I want to share some thoughts that have been swirling in my mind for a while. It began when I read the following in a Whole30 daily email:
"For most people, body image and body satisfaction are irrevocably linked to self-esteem, self-worth, and depression. Poor body image leads us to distrust our own bodies. In contrast, by completing the Whole30, you are finally learning to listen to your body. To trust your body. To change your relationship with food. Now, it’s time to think about changing your relationship with yourself."
I must have read that statement about 16 times. This one statement encompasses my core motivation for beginning this process in the first place. I am so much more of a numbers person than I ever thought I would be. My motivation for "getting healthier" has always been about how much weight I need to lose, hidden beneath the guise of improving my lifestyle. Every time I've tried to move toward this skewed version of healthy, I quit if the numbers aren't matching my expectations and revert back to old habits. Some of the processes I've used to lose weight have been anything but healthy. I don't think this is unique to me. In conversations with many of my girlfriends, I've realized that most of us think of health in terms of size. Do we all realize "skinny" is not the same as "healthy"? The media is doing a terrible disservice to the women (and men) of this country by creating this awful illusion. We have been conditioned to believe this as a solid truth. This illusion is so ingrained in us that fitting into these particular parameters (such as weight and dress size) is almost second nature. There are some alarming statistics regarding this topic. It is damaging. It is terrifying.
It's time to set goals of being truly healthy, strong, and happy instead of setting our sights on a particular number on a scale or on the tag of a dress. For me, this means figuring out what the habits are of the best version of myself and then live so that I will become that version.
I picture the best version of myself as someone who is active and motivated; someone who wakes up refreshed and ready for the day; someone who doesn't have brain fog at 2pm and needs a nap. My best self is conscious of what she puts in her mouth and what she feeds her family. She listens to her body and is confident. She consumes sugar minimally and carefully. She is healthy, she sleeps well, she is optimistic. She is happy. And she's a great cook.
As I think of attaining these goals rather than physical ones, I feel a refreshing sense of optimism. I can already see some of these things coming into fruition. Most days, I wake up much more bright-eyed than I used to, my energy levels are steady, and brain fog is a thing of the past. With these goals in mind, I am far less freaked out about ending this program in 10 days. I will still measure and weigh, but much less often than I used to because those things are not what my journey is about.
As a side note: BRINE YOUR CHICKEN PEOPLE. This is the step that I used to skip but will no longer. No matter how you're cooking it, if you are making chicken, brine it. No more dry, flavorless chicken! TA DA!!
What I ate:
Breakfast: Leftover roasted potatoes topped with poached eggs
Lunch: Salad greens with remaining leftover Mexican tuna boat filling, eggs, grapes, green onion, and homemade ranch dressing
Dinner: Seared chicken breast and a sauteed sweet potato with wilted kale. I was flying solo for dinner so I made something simple and basic.
No comments:
Post a Comment