DIETARY FREEDOM.

Here I am again. Not ready for the contest that is in a few short weeks...but you know what? IGAF (indirect translation: I don't give a hoot...) As I mentioned in my last post, I am totally happy with my body and my diet for maybe the first time in my life.

It is so incredibly freeing to feel like food doesn't control me. Do I have a six-pack? Well, yes...but you can't see it. And I am cool with it...because I feel really healthy. I have energy. I get to enjoy eating with friends and family. I don't feel like I have to say no to treats. I don't schedule my meals to be every two hours...because my life is not scheduled in 2 hour increments. My meals actually feel like meals...which is actually far more satiating, regardless of calories.

Does that mean I eat whatever and whenever I want to? Nope. Sometimes I still say no to treats because I still have goals. I listen to my body better and I know pretty well what foods I should avoid...because, even though I don't think anyone should label foods as 'good' or 'bad' foods...there are foods that are bad FOR ME.

Trigger foods. Foods that are catalysts to bad dietary decisions. Foods that trigger an emotional response (that for me can turn very quickly into binging).  I try to be careful with those foods. I do my best not to indulge in them if I am having a bad day.  They are foods that I probably shouldn't keep in my house (but I am human...and sometimes I fall prey to the temptation...or I shop hungry and I make more unhealthy decisions).  Trigger foods are not the same for everyone.

Food is not the enemy. Food is a thing. Food is food. Sometimes fuel for just living day to day. Sometimes fuel for intense exercise. Sometimes fuel for the soul. 

I work with men and women who somewhere along the line developed a misunderstanding of what food is and what it can do FOR them. Eating has been so demonized in so many ways. 'Too much fat will make you fat'. 'Sugar will give you diabetes'. 'Bread is bad for you'. 'GMO will give you cancer'. 'If you can't pronounce the ingredient, don't eat it'. BLAH BLAH BLAH. It is CONFUSING.

Nutrition does not need to be confusing. YES. There is some validity in many of those statements...but people don't know why or under what circumstances the statements are valid...so starts the pattern of eating no fat, no sugar, no bread, no gmo food, nothing processed, and whatever other stupid thing that is trending. If you cut those things out...what is left? Ah. You have the internet's permission to drink water. ALLLL the water.  And veggies. And grass fed-free range meat. Unless you are 'ethical'. Then no meat...#vegan #whatthehealth (ALSO BULLSHIT). SO veggies and water #ftw.

Good luck ever feeling satisfied...or remotely happy when all you tell yourself you should be eating is cardboard washed down with a glass of water. GUYS YOU CAN'T DO THIS...seriously. What happens on the weekends after you've managed to stick to it all week? You eat every single thing. EVERY. SINGLE. THING. And then you feel guilt. And so you smother the feeling by eating more. RIGHT? But Monday rolls around and you can 'be good' again. THIS IS NOT DIETARY FREEDOM. It is a prison and the guards look a lot like a box of doughnuts.

And you know what? I have fallen for nearly [every. single. one.] of these trends. I have tried them all. And there are things that I have learned from trying them. BUT none of them worked. ZERO of them offered me the balance that I needed to have dietary freedom. I never felt in control of food or my ability to choose, until I let go of the 'rules'.

The only rule I have now is this: I DECIDE TO EAT. I decide to eat fresh veggies. I decide to eat fruit. I decide to drink soda. I decide to eat cookies. I decide to eat ice cream. I decide to have a diet soda. WHATEVER. As long as I am aware of my choices and take two seconds to be mindful about my choices I HAVE THE CONTROL. And I choose better. And sometimes I choose to feel a little extra full because I went out and had a burger and it put my calories up by 500 or whatever. IT WAS MY CHOICE. It might slow down some weight loss...I might even gain a pound (but I will know that before making the decision...and I know that I have nobody and nothing to blame for enjoying myself...and I can always choose to eat half of the burger or get no burger and visit...because I DECIDE).

This is how I approach nutrition with my clients. NO QUICK FIX.  I want my clients to learn how to adjust perspectives and trust that they know themselves better than anyone else ever will.  Dietary guidance is secondary.

If you want to change, you have to believe that you have the ability to change and be empowered to take control of the one thing you can...YOUR CHOICES.


I will do an actual contest prep update sometime...because it's still a goal;) Just not one that I am willing to sacrifice balance and happiness for.

Peanut Butter-Jelly Time...

Everyone has a favorite food item...well, mostly everyone, right? I have mine. It probably changes sometimes, but for the past few months I have been seriously in love with peanut butter (and other peanut products). I love it. Love, love, love it. I ate a few giant Costco tubs of roasted and salted peanuts last summer (shame on me...). I think maybe the overload came from my previous deprivation. My husband is allergic to peanuts, so I had not eaten much (if any) peanut products for about a year. Obviously, my husband wasn't sneaking them, so I have to take full credit for eating all the peanuts. Unfortunately, eating all those peanuts may very well have been a contributing factor to not reaching my goal of getting as lean as I wanted to.

I think this can happen with any food. When you restrict something you love (or like)too much, it can come back and bite you in the butt. It all comes down to moderation. It probably comes up a lot when referring to nutrition and a balanced diet for a reason. Moderation works. Have the little bit of treat that you need to satisfy your craving, but don't gorge yourself. A little piece of brownie every once in a while wont ruin you; although, a little piece of brownie every day might. Keep realistic portion sizes (and when it comes to brownies...very small...you only need to taste it, really).

Save treats for special occasions. Allow yourself to have it when the occasion arises. Family and close friends' birthday parties. Holidays (careful). Graduation. Passing a big test with an A (assuming you don't have tests every day). This will put your treats into a treats category, rather than putting them in a 'daily dose' category. Little changes like that can make a big difference.

Pay attention to where your cravings are really coming from. How much water have you been drinking? You might only be thirsty (3 L every day...at least!!!). Are you a woman? Is it your time of month (seriously, men. You have no idea how much that can really make a difference.)? How many carbs have you eaten already during the day (because sugar tends to be the biggest problem...lack of carbs = sugar cravings)? Are you experiencing more stress than usual? Keep a broad perspective. Ask yourself why you really want to eat. Make sure it is because you are hungry. Taking time to plan your meals and eating meals every few hours will help to prevent cravings (and encourage weight loss).

I'm going to continue to have my peanut butter (in moderation and with planning), but I have made the choices necessary to keep from eating the entire tub in one sitting (that is not an exaggeration). If you mess up, keep trying. eventually you will get it!