I have a lot of conversations with my husband and just when I think he isn’t listening he says something that sticks with me for what feels like forever.
My journey back to a healthy relationship with food has been the topic of conversation a couple of times and one thing Chad said to me was look back to when you felt your best. When were you the happiest? It’s brilliant in its simplicity.
Just do what you were doing then now.
That’s exactly what I’ve been doing. Before I got all caught up in extremes and restrictive eating I knew exactly what I needed to do. The time I focused on was when I was healthy inside and out, felt and looked my best and performance [with running] my strongest.
I looked back and I don’t remember ever stressing over what I COULD NOT and SHOULD NOT eat.
It was simply smart nutrition. More of a nutrition philosophy that primarily focused on what I COULD eat rather than a restrictive type of lifestyle/diet that focused on what I COULD NOT eat.
As it turns out, I knew all along what my nutrition philosophy [for lack of better words] should be.
Eat five times a day. Three meals and two small snacks. Include a lean protein, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and a complex carbohydrate with each meal.
Drink water throughout the day. Stay hydrated.
Know what’s in your food. The best way to do this is to cook your own meals, or even better enjoy cooking, as often as possible.
Be label savvy and ditch the processed foods. If you can’t pronounce don’t eat it and the fewer the ingredients the better.
Balanced nutrition. Eat fruit, vegetables, lean protein, gluten free* whole grains and healthy fats. It’s all about balance and eating foods you enjoy and giving your body the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs for healthy and optimal performance.
Portions matter. I don’t like to feel “full” or even worse, stuffed. Aim for proper portions and feeling satisfied.
Don’t skip meals. If you look up the definition of hangry you will see my photo. Skipping meals also lends itself to eating too much and grabbing whatever you can good for you or not.
Buy organic and seasonal as often as possible. I shop with the Dirty Dozen in mind. In fact I have a Dirty Dozen image saved on my phone. I enjoy the changes throughout the year with seasonal eating and seasonal produce is more flavorful.
Educate yourself about nutrition and know your body. This is where my one and only dietary restriction comes in, gluten free. Consulting with my doctor, listening to my body and a trial period of eating gluten free is what is best for my body, my health and how I feel (it’s not optional). And, thanks to my friend Lindsay at Cotter Crunch, I know the importance and the benefits of a healthy gut.
Stay active. This is the easy part. Nutrition and being active go hand in hand for good health, feeling your best and optimal performance.
Remember to enjoy your food. Never did I think that eating would become so stressful that NOT EATING seemed like a better option. Ditch the restrictions! Enjoy the foods you eat and feel good about nourishing your body to feel your best.
This was a lesson learned in trusting what you know to be true for you.
This is marvelous! Wouldn’t you agree?
Have you ever looked back to move forward?
be the best version of YOU
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Oh I love your nutrition philosophy so much! I love all the simple, yet effective things you listed. I really try to live that way and think that way, but too often I get way off track and indulge in too many of my favorite treats and then have a hard time getting back at it!
Thank you Melanie. We all get off track. It’s just a matter of how far and when we decide to get back on. I read your recent post about the low carb diet. You’re right it works and you can totally do it. Just be mindful 🙂
We definitely have to look in the past and find out what worked and what we can change. I know there are things that I liked that I did in the past, and I need to bring back, such as a no worry attitude to not getting in 6 workouts a week. It’s hard for me to think of, but I know I am happier when I’m not stressed out getting those in!!
Thanks Heather! The word balance keeps coming to mind. With my eating and it sounds like your workouts. So happy you’re happier 🙂
I am sure you are not surprised, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I have been applying these principles to my life for about a year now, and I am so glad I did. Thanks for the reminder, I need to think about this for my running life right now. Time to start again, and move on 🙂
Thank you Tina. Thankfully we can always start again and/or move on. I’m liking start again right now 🙂
There are so many times when eating is more like “fueling” my body for performance and it becomes all consuming! Where’s the joy in that?? I try to be balanced in that, if I’m restricting in the weeks leading up to a race, I indulge (not overly so!) for a few days after the event. It gives me something to look forward to, and gets my eating back to normal!
Thanks Allie. Basics and balance have become my new best friends 🙂
Reflection is always needed in order to move forward, I have a tattoo on my hip that reminds me of that 🙂
You’re right and I knew that. I don’t know what it is about this whole thing that made me not see what was right in front of me. Or behind me in this case.
Mind if I ask what your tattoo is/says?
Isn’t retrospective a grand thing. It’s like getting that light bulb moment and just really understanding it.
Sometimes it’s the simple things that we learn from the most.
You’re right Matilda. The light bulb was always there. Just flickering. Now it’s a bright light!
Yes! It’s so important to look at where we’ve been to understand where we are now. I do this often and it’s always helpful.
Thank you Michele. It’s been a lesson learned.
I’m happy you have come to terms with your love/hate with food. It is liberating.
