If you are like me, you’ve realized that Spring is BUSY! Not sure how it always tends to get that way, but it does. We’ve conquered March and now we’re heading full force into April. And if you’re like me, you are realizing that your plate is getting full, not too full (yet), but full. You’ve said yes to 3 out of 4 things (work and life related) and you are slowly coming to realize that maybe you need a stronger plate… or maybe you just need a smaller one.
If you are like me, you’ve dumped the big plate and opted for smaller ones. Ones filled with quality ingredients (family, health, passions, faith, and love). Combine those together and you’ve got one heck of nourished life. Small plates, more servings. Yes, that’s what I am learning.
I am also learning that there is no need for a “stress” plate. It’s my (our) choice to not dish it up. TO BE content with whatcha got, no more no less.
I can’t say that our life is completely stress free, but it is a lot less stressful than in the past. Last April I was still dealing with a lot of digestive problems and enduring countless procedures. Today I am a good 20lbs heavier/healthier and 90% of the time my stomach is happy. I think A LOT of that had to do with the way I handle stress. Taking on less, resting more, and slowing down our pace of life. The hubs was in a similar stage. Injured and taking the rest of the year off. This past LAVAMAN race was his first race back since April 2012. During that time he rested, refocused, and stayed positive. All things that keep a plate HEALTHY! Mentally and physically.
So this April, take a look at your plate. Is it too full? Is it too big? It might be. Can you put things back? Absolutely! That’s what small plates are for! To grab the best then go back for more once you have ROOM for more. I call this the TAPAS of LIFE! Haha.
This April is all about replenishing those small plates. To savor the best ingredients and then make room for more, but only needed, when the timing is right!
My April Plate:
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To support my husband in his next race (coming up in 2 weeks).
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Managing Healthy Bites. I’m not sure where Healthy Bites is going at the moment, but for now it’s a little extra income that is helping our family.
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To sub a few classes at the gym as well as my own.
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Maintain fitness- all I am aiming for is 45 minutes. No need to train for anything at the moment. If an opportunity arises and it works in my schedule, then great. But for now, I’ll let the hubs do the racing.
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Organize our house a bit as well as our finances. Something we are both trying to wrap our brains around this month.
That’s it. No more this month. Small plate complete. It’s not daunting and there is always WIGGLE ROOM.
Oh and speaking of snack plates, let’s talk snack food for a moment. Before I left for Hawaii, I received a shipment of Quest Bars and Protein PB Cups. The company graciously offered their goods in return for an honest review. I want to talk more about these bars tomorrow or Friday, so stay tuned. But just to let you know, the rumors are true. They are FLIPPIN FABULOUS! The PB Chocolate cups literally tastes like Reeses Cups, or dare I say, EVEN BETTER!
![20130311_172928[1]](https://www.cottercrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/20130311_1729281.jpg)
And because it’s WINE WEDNESDAY, you need to study this!
What’s on your plate this month? Will you fill it well?
Cheers,
LC
Would you be willing or have some time to email me? You really tackled issues WHILE living since a year ago. Me? Since i was 27, I’ve been obsessing, worrying, and just sifting under the cloud of depression and lostness ( jobs gone, money gone, phsycial ability gone, digestion gone, energy gone). Now at 31, I STILL need to gain, only my hormones/metabolsim/colon/liver/digestion are that much more taxed, strained and …gone. So now I feel “too late” and “too old”. My joints ache and I have perpetual fatigue. Can’t access hormone-free or organic stuff…can’t bear the stress of this “go organic” orthorexia stuff.
Was never a low cal eater, was never a big exerciser.
Now to gain weight? At my age ? and without being able to exercise ? And with so many complicated digestive woes.
Lindsay….you are my girl 🙂
If you want a roomie in Australia ….it could CHANGE my life and grip on the insanity of this all.
The regret is the hardest to bear. The regret and guilt for falling into obsession and worry for 5++ years and literally putting my life and body and finances and accomplishement at rock-bottom, at zero. I am trying to learn how to forgive myself. And everytime I can “block” it out…it seeps back in. Recently read Louise Hays “You can Heal your life” and Rhonda Byrnes’ “The Power”….excellent books…yet the regret still stabs me like pins now and then.
Oh Lindsay, if you can give me a meal plan that YOU yourself would follow + an exercise plan for a month even….I’d jump for the moon….I need someone I can trust.
The complication of the past orthorexia, anxiety, depression, mysterious digestive woes, the binging, the underweight..the cause vs. effect…the age creeping up and up , and me standing still as the world goes on and on and on…
Please email me if you can specifically help me out girl. Please 🙂
Daily routine 🙂
I’ve seen some plans to follow, but hesitate , not sure.
I’ve read with great interest and much agreement on Matt Stone’s 180 degree freedom approach and the “Your Eatopia ” site…interesting articles…but they do and don’ apply to me …maybe…I know not.
