I love this question, "what is the nutritional value?" because it has put me on the spot all this week. This question is holding me accountable for every bit of food that goes into my mouth. This question has power and it keeps me in control of my choices. I think about putting in all the hard work of exercise but tossing it out with my food choices. It's a waste of time but that has all changed. My food choices have gotten a lot better but I was still allowing myself to eat that cup of ice cream twice a week or that chocolate muffin every Saturday afternoon. I have justified it by saying "I worked out today it's okay" but knowing in the back of my brain it was not.
This is my take on the word "justifying" my bad behavior. It is abusive! There no justification for eating junk foods. Cakes, cookies, ice cream, candy, fried foods, creams, butter, etc has no "nutritional value" at all so that is why I am setting boundaries. These foods can cause health problems overtime and lead to obesity. I am a product of this abusive behavior. Most people will say that these foods are not the enemy but for me, they have been because I have allowed them to be. I can not allow these foods to come and go in my life because it's like being in an abusive relationship. It's saying to myself, it's over now and good-bye! Never to look back or question. Never to miss the foods or crave them when I see them. Yes, there will be parties and holidays when these foods will cross my path but I will treat them like artwork, just look-don't touch. It's crazy but that is how my brain works. When it's over it over!
Everything I eat must be questioned up front. The foods must have a purpose like fiber, vitamins, minerals etc. It's about taking a moment to cherish self and appreciate all the hard work it has taken to drop the fat. I asked myself this question yesterday at the grocery store and I came out with bags of healthy foods. No snacks, canned foods, processed foods, sweets, or drinks. My bags had "value" !
What is better? asking myself up-front "what is the nutritional value?" or asking myself after the damage is done "why did I eat that?" I believe in prevention and avoiding the damage up front.
This weekends exercise will include: spinning, weight lifting and yoga.
Pampering moments: 1 hour spa massage and reading.
Researching the value of foods.
This is a great concept. I always tell people this exact thing when they ask me if they can have the cake, chips, etc. I say yes, "But is that the best you can do?"
ReplyDeleteNot to say that you can't eat some treats occasionally, but the nutritional value of foods is so important!
Two comments:
ReplyDelete1) GOOD FOR YOU!! I am so impressed!!!
2) After a whopping 5 1/2 hours of sitting on a gym bench watching my son's karate tournament, I am jealous of the massage. My back is killing me!!
So right on the money with this! I have no problem turning down processed sugars as long as I have some berries or melon nearby! way to focus on what really matters!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment on my blog. I just signed up on yours and am adding you to my bloglist. Sooooo jealous of the massage! I can't wait til I lose enough of these fat rolls on my tummy to feel comfy enough to expose myself to a masseuse! I love your thinking in this post....nutrition is so incredibly vital to good health. :)
ReplyDeleteI like this concept a lot. I often think to myself, "I can have one slice of pizza OR I could have a big salad. I could have one granola bar OR a big bowl of yogurt and granola." Assessing the value of a food before eating it is a great habit to get into.
ReplyDelete