I am not sure many of you know that I am a Certified Health Coach as well as American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) certified. More importantly, I have done my 10,000 hours and probably much more, in studying and applying nutrition, health and exercise techniques in my own life. I have been fascinated with all of it from an early age.
When I was in grade school I was quite heavy. As a preschooler up through first grade, I was skinny and active and ate a lot. I recall being told that if I didn’t stop eating so much that I would get fat. I had that programming and sure enough, it happened. I was teased quite a bit and back then, I was one of the only “husky”, as Sears called it, kids. I wore half sizes. So it was 14 ½ or whatever, so if anyone saw that number immediately it was either, what is that or oh, that’s fat size.
When I was about 12 I went on my first real diet. I am pretty sure I had “tried” other things before then not knowing at all what I was doing, but after the sixth grade, my sister and I got a diet out of a magazine and we followed it to the letter. For maybe a few days. I can’t recall much other than being very hungry and deprived and learning that a saltine cracker has 12 calories so I could only have 5. A few months later, the females in our household all went on the bran diet, where we would sprinkle wheat bran on everything we ate before we ate it. The idea was that the extra fiber would be more filling and you would eat less. I think that was the idea anyway. Well, it worked for me. Mostly because wheat bran topping made everything taste like, well, raw wheat bran. I began to eat less and think more. I finally became much more aware of what I was eating and made much better choices.
So why do I tell you all of this? Because I have been on both sides of that equation and I know that nutrition can be a source of pain and struggle, or an amazing fuel for the life you were born to live. But like everything else, it begins with awareness. I cannot tell you exactly what is the best eating plan for you to follow. There are so many healthy ways of eating and we are each unique. You have to try a few and monitor the results in your energy, bloating or lack thereof, focus, feelings, and overall well-being. It is so very worth it. You are worth it, you know you are. Not just to look good, which is a fabulous benefit in and of itself, but to really feel good. Priceless!
This doesn’t have to change overnight. Consider it. Watch what you eat now with awareness. Ask if this is promoting health for me or detracting. Let your body answer. Listen and observe. Then, when you are ready, do. You don’t have to force it just know that you are finding the way. Know that you will take the right path when it feels right to do so and that you will adjust as you learn more about what is optimal for you.
If you would like more assistance on this or any part of the lovingME lifestyle, the path begins here.
