Unfortunately in many cases, people give up on their goals surrounding food. We tell ourselves that this change is just too hard, too uncomfortable, too unattainable. Many times we tell ourselves we are too busy to take the time to plan our meals or to food prep for a busy week. Well, I think that saying “you make time for what’s important to you” holds true. Though we might be short on time if we truly want to change then we have to make food a priority. If you feel like you don’t have time then take a deep breath and slow down. Life shouldn’t be a race that has no time to actually think and plan what you will eat. Yes, what we put into our bodies is an absolute priority. I think we all get it by now. You eat good, you feel good, you look good. Period. I’m not here to lecture you, there is good news, I promise, stay with me.
So now your committed, your staying on course with your food plan and your doing a damn good job! But then there is still that nagging difficulty in making a change and once in a while we just want to give in:
– “I can’t eat healthy when I’m out and everyone is eating all of my favorite foods, it’s too tempting.”
– “I’ve been so good all week and all I can think about is a slice of pizza.”
– “I don’t want to never eat sweets again.”
What if the answer to these frustrations comes with a simple solution. You ready- here it comes:
JUST EAT IT!
What? Did a nutritionist just tell me that if I go out to a restaurant with friends I can eat whatever I want? Did she just give me permission to eat a slice of pizza or indulge in a dessert?
Why yes she did and here’s why: It’s called the 90/10 rule. If you are eating healthy and following your food plan 90% of the time than yes, 10% of the time it is okay to eat whatever you want. It is when we are overly restrictive that we set ourselves up for failure. It’s when we think we can never have the foods we enjoy ever again that we lose hope. This is why a lifestyle change is so important.
The more we crowd out the junk foods with healthy ones something AMAZING starts to happen! We begin to crave healthy foods and actually have less of the bad stuff. We start to realize how good we look and feel from eating well and begin to notice how crappy we feel when we splurge on junk foods. We begin to learn what healthy foods can replace those once favorite foods and we stick with it until eventually those junk food moments are few and far between.
Of course their are some of you out there saying “no way, if you put a piece of pizza or dessert in front of me, I’m done, I’ve opened the door and now there is no turning back.” Then I say to you, “I’m glad you know yourself. If that’s you then don’t give in, stay the course, dig in and find that will power and hold tight.” For some who have to be strict for a certain time period for a specific health issue then yes stick to your guns. However, for others, does that mean you will never indulge again? If not than great. Eventually though, most people will give in, feeling deprived, and in the process give up everything, throwing away so much hard work. This is why making a lifestyle change vs a diet is so important. Learning to save less healthy foods for a treat can help to create lasting balance with food in your life. It will help to tear down that all or nothing mentality.
Making a change doesn’t always have to be scary. Making a change is a huge step in getting to where we want to be. In fact, thinking of change as a step forward instead of a jump off a cliff can make the transition that much smoother.
So, choose a healthy lifestyle. You won’t regret it, I promise. Realize that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be the end of your life, but rather a new beginning to a better version of yourself. A version that respects your body and understands how important it is to feed it what it needs. But remember that sometimes that means it needs something you enjoy and sometimes it’s okay to let go…just a little. Balance is key.
Yours in Health & Happiness,
Lisa