Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

Why am I here, at my computer on a rainy Sunday morning typing frantically before my spin class? I want to provide a safe, judgement-free, and welcoming place for those looking for a balanced approach to wellness, especially nutrition.

I started dieting when I was 13. I can’t say I knew what healthy eating was or felt like until I reached my 30s. Even with a degree in Nutrition. Yes, I understood what a carbohydrate was. Yes, I understand that certain nutrients have a physiological influence on our bodies in one way or another. My curiosity about food is what propelled me to devote time and energy into understanding how it communicates with our bodies. Still, after everything was said and done I didn’t have a healthy relationship with food.

What did I do?

I started to chip away at the bad habits I developed throughout the years. The guilt, the binge eating, and the extreme restriction HAD TO GO! I only knew complete control or utter chaos when it came to eating. What else had to go? Having the perfect diet.

Redefine your version of healthy.

Being in the fitness and health industry I had to let go of the expectations of that industry. I want to be inspirational, but I wasn’t going to be miserable to LOOK THE PART.

I knew my relationship with food had to be nurtured, monitored, and fine-tuned, like any other relationship in my life. We were going to be lifelong friends!

Think about how you want this relationship to feel and look.

I wanted my relationship with food to be FUN, nutritious, adventurous, colorful, balanced, safe and comfortable. I wanted to enjoy it! Goodbye bland chicken breast. You were a good source of protein but I don’t want to see you again! Try new recipes, make a plate filled with colorful foods, and enjoy a cupcake. I wanted to eat only until I was comfortable. I didn’t want to starve to the point I was uncomfortable. I’d repeat to myself, “Are you comfortable?”.

If it didn’t work before, then I didn’t do it again!

What does that mean? Yes, I did the diet and lost 10 lbs. But if the weight didn’t stay off or I couldn’t see myself eating like that for life, then I didn’t do it again. THIS WAS HUGE IN STOPPING MY YO-YOING WEIGHT FLUCTUATIONS.

This approach was the first time in my life that my weight gradually went down and stayed within a set weight +/-2 lbs for over 10 months without me trying. No counting every calorie, following the 50 rules of a diet or killing myself at the gym. Think of those diets like a bad ex. Don’t go back there. They’re no good for you.

Think of those diets like a bad ex. Don’t go back there. They’re no good for you.

Apples and Paws

This balanced approach doesn’t mean you can skip vegetables!

Don’t get me wrong I’m still about health! We want to take in good fuel, pick disease fighting foods and support good brain and body power with healthy food.