Waiting for what's next? Start with one strong meal, and one pot of soup. (even if it’s pairing with some cadbury snow balls)
Do you ever let your exercise and nutrition routine slide while you hold on for what's next?
I'm in that phase right now.
I have lived out of our summer home in western New York for almost five and a half months. That was not the plan. (I am fortunate it has a fireplace.) But I haven't felt settled here, or in any real routine, for a variety of reasons. Mostly because I just want to be home in Boston.
My husband, Whit, and I have spent the last 30 years in New England building a life together. We don't need the public schools or the sports fields of our awesome little town for our kids anymore, as they are grown and flown. But we still want to belong there, live there, and be with our community of friends.
And now? T-minus 10 days and counting.
The waiting game
As that date gets closer, I'm reminded how easy it is to throw in the towel on it all when life feels off-kilter. To just wait. Wait for the move. Wait for the promotion. Wait for the house to be finished, the kids to settle, the calendar to clear. Wait for the next thing.
You've heard me say motion is the lotion. Most seasons, it is. But this fall, with a healing rib and a life split between two states, 9 hours between homes, motion hasn't always shown up the way I'd like.
Here's what I keep relearning: the very best time to stay consistent is when you least want to.
Stay with me here. I have a point.
Look back before you look ahead
You are likely holding on to a few good things already. Step back and glance at everything you've done over the last six months.
Did you keep going on something? One thing?
Maybe you walked the dog every morning. Maybe you never skipped your Tuesday class. Maybe you drank your water, protected your bedtime, or called your mom every Sunday. That counts. That's part of your foundation, and it's still there.
That little practice of looking back before you look ahead helps. It shows you that you haven't actually thrown in the towel. You've just stopped noticing what you're still holding. (This is helping me right now)
Your easiest thing might be someone else's hardest
Here's the tricky part: the habit that's easiest for you to let go of might be the hardest one for someone else. We're all wired a little differently.
For me, it's food.
I have to build real intention around one strong, bone-building meal every day: protein, complex carbs, fiber, and healthy fat. When I get that meal in, the rest of my day holds together. When I don't? Well, then... give me all the leftover Halloween candy. Especially the Kit Kats. (Oh, and who put the cadbury snow balls on the shelf the day after Halloween?!?)
When motion isn't the lotion, nutrition is the anchor.
You can't always get to the gym. You can't always lift. But you will eat today, wherever you are living. Protein helps your muscles and bones repair. Complex carbs and fiber keep your energy and blood sugar steady, and feed your gut. Healthy fat keeps you full and satisfied. One strong meal quietly holds the line while everything else is in boxes.
Prep, build, and stack one pot for the week
Maybe your food is shifting this season too. Fewer farmers market runs as the cold seeps in. More nourishing soups. More frozen vegetables, which are picked and frozen near peak ripeness and make a great winter staple.
So let's PREP, BUILD, and STACK this habit, starting with one pot of soup that gives you sustenance, accountability, and regularity all week long. (Yes, the fiber helps with that kind of regularity too.)
PREP your heart and mind, and your pot. Pick one day (Sunday works for me) and make one big batch. Portion it into jars right away, so lunch is already decided.
BUILD it into a strong meal. The soup brings plant protein, complex carbs, and plenty of fiber. Add a protein topper, like Parmesan, a spoonful of Greek yogurt, shredded chicken, or a soft-boiled egg. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil. A slice of good sourdough on the side? Yes, please.
STACK it onto something you already do every day. Mine is lunch after my morning clients. Same time, same bowl, no decisions.
This is the soup on repeat in my kitchen this month. You'll find it here.
Don't wait for the next thing
I'll make this pot one more time by the lake before we head home. And when I unpack in Boston, I'll make it again. Not because everything will finally be settled, but because the strong meal comes with me wherever I go.
Don't wait for the move, the promotion, or the next thing. Start with one pot.
Reply and tell me: what's one thing you've kept doing these last six months, even when you wanted to wait?
— Jenny
