or miles I run in retribution.

Sure, you can indulge once in a while, but if the treat turns into excess and has you practicing unhealthy habits to atone, is it really worth it?

So this gets me back to the marathon, and my realization that putting in the miles was only a fraction of the training. Treating your body with respect and not punishing it for slip-ups was another fraction. That, and a lot of blister tape and anti-chafing lotion.

Even if you’re not training for a marathon, even if you’re not a runner at all, it’s something that can be applied to every aspect of life. It’s important to have the respect for your body, and to know that you can’t trick it into forgetting your unhealthy habits. It’s a struggle I know, with unhealthy habits being so convenient (and for some of them, so, so good). But, in the end, after you’ve crossed that finish line, it will be so worth it.