When I was about 15, I really took a keen interest in health and well being. As I became more aware of the different shapes and sizes of the people around me (I worked at a fast food restaurant and was also a swim instructor) I decided that I would do the things that keep one healthy. I tried many different ways of eating: vegetarian, macrobiotic, counting containers, as well as what to eat and when to eat it. It was a lot of reading and experimenting always looking for “the right way” to be healthy. Being not particularly handy or imaginative in the kitchen, needless to say I experienced much frustration at “getting it right”. Recently, I sat down and took a good hard look at how I was “being healthy” and realized there is more to “the right way to achieve health” then figuring out what to eat, how to eat it and when to eat it. I realized trying to meet someone else’s idea of “right” may not be what is right for me. But, could I wing it? Could I make my own way in this alphabet soup of how to achieve health with all the different ways of eating? I decided that 2020, my 59th year, was the year to try.
Over the years I have run the extremes. Totally not caring to what was within arms reach and ended up in my mouth and to counting every calorie of every morsel of food within my house. Neither of these extremes brought me to a place of peace and harmony with my health in a direct manner. However, over time the pendulum began to swing less and less wide, and sort of come to a calm ebb and flow. I can now throw a dish together without stressing out whether or not it has the right amount of macros and calories. What was it that allowed this change to happen? I wanted to be happy in addition to living a “healthy” lifestyle. What would have to change and would I be able to?
The 1981 rock song by 38 Special “Hold on Loosely” comes to mind as the answer to that question. I just had to chill, pure and simple. I had to look at the bigger picture, learn to listen to my body and enjoy being creative with food and nutrition. I had to learn to keep everything in perspective, use all the knowledge I had gained and be open to new information as well. I have learned to appreciate the experiences I put myself through. I have come to realize those experiences don’t have to be considered good or bad, but just that they brought me to this point of being happy in my healthy lifestyle. Happiness and healthful food are a great combination.
I have so much more room in my brain now for the many other creative ideas in it. I am enjoying a new found flow in the kitchen and pack homemade meals for work with more ease than I ever thought possible. My refrigerator and cabinets are more organized than they have ever been and it was so fun planting and then later making meals with the nearly daily harvest from our tiny garden. I have sustained energy throughout the day. Normal hunger at predictable times of the day has returned and I feel satiated without feeling stuffed. Happiness has been the perfect ingredient to add to my healthy lifestyle.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and will check out my next blog post on some ideas and techniques I use to eat intuitively.