I just want my energy back. I miss running and now even slow walks are so …slow. I am making an effort now to say things more positive….to stop wriing my life story in the NEGATIVE way….I MUST…..the regret, shame and guilt for how I’ve destroyed my life the last 6 years is intense…god forgive me….show me how to forgive myself .
Me (hopefully a friend…and hopefully you will not be scared off and be open to chatting/helping 🙂
I’m trying to do the EXACT same. We pare down in everything when we can right now!!! Healing & happiness with low stress = best for us right now….and sub healing with vibrant health and the rest of the equation for always!!!
agreed!! and i am so glad you were able to be carefree and happy on vacation! looked amazing!
I needed this today Linds! I can always count on you to say exactly what I need to hear! My plate is getting rearranged and cleared out. I think rest and family time is going to be on my plate this month!
oh friend, yes, do it! email to vent anytime!
Love it! I have been so stressed with all of the decisions we are coming into in our lives. Too many decisions under a time crunch can make me crazy! Thanks for reminding me that how I deal with it is a choice not a mandate 🙂 Glad you are lightening the load a little and enjoying the ride.
Nicole
It’s so easy to get sucked into. I must remind myself DAILY!
Love this post & the direction you are taking & things you are working on – I think I need to learn from you. I am too stressed & may need to take a step back from some of this social media which kinda stresses me more trying to keep up with it.. maybe stresses me more than no money! 😉 YUP, need to get financials figured out here & I a a lot older than you! 😉
HUGS!!!!
i agree! social media can be hard to keep up with. Gotta remember to step back and focus on REAL life. Ahh, i feel ya!
You are so smart! Love your approach to life, so balanced and wonderful!
Love this Lindsay and that analogy of the small plates. So perfect and it’s true! Take the best stuff first and then come back if you have more time and room. I definitely realize that I can do with less in my life. Trying to figure out how to make that happen haha. And I love that you are feeling so muh healthier now.
trying to figure that out is half the battle, yes? ugh
Forget favorite plate, I’m going with favorite wine: Zinfandel (red).
BRING IT ON!..
I wanna order some healthy bites… that’s my goal for April. Let me run my 50, then my reward will be Cotter Bites. Deal?
you know i make a lot of bites for ultra runners to use. just sayin.. maybe you need my balls for those miles. ahem..
I really love the idea of small plate, it’s like a Tapas restaurant of life. 😉 Plus, I think we could all use a little less in in our lives in terms of commitments because it lets us see which of those commitments are truly important, especially with the start of a brand new season.
(By the way, both of my Healthy Bite flavors are fabulous. I don’t know how you do it, but keep on doing it :-).)
yay, so glad you like them. Man, i love that chai one, i need to make more for me! hehe
I love how you compare some of the things we bring on to “clutter” it is so true, we can accumulate things on our “to do” list just as we collect junk in our house. Or we can over post on our blog because we are trying to fill the space, say “yes” to too many activities and become overwhelmed, or even have too many acquaintances vs. good friends. Quality not quantity = a less stressful more fulfilling life. OK, so easier said than done, but it’s like working out or eating healthy, it takes some self discipline and desire to live your best life… once you start making a habit of it, it becomes your life.
amen to that, way easier said than done. Praying for more discipline and diligence in that area for sure!
I love the periodic table of wine and the info on stress. I need to check out Stress is a Choice. Thanks! Tara
it’s a great site! and the book is awesome!
Lindsay, you and I are on the same page! I was just thinking today that April is BUSY and I need to take some items off my plate. I absolutely hate that stressed feeling, so I am only adding quality items to my plate. I decided not to run in a half marathon this spring to decrease my stress and just run for fun! Cheers to less stress!
it’s an uneasy feeling. Time to reset and re-plate, yes?
My month is all about prioritizing – family & friends, work, training, and tying to get back on track with healthy eating. It has been a rough spring break with multiple delicious, very fattening meals out.
we have so much going on this month- thinking we should celebrate our birthday all month long haha
our parents are coming into town tomorrow which we are super excited about 🙂 fun times ahead!
xoxo
April is a busy month for us–weekends are full of book clubs, birthdays, and a wedding in Tulsa, OK. It all will be a blast, but I feel like there is no time to relax.
Loving the wine periodic table–very fitting for wine wednesday 🙂
tulsa? oh you are close to tx, just come visit!
I just love that wine periodic table. Too fun. 🙂 Cheers to a less-stress April.
L – I feel like you are in my head sometimes. I just had a convo with Paul last night about maybe taking on too much. I’m loving coaching and blogging but with everything going on training and the kids, I feel like I’m half-a$$ing both right now. Spoke to my mom this AM and she offered to watch the boys for a few hours on her day off so that I could work uninterrupted.
