Stop Dieting. Start Paying Attention.

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Because taking care of your body doesn’t require eating perfectly – it requires mindfulness.

Let’s be real – this is not gonna be a “Best Meal Plan!” post, & I’m not gonna yell at you for not eating like an Instagram dietician (they’re liars anyway 😉).

As part of the healing, growing, & maintaining a healthy life series, we’re gonna talk about…not eating like an asshole.

Because what you put into your body is more important than most things.

Repercussions

I spent last year paying much more attention to what I was eating after some concerning cholesterol results. My doctor encouraged me to make some changes, and I decided to focus less on “dieting” and more on actually nourishing myself.

My new, self-imposed diet primarily consisted of increased protein & produce, and minimal saturated fats, excessive salts, & added sugar.

Which worked incredibly well! I’ve lost about 25 pounds! ☺ I’m happier now about how I physically look & feel than I’ve ever been in my life!!

That version of me was determined. This year’s me is tired.

This year, I’ve been burned out. I like a lot of variety, & a lot of flavor – in my meals, as well as in life.

So, here’s where I’ve landed…

The Anti-Diet

The best thing you can do for your body isn’t following a strict diet.

It’s mindful consumption.

Rules are tools, not masters.

I’m not going to sit in the corner with a salad at a party, angrily watching everyone else enjoy some barbecue. Fuck that.

But I’m also not going to eat until I feel like I need to be rolled home.

I drink a lot of lime water. Water is crucial, especially during summer. One thing I learned from working in the ER – dehydration is ridiculously common.

I hate water. But I like lime water. 😉

I use smaller plates & bowls than even my kids, most days. It helps me question if I really need more of that amazing curry I made for dinner. (Omg, my curry is amazeballs!)

And looking at that smaller bowl reminds me to savor my food instead of shoveling as much deliciousness in my face as quickly as possible. (Why do that anyway? As though someone’s gonna steal it? 😅)

Find Your Minimum

Paying attention to what you put into your body is one of the most essential forms of self care & self respect that you can do, especially when you’re not feeling well and that candy dish is singing show tunes.

Find your minimum. Make it stupidly easy. And on the days when everything goes to shit, do that one thing.

Every day, I make sure to drink water.

On my worst days, I make sure to eat at least one vegetable. (Even on “Fuck All Day”!)

What’s your minimum? Drop it in the comments – I want to know what “not eating like an asshole” looks like for you on a hellish day.

If this one hit home, give it a like, share it with someone who needs the permission, and subscribe if you’re new around here.

Stay real. Live vibrantly. And rock the fuck on. 💚🤘🏻

6 thoughts on “Stop Dieting. Start Paying Attention.”

  1. I arrive from kind of a different universe. I have the restrictive eating disorder problem ARFID. So. For me, “not eating like an asshole” during tough times entails eating anything that isn’t just two smoothies a day. Because with smoothies, you see, one does not have to deal with “weird textures” or “the foreign feeling of food in my mouth”. Like right now I am having toast and nachos in addition to a dinner smoothie. For me that is a win. Adding insult to injury, ARFID is largely a kids problem and some of them even grow out of it. Heh. My azz grown. As you know. But it’s very real and problematic and exacerbated by stress and stuff. Girl, I have no idea how I would deal if I had to give up cheese. It’s one of my dependable “safe foods” with a non-offensive texture. I would eat even less than I sometimes do now if I was forced to stop. The person I live with is working with a dietician for her goals and it seems to be helping her a lot. My insurance won’t cover such things but it’s good for people to work with these professionals when they have money/access.

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    1. I absolutely agree – I think that access to a dietician should be as widely available as anything (of course, in our country, nothing is terribly available 😑 I digress…)
      I’m glad you know your minimums ☺️
      What’s your favorite cheese? I’ve always been a fan of havarti, personally. And, living near Buffalo, blue cheese 😂

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      1. I like Smoked Gouda but my day to day is just a big block of Great Value sharp cheddar. I shred a third of the block at a time and keep it in the fridge. There probably isn’t a form of cheese that I would not have around if I had tons of money. Blue cheese could probably even grow on me after a while.

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      1. Nice! I anticipated your next post! 🙌🏼 Yeah, the rowing is a tricky one. My back is a little messed up, but not too bad. I learned that you need to keep your back straight and let your legs and arms do the work. But I have to admit that it takes a while to get the rhythm going.

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