"The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine
or the slowest form of poison."
- Ann Wigmore
The saying, "we are what we eat," is a more factual statement than you may realize, as much of how and what we eat and drink has an accumulative effect of creating health and wellness or sickness and disease. A large part of optimal health and wellness comes from nourishing our body with clean, natural, and minimally processed nutrient-dense foods. Every morsel of food we put in our mouths is broken down into building blocks to restore and rebuild our body, brain, and vital organs. When you feed your body the nutrients it needs, you create ideal wellness within every cell in your body and strengthen your ability to remain vibrant and healthy. Simultaneously, you minimalize or substantially delay the onset of disease, illness, and decay.
Many of us have learned what "eating healthy" should look like at some point in our lives and tend to judge our eating behaviors and food choices based on what we think we know about a healthy diet. You may have experienced an extreme diet to lose weight or improve your health that didn't suit your individual needs very well and find yourself struggling to maintain and sustain this way of eating over time. The truth is, you do not need to go to such extreme and drastic measures to improve your health and achieve weight loss if you are willing to take it one small step at a time. Instead, you can implement simple and positive eating behaviors and food choices that are the perfect fit for your unique physical needs and individual life situation. When the way you eat and the nutritional choice you make are the right fit for you, your weight loss goals and improved health are easier to achieve and sustain for a lifetime.
This week, you will focus on the eating behaviors and food choices you make consistently. Remember to review the contents of your eating habits from an outsider's point of view and come from a place of non-judgment. Review these habits just for information and data collection, forget what you think you know about "healthy eating," and observe nothing more. The goal is to become aware of your eating behaviors, the food choices you make, and the physical effects they have on your body. Pay close attention to the eating habits you routinely do and not the occasional food choices associated with special events.
Set aside a few minutes to sit quietly and reflect on your current nutritional habits. Here are a few questions to help you get started.
My eating behaviors:
Do I eat fast or slow?
Am I hungry before I eat or not? Am I always feeling hungry?
Do I eat on a schedule regardless of if I'm hungry or not?
Do I cook at home or mostly order and eat out?
Do I eat in front of the TV or around the table with family?
How do I feel after I eat a meal? Am I stuffed and uncomfortable, pleasantly full, or eat just enough to be satisfied and no longer hungry?
How many meals do I eat each day?
Do I eat snacks throughout the day?
Am I a breakfast eater?
Do I sit down and enjoy a leisurely meal, or am I rushed and eating on the go?
What time do I typically eat meals throughout the day?
Do I eat my last meal of the day early, late, or right before bed?
How do I feel about eating in public?
Do I eat when I am stressed or upset?
Do I eat out of boredom?
Food choices I typically make:
What do I typically eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
What snacks do I usually eat?
What beverages do I consume regularly?
How many fresh fruits and vegetables do I eat each day?
Do I prefer a particular eating style (paleo, keto, low carb, low fat, etc.)?
What foods are my favorites?
What restaurants do I frequent, and what do I usually order?
Physical outcomes of the food I eat:
Overall, how do I feel about my food choices?
What foods make my stomach feel good, and what food makes my gut feel bad?
How do I physically and emotionally feel after consuming a meal?
Do I have any food allergies (violent responses to a particular food) or food sensitivities (mild to light digestive discomfort, brain fog, joint pain, not sleeping well, fatigue, etc.) associated with certain foods?
How do I feel when I eat dairy, wheat, alcohol, or desserts?
Can I tolerate caffeine (coffee)?
Think of anything else you could add to the above questions that are unique to you and your life situation. You can write your answers in a journal or mull them over in your head as you review how the food choices you make and typical eating behaviors affect the quality of your health and wellness.
I hope you found this month's focus on self-evaluating your LEAN habits a beneficial practice of becoming more conscious and aware of how you choose to live, move, think and eat each day. Next month we will take the information and insight you gained and determine what goals you want for your future self and begin implementing simple actions toward improving your health, fitness, and wellness.
Make this week a positive one, give yourself some grace, and enjoy your life's journey!
If you found this post beneficial, please share it with your friends and family and help us at Living LEAN create happier, healthier, and purposeful lives, one family at a time!
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