But I had done exactly what you said earlier in the week – looked at what was on tap for the month and realized I could prob put some stuff back =)
Love you!
oh how i wish i lived near you! i’d come feed ya and babysit! sherpa cotter here! love YOU
I need a smaller plate — I’ve been working on that a LOT lately (if you haven’t noticed, ha) and it’s a continual work in progress but wow is it a LOT better than it was even just six months ago. And I really and truly credit your words on this very topic in the past year for helping me see the light. I heart you and your perspective, can’t say it enough!! xoxo
YES! They ARE better than the real Reece’s PB cups 😉 Bang on girl! So happy you like them too 😀
Loved this post! I’ve definitely found that my life is getting busier, too! I’ve been staring at the computer all day and your blog is the SECOND one I’ve read. And I don’t think I have the time to read anymore 🙁 Unfortunate, but ’tis life! I am so busy doing projects for school and that has to come first 😀
Anyways, glad I caught your post 😉 ALWAYS have to <3
Love you so much and thank you for your beautiful message <3
you are busy but you’re doing what’s right! Take time for you , always! and i am honored that you read my post. LOVE YOU!
you pack quite a bit on that lil’plate of yours, mrs. crunch! 😉
it’s piled high now, but i’m gonna dumps some on yours soon. mwhahahahahahaha
Love this post Lindsay!
I sometimes feel like I get stressed out about one thing and then something little happens and I build and build on that already stressed feeling. Not too good for my overall health or sleep either.
Something I’m constantly working on!
April and May are definitely more of a busy month for me, I’m anxious but excited at the same time, which makes me stressed ha 😉
haha, i totally get that. it’s anxious excitement, but we need to focus on the present joy, yes? ahh, so hard!
i have some goals i’m trying to achieve and i can only hope i’ll do em well!
I flippin’ love this. And YOU!! I love that excerpt. My hubs is always telling me that I don’t have to always be going…family, work, workouts, errands, cleaning, cooking, oh, and sleep (ha!). But then I think, what the heck am I supposed to give up? Need to work on this. I keep praying for more hours in my day, but God knows that I can only handle the number that I have! Smaller plate is essential. Especially since my stomach has been rebelling lately :(. And I love my 45-60 minutes a day. I can’t spare any more, and I really don’t need to put myself through any more. Quality, not quantity. Yes.
that’s me! sheesh, really. twins! flippin love YOU! p.s. I gotta email you back about the bites! i’m thinking i could hand deliver in a few weeks when we are in Houston for the race??
Couldn’t agree more that April is a busy month! I’ve got 2 weekends of travel on a plane; half marathon; DREAMBIG planning; life decisions; and still trying to fuel properly, be happy, nourish, and take care of me. This maybe a little bit too much on my plate. I think to need downgrade to a smaller plate. 😉 XOXO
Awww you are a wise one and such a fantastic example. I always appreciate your insight and am so glad you have learned to deal with your stress better. Life is meant to be enjoyed right. 😉 Have a fantastic Wednesday!
you are my example, you live so joyfully and PURPOSEFUL!
I been feeling like I probably have too much on my plate, but I’m not sure what needs to go. Trying to understand what’s not bringing me joy and what can shift. I don’t want to remove things that I actually love to do (at least not yet). 🙂
yes, i can so relate! i am praying about that too. Joyful productivity is what counts!
AMEN to all of this. Hearing it loud and clear my friend…
I love you. That is all. xoxo
and love to YOU! xxoo cheers to wine tonight
This was definitely why I needed to hear today. My plate needs to be shrunk big time!! Soon. I swear.
How is it that the wine table is so much easier to memorize than the periodic table of my high school days?!
i don’t know, but i think i would have aced chemistry if it was this kind of science! sheesh
Stress has been the bane of my existence for as long as I can remember, but quality over quantity has become my motto as of late, and thankfully my plates have been shrinking as a result 🙂
haha I am loving the periodic table! Sounds like you have some excellent goals too. Not training for anything right now either, just some fun 5Ks coming up and teaching my classes, and doing lots of yoga and prayer which calms my soul 🙂
come run a 5k here!
I love the addition of the wine periodic table! Lol. Quest bars are definitely delicious! I can’t find the pb cups anywhere but I’m definitely a fan of the chocolate chip cookie dough! I’m glad your life has changed for the better in the past year and you’re learning to appreciate the little things in big doses! I wish I could stress less and just relax but I can’t seem to find it in myself to figure out what I have to do. <3
I just had a conversation about stress with my brother. Why the stress, how is it serving you and what can/will you do to unstress or make the stress into a positive.
Great post!
Oh man, you are so right and reading my mind. I was just looking at my April calendar, having said yes to a bunch of things without even thinking about it, when I suddenly realized — this month is gonna be CRAZY!!! What have I done?? And then I remember – my stress is self-induced. Keep what you love, pitch out what you don’t.
i agree! hand me that pitch fork! LOL!