It is liberating Diatta! Thank you 🙂
Beautifully said and SO TRUE! It’s so unfortunate how we have forgotten to ENJOY food and life as well…I love all of these and try to follow them all as well. Great post! XOXO
Thank you. I don’t think I will ever forget to enjoy food again. Cautiously optimistic 🙂
One day at a time, one meal at a time… You can do it!
Day by day. Good and bad. I’m taking it day by day and moving toward more good than bad. Thank you Janice.
Another great post, Jill. I think we can learn from the past… by looking back. The key is to make sure we don’t get too stuck on the backwards/past that it prevents us from moving forward.
Learn from the past but not live in it. It can be a fine line.
I agree. You listed such great points on eating, too. Staying hydrated is one of the hardest for me!
Me too Amy! Hydration throughout the day is a struggle. Any tips/suggestions you have to share would be awesome!
It’s always good to learn from our past – especially those times when we were doing things “right”. Great thoughts on eating!
I need to learn to leave “right” alone and enjoy it.
What great advice from your husband – it makes sense but I don’t know that I’ve ever used that approach.
I’m like you – I make sure to never let myself get too full anymore. However, I’m bad about skipping meals – it happens a LOT.
Oh, if I skip meals it’s not pretty. I seem to get grouchy quickly. Google hangry and you’ll see my picture ha!
so smart, Jill! thanks for sharing with us your personal struggles (I know it can be hard to do). I have been there, so I totally understand – and smart hubby you have there!
Hard was an understatement [at first]. Sharing is probably one of the smartest things I could have done in all of this. It was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders.
Thank you Lea.
Great advice from your husband! I’m glad you’re on your way to getting a healthy balance back with food!
Thank you Erin. Basics and balance have become my new best friend.
Absolutely. Looking back really does help to identify the lessons and to figure out what really works and doesn’t work for you. Such great words from your husband.
My husband sees the big picture so much better than I do. He’s big picture and I’m the details. That’s why we make such a great team in life 🙂
Thanks Christine.
I totally agree with you and that’s where I am now. Just doing all the things I did when I felt at my best.
Brilliant isn’t it! So simple and at the same time empowering.
Brilliant! My husband does the same thing, lol. Just out of the blue he says something that is perfectly what I need to hear.
And I thought he didn’t listen 🙂
Thanks Kerri!
Yes, getting back to basics is important. Sometimes we get off on the wrong track but if we know what our CORE values are, it’s easy to right the wrongs. Good for you.
Basics and balance. My 2 bffs!
I think it is important to look back in order to move forward. We all learn from our past experiences and they can help us mold our future.
Exactly! I have a feeling our paths have crossed for a reason Toni. I wonder what that reason it 🙂
I am pretty careful about buying nutritious foods/ organics, but sometimes don’t have the time, or will make the time to fix everything myself. In that case, I try to make the best choices and avoid processed foods as much as possible. However, ice cream will never leave my diet, and I just buy the good stuff to make up for my little habit!
If ice cream is what I want then I eat ice cream. Ironically, I don’t eat ice cream. Not restricting. I’ve just never been a big fan. Nothing, except gluten, is off limits 🙂 It’s such a relief to say that!!
The enjoyment part is HUGE for me. Why eat something you hate?
Of course I wouldn’t eat what I hate.
It’s not about not enjoying what you’re eating. It’s more of getting to the point of not enjoying eating…at all.
YES!!!YES!
You totally nailed it! I agree with EVERY SINGLE one of them and would say I follow each of them. Except I don’t know how many times I eat each day. I just know I eat when I am hungry–I try to eat intuitively, which is basically eating 5 times a day.
You rock!
Thank you Kirtley. How often I eat is based on being hungry. It’s what works 🙂
Do you have a twitter acct? I think I tried following you the other day and couldn’t find your username.
I have a feeling our paths have crossed for a reason. I’m looking forward to figuring out what that reason is 🙂 Does that sound creepy ha!
I totally agree with all of the above and that is what I’ve tried to focus on myself. I’ve learned that the restrictive eating tendencies arise when something else is stressing me out. I’ve also stopped weighing myself and haven’t done so in almost a year. I am so much happier and nothing bad happened 🙂
The stressful times are the hardest! Who knew I would ever think restrictive means relief. Not! So much happier now 🙂
Thank you my friend <3
I totally agree. Looking back can be a great tool to re-discover what really works for you. I also love this food philosophy and feel moderation is the key to a great diet!
I’m giving moderation a try and some days I teeter on wanting to be restrictive but so far moderation is winning out. There is a feeling of relief with moderation. Balance 🙂
Sometimes I think too much. It learn from my past, but I try not to live there. It’s a fine line.
Me too Pam. If I’m not careful my over thinking makes things more difficult than they need to be. Not over thinking too often anymore 🙂
oh friend, amen to this! we can over analyze and over restrict, taking out the joy of FOOD and LIFE. I’m so glad we have each other to help support in the RIGHT direction
Loving the the feeling of the right direction.
YES YES YES
right now.
as we prepare to move.
again.
adventure attitude.
I totally agree, Jill. The past is there for us to learn from (but not to live in). Otherwise, what is the point of memory!
Love the added “not live in” Susie! So true.