![]() ![]() In order to sell you limitless products and programs, you have to feel like your health is not in your control (spoiler: it is). If you feel overwhelmed by what you should and shouldn’t try in the wellness space, that’s not by accident. My body became stronger and more energized when I stopped exercising to look a certain way or as “punishment” for what I ate.Įvery season brings a new “weight loss pill,” “magic supplement,” or “miracle diet” that promises to be the cure-all to health woes and weight management. My motivation is to boost my mood instead of burning calories. Now, I prioritize living less sedentarily and moving in ways that bring me joy. The difference? I’m stronger than I have ever been because I’m prioritizing consistency over length or even quality, and I’m more intuitive about what my body needs. Instead, I went on more walks, focused on deep breathing (instead of exasperating myself with intense cardio), and started to think every movement made a difference (rather than thinking it has to be an hour-long to be worth it). My new form of movement did not involve weights, fancy machines, or heart-rate monitors. As a fix, I got more into restorative yoga and would go through flows for 15, 20, or 30 minutes instead of my usual hour-long classes. When the pandemic happened and my precious gyms and yoga studios closed, I had limited motivation and a lot of anxiety. I felt like I had to work out regularly, and if I could not make it to an hour-long class one day, I wouldn’t exercise at all, since anything else felt pointless. When I went away to college, I attended regular workout classes (thinking it might counteract the limitless cafeteria food or slapping the bag at frat parties, I guess?). Let me explain: I grew up as a competitive dancer (I wish it was as cool as Dance Moms, but I was never even half as good as Maddie Ziegler), which meant I was used to daily, intense exercise. Working out less transformed my body for the better. And guess what? I started craving fresh vegetables and whole grains, stopped bingeing on late-night snacks, and was able to feel satisfied after a cookie or one slice of pizza (instead of bingeing the whole sleeve or box) because I listened to my body’s cues. Getting rid of labels helped me listen to what my body needed to eat, not what I should or shouldn’t eat. I was over food plaguing my joy and eating meals that were more triggering than intuitive. I have so many thoughts on labeled eating, but for the sake of not going on and on (because I can), I’ll say this: Food is meant to be nourishing, satisfying, and pleasurable. Plus, the “want-what-we-can’t-have” mentality is not just true for bad boys it’s true for food too, leading to cravings, binges, and serious regret. However, when we put black and white labels on food, what’s meant to nourish us becomes associated with guilt. In fact, maybe you feel like it’s a helpful way to narrow down options. Putting a moral value on food choices may not seem like a big deal. “Sugar is bad for you,” “Whole30 is good for you,” or “I was so bad last week when I was on vacation” are all phrases you’ve probably heard or said too many times to count. Stop labeling foods as “good” or “bad”Įverything we eat has been predefined by our culture. The best part: They’re realistic enough to keep up with consistently.ġ. After a lot of trial and error throughout my life, these ten changes have easily made the greatest impact on my body (and mind). Sound like another “miracle” diet? Think again. The right changes made my skin clear up, my digestion improve, my confidence skyrocket, my period symptoms heal, and my anxiety decrease. Today, I feel in touch with my body and what it needs. Over the past six years, my life changed drastically (like a cross-country move to Los Angeles and you know, a global pandemic like the rest of the world experienced), and with it, my body did too. Weight fluctuations came (as they naturally do) through transitioning in and out of college years, and while I’ve always prided myself on being self-confident, I could never escape the occasional distress over a fat roll or a patch of cellulite. Restriction has never been my forte, which has caused a lot of guilt over the years (after all, wasn’t I the “healthy” girl?). Yes, I love to eat well and have tested lots of practices and trends over the years in an effort to heal symptoms and feel my best, but I can’t resist a good truffle mac n’ cheese and I rarely if ever say no to a glass of red wine. ![]()
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