Once my wedding planning is in full swing I am going to need to re-read this post! I need to stress less all the time! I love that wine periodic table!
Sometimes there are things that happen that you just cannot help but to stress about (sickness, deadlines, accidents). Having stress to some degree makes us normal and responsive.
However, stressing over the small stuff – things that don’t matter like whether or not you put the trash out, who’s dishes are dirty, what pants to wear, etc. and letting stress take over your life is another thing. I have learned to compartmentalize “issues” and stress over them on a much smaller scale and tackle them individually rather than allowing them to swallow up my whole day and cause me to have a melt down. Kind of like making goals – break it down, smaller tasks are much easier to handle.
Love the wine chart 😉
wow, you are so on it becca! love the way you worded this and are living it! come help me! hehe
A focus on school is on my plate this month. Chance of graduating a semester earlier than thought, I need to kick it in high gear!
I seriously need to find the Wine Periodic Table as a poster. It’s a must!!
I swear I read/hear about Quest bars daily on the blogs, but have yet to try them yet. I REALLY need to do that, ASAP!
once you try them, you’ll be hooked. just warning. haha
I totally needed to read the portion about stress!
I’m so glad you can look back and see where this year has taken you… you both had pretty low points a year ago. What a blessing to be strong and healthy! We are constantly striving to simplify our lives, too. Including our stuff… with a move coming up, I’m looking forward to purging stuff we don’t need/use anymore. Always makes me feel lighter!
I LOVE that passage you shared, and it’s so frickin true. we CHOOSE chaos don’t we? I am realizing I need to back WAY off on plans on doing, on everything the next few months, and have started canceling some plans on weekends, sadly, but neededly, and am trying to keep it simple, simple, simple and go into GSD (get sh*t done!) model as much as possible, while also not tearing my hair out 😉 your plan is PERFECT!! sounds pretty similar to mine, work, teach, get a few ‘me’ workouts in where I can, get organized, plan ahead for the move, and yea, that’s pretty much it 😉
you need to, enjoy this time! i swear it goes by too fast. XXOO
how have I never seen the periodic table of wine before?!? I might ditch my plates for coffee cups and wine glasses in April…;) just kidding (sorta). Definitely love the idea of “tapas of life” and totally need to re-evaluate April…
I kind of disagree with the idea that we can cut out stress or that we make our own stress. I think we make the stress we have to deal with WORSE a lot of times (and admittedly, some is self-manufactured), but we don’t create all of of it ad we can’t always control where/when/why it comes. I’m thinking about stress from work – I have to get certain things done, which is stressful in itself, but I add to it or make it worse by demanding perfection of myself. I think we CAN control how we react to stress though. At least to some degree. It requires time, patience, and sometimes therapy and/or medicine. Anxiety is a real side effect of chronic stress. I coul dgo on and on, but I’ll shut up.
But, speaking of stress and fitness (good on you for only doing 45 min!), you’ll be happy to hear my month of April is “Yoga month”. I bought a set of Tara Stiles DVDs and she’s got a month-long plan posted on her website. I’m LOVING it so far! I did the hour long one yesterday and didn’t think I’d do the whole thing, but was way into. My favorites so far are the bedtime yoga in bed and the morning yoga in bed. For obvious reasons. 😉
that’s kinda how i read it. MEaning, we always have stress, but it’s our choice to how we react to it, yes? But i also think we choose are battles and what we can to stress over, maybe worth fighting for? hmm, that make sense?
and yay for yoga!! wish i was there to yogi it up!
I think wiggle room is important. I also think how we handle stress is important. It’s one thing if it’s a huge issue, and something you can control. But so often it’s piddly stuff that we pile onto our own plates – kind of do it to ourselves. Jason has been really intrigued with the whole idea of the mind/body connection and how we deal with stress (including the past) and how it affects us – like back problems, tummy troubles, migraines. I am so glad you’re feeling better too. Yay for a different April this year.
yes! thank you! and yay for YOU, no more blood clot. It’s gonna be a good april!
This is AMAZING!!! And so true! My plate is often overflowing but I’m learning to manage it and use smaller plates. But at the same time, my life is moving in an unknown direction, an exciting but unknown direction, so it’s hard to clear my plate this month or only set certain goals. But I guess that’s where the wiggle room comes in…
that can be hard, but i think you are so right, just set certain goals and allow that wiggle!
I love this Linds! So important to focus on what is important. The rest is just stuff. We often get bogged down with lots of extra silly things. But as the end of the day health and family are the BIG ones!
amen!! i so need to hear that, daily!
have you read the book STRESS FOR SUCCESS?
it’s an old one—I need to reread and make sure it’s as good as I recall :-)– but it’s about harnessing the power of stress for the POSITIVE!!
oh gosh, i need this! and i need to make time to read it too!