The Cycle -Part I

I have listed four things here in a cycle.  They all work together.  All of these things I am going to discuss in this series, breaking it down piece by piece.

 

It's important that you notice I did not put Eating Healthy but Eating WELL.  There is a difference and it's important to know this.  I have found the word "healthy" is       overly used and has become quite subjective. 

 

We  can do things poorly or well.  Eating is one of those things.  It's finding a balance of enjoyment, relaxation, and nutrition.  Too often goals to eat "healthy" is like a chore that consumes us.  The enjoyment in eating just went out the door.  But focusing on keeping a balance allows to take what we eat and not feel guilty and know that it's not the end of the world.  Let's enjoy food!

 

First, I want you to erase everything you have ever learned about what is healthy or not from your mind.  Seriously.  There are over hundreds of diets out there that constantly contradict one another.  Thousands of information via web that say eat this not that because it makes your "belly bulge" or it "causes cancer" or  poison to your system or those animals are caged you cant' eat them.

 

JUST STOP!



 

A small digression and food for thought:  We are all going to die.  Whether one food may cause cancer is truly so hard to say and to say that's exactly what it came from.  Whether a food really will make us live longer can really never be proven either.  I'm not against taking care of our bodies, but I don't do scare tactics to eat better.  People die every day and it has nothing to do with how they ate.  I have read and seen statistics proven wrong regularly when it comes to what we eat.  I guess the question is why do you really care what you eat?

 

 

Just as I mentioned before, I get exhausted hearing what is good for me and what is bad--"this is healthy for you and it prevents..." yada-yada-yada.  Let's rewire this way of thinking.

 

I want you to sit down and think about the meals you prepare.  Don't think about whether they are good for you or not.  We are starting from scratch here.  Instead, think about the BENEFITS you are getting from your food.  If you aren't getting many nutritional benefits then why keep eating it?  And if you don't love it or like it, then don't eat it! (This is with the understanding that you have at least tried it first.)

 

You want your benefits to not only be nutritious but also enjoyable!  That leads me to the most important thing I want anyone to understand, and the number one rule I live by:

 

CONTROL YOUR DIET

DON'T LET YOUR DIET CONTROL YOU!

 

 

Let's review and think:

1. Forget eating healthy, but eating well.  It's all about balance.
2. How does this benefit me?  Example:  I'm hungry, I'll grab a fruit snack.  What are the benefits? 1)I'm still hungry.  2)Has a lot of sugar.  3) Got 3 servings of Vitamin C 4) I'm grumpy. =One benefit out of four...try something else.  You eat an orange.  1) I'm not full but it will hold me over till I can get more of a meal.  2) Has more sugar than the fruit snack.  3) Got a nice dose of vitamin C and some fiber. 4) A feel a little better. = 3 out of 4, much better.
3. Be in control of what you eat, don't let your food control you.