Diet or Lifestyle? Why to choose the latter...
This morning at work, I was making my second breakfast for the day and someone asked me what I was eating. I explained it was berries, oats and non-fat yogurt...a good balanced, lowfat meal. Is a matter of fact, a very tasty meal. The response I got was: "You look like you are in shape! Why do you eat something non-fat? You don't have to worry about that!" Mind you, this wasn't coming from someone who was overweight. On contrary, she is somewhat on the 'extra thin' side.
This kind of commentary always amazes me. It tells me that people think that eating healthy means you have to and that you are dieting. It also shows that people think that if you look good, then you can eat anything you want...you don't have to worry about good nutrition; and it is only when you don't look good, that you should be eating healthy. This couldn't be further from the truth! It is a way of living...a lifestyle...a choice:
You are What you Eat: Food is your body and mind's fuel. It is your nourishment. Think about a car and the fuel you use. If you use cheap, crappy gas and oil in the engine, chances are, it won't run so smoothly. However, if you take care of it and fuel it with high quality fuel, it will run more smoothly. Same goes for you. In order for you to look good and feel great, you should eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet. What you put into your body is directly reflected in how you look, how you feel and how much energy you have. So eating right keeps you in good shape and fine tuned.
It Isn't about a Diet: If you are already healthy and want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you need to continue to eat right. Regardless of your weight, you should always choose healthy food if you want to look and feel your best. Dieting is old news now. The idea isn't to cut calories, it is to replace processed and unnutritious foods with quality food, that provides you with good nutrients and substance.
Freedom of Choice: Lastly, healthy eating should be a choice. You shouldn't eat healthy because you have to eat healthy, it should be that you want to eat healthy. Choosing to eat right is a lifestyle. It is about optimizing your diet. It is about sustainable eating.
When my colleague responded with her remark about not needing to eat the way I do, I said, "No I don't, but I like to...I feel my best when I eat well." Regardless of your shape, your size or your weight, choosing to eat well is your right. Enjoy every minute of it and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Has anyone told you that you eat too healthy?
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