Mack and I have been doing Whole30, A 30 day program to health and food freedom, based on the book by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig. Essentially, it’s a program where you focus on eating lean meats, whole vegetables (except legumes and corn) and fruits, and you eliminate the “junk” from your diet like sugar, dairy, gluten, etc. After 30 days, you gradually reintroduce these food groups back into your diet if you want – and you learn how each food group affects your body and mind. While it’s been challenging (more on WHY later!), I’ve enjoyed it because it’s a great opportunity to really focus on nutrition and overall, and it’s not that much different from how I eat as a rule. (Or so I thought….) So here are some of my take-aways – what I call “The 3 Things Your Diet Reveals About You.”
1) Your Mental and Emotional State
One of my overall approaches to health and wellness is moderation. Even though I’m a group fitness instructor, life coach, and health/wellness advocate, I love ice cream just as much as the next person. I don’t allow it as a daily indulgence – I let it be a moderate treat sometimes. And, let me tell you I enjoy every single bite-slurp-scoop-lick when it comes time to enjoy it! But, while on Whole30, that weekend ice cream treat had to go. It made me realize that I sometimes reward myself with a food treat. And, that’s ok – I’m not saying we should never enjoy treats – but it’s important to be mindful of WHY we are eating something and what we expect it to do for us. Something to think about before you eat: Are you eating because your body needs fuel and you are feeding it nutritious food? Or are you simply bored and that bowl of Cookies and Cream will make the time go by so much sweeter! Perhaps it’s been a stressful day and that candy bar is just begging you to let it help you feel better. STOP! Before diving in, ask yourself why you really want that and then evaluate if it’s truly the best decision for you at that time. I will be the first to tell you, sometimes the answer is “yes” and sometimes the answer is “no.” Sometimes you can find a healthier, better alternative and still satisfy the thought of having a “treat”. For example, I’ve learned that if I’m still feeling a little “munchy” after my lunchtime salad, a few almonds and a couple of dried dates is a great alternative to a handful of mini-snickers.
2) Your Ability To Make Commitments….and keep them
WebMD reported in one of their articles that 68% of Americans have broken their New Year’s Resolutions by Springtime. Your ability (or not) to exercise that “Mind muscle” shows up when you commit to something like Whole30 or a New Year’s Resolution around eating healthier. While there are certainly some situations that are more challenging (National Donut Day….Office Holiday Potluck…..Co-worker’s birthday celebration….and we could go on listing “Special” Occasions around food) At the end of the day, no one forces us to make bad food decisions. (For more on setting and reaching your goals, download my free guide “The Power of Effective Planning and Goal Setting“, available by clicking here and entering your email.) We have 100% control over ourselves and yet we are the most difficult person to influence!
3) How important your health is to you
We all say we want great health. Some of us act like it. I am being brutally honest here, but if you tell me that you really value being as healthy as possible but you eat burgers, nachos, ice-cream, processed food, and generally the typical American diet every day, you aren’t actually LIVING like health is important to you. Say “NO” to National Donut Day! Certainly, and especially as we get older, we all face the possibility of health conditions that aren’t directly diet related, but for nearly all health conditions, they can be positively managed or aggravated by what and how we eat.
It’s not about being perfect, but could we be better? I know I certainly can – and I’ll definitely make some different choices going forward about what I consume. I’m a little closer to where I want to be in terms of food and fueling my body and brain for optimal health. I’ve learned to like my coffee black and realized that drinking coffee black means I will cut out about 9 teaspoons of sugar a week! I’ve learned I don’t really need ice cream and sometimes a banana smoothie will do just fine! I’ve learned that what and how I eat reveals a lot about who I truly am.
