Dear Boys and Girls,
I had been planning my month long trip to Europe for months now. About two or three weeks before I left for Paris (I’m here now), I started to panic. What if I get fat in Paris? What if I go crazy and forget that I’m into fitness? That I don’t eat processed foods? That I’ve been eating vegan and a somewhat high percentage of raw for almost two months now? What if I undo all my hard work?

I know these worries may seem silly to most, but Paris is emotionally charged for me. The last time I was here for a month, I went hog wild. My friends found me cleaning out the refrigerator by eating its contents. I had hit rock bottom and in Paris, I had decided to stay there. I had somewhat thrown in the towel with my weight. Instead of making better eating choices, I was having 2 to 3 desserts per day.

The end result? My fat before picture.

So, while Paris is lovely and the women are skinny (they’re actually not that skinny and definitely not fit, and I don’t say that to be catty at all), the emotions that I brought with me here were charged and not so positive. So: before arriving, I prepared myself mentally and emotionally. I brought along my raw protein powder, some super foods, my Shakeology, and a whole new mind set:

I am here to enjoy myself, the company of my friends, and this beautiful country. I am not here to stuff myself to oblivion and forget that fitness is a defining part of my life. That said, and to answer the question once and for all of, “Will you have a croissant while you’re here?”, the answer is: probably. I will probably have some cheese, too. Who knows. But the truth is, I’m really not giving it that much thought, not as much thought I as I thought I would.
What I realized? I am a changed woman. I am not the same woman who was cleaning the fridge out with her mouth. Excuse the visual.

Fitness is part of my life.

Eating clean is part of my life.

Wow. I must admit, I am so pleasantly surprised that food does not have that control over me, not the way I thought it did. I feel happy.

I’m spending 18 days with a friend that I went to graduate school with. To be honest, I can’t tell you how glad I am to be spending my days with someone who is also into health and fitness. We wake up, we bring it with a Beachbody workout, we eat clean, and we live. We experiment with Shakeology daily, although spinach and chocolate Shakeology has been the drink of choice lately. It is sooo amazing! no joke! Oh, and we often add a teaspoon of mesquite for an added malt flavor. It’s great to share a living space with someone who doesn’t bug me about why I’m not eating cheese or meat, but who simply understands and shares my love of eating clean, of looking, and most importantly feeling good.

Yesterday, we tried Bikram Yoga for the first time. It was…sweaty and not as much fun as I had imagined, but it was great. Today we did Brazil Butt Lift, the BumBum workout. Tomorrow? Who knows? I think we’re doing Bikram and maybe a little tennis.

Life is good. You can change. It takes time. My fat days are behind me.

Amen. Here’s to the present and the future.

Barbie Decker, PhD

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