Stop Dieting. Start Paying Attention.

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

Letโ€™s be real – this is not gonna be a โ€œBest Meal Plan!โ€ post, & Iโ€™m not gonna yell at you for not eating like an Instagram dietician (theyโ€™re liars anyway ๐Ÿ˜‰).

As part of the healing, growing, & maintaining a healthy life series, weโ€™re gonna talk aboutโ€ฆnot 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 โ€œdietingโ€ 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! Iโ€™ve lost about 25 pounds! โ˜บ Iโ€™m happier now about how I physically look & feel than Iโ€™ve ever been in my life!!

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

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

So, hereโ€™s where Iโ€™ve landedโ€ฆ


The Anti-Diet

The best thing you can do for your body isnโ€™t following a strict diet.

Itโ€™s mindful consumption.

Rules are tools, not masters.

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

But Iโ€™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. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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 someoneโ€™s gonna steal it? ๐Ÿ˜…)


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 youโ€™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 โ€œFuck All Dayโ€!)

Whatโ€™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.


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Stay real. Live vibrantly. And rock the fuck on. ๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿค˜๐Ÿป