Buongiorno amici!
Longtime readers and friends of mine will know that I’ve always been into healthy eating and living. I’ve had different periods of rigidity (that I’ve set for myself) as it pertains to diet, but now I’ve more or less settled on eating mostly plant-based while indulging when I need/want to. I’ve recently been rereading and listening to some health information that has reminded me of the importance of staying on this track. I thought it was a perfect time to remember this information around the holidays when we tend to indulge a little bit more.
The logical piece
I’ve always been a healthy eater, which is due in large part to the decisions my mom made when I was growing up. However in my adult life, I had a major breakthrough when I came across some information that made sense to me logically. Up until that point, I had been making decisions on what to eat and avoid with a little voice in my head saying “it’s good for you” or “it’s bad for you” with little explanation behind it.
When I was around 19, I discovered a book that truly changed my life and eventually led to me to a long term way of making choices with food. The book is The Beauty Detox Solution: Eat Your Way to Radiant Skin, Renewed Energy and the Body You’ve Always Wanted
I’ve talked about digestion before on my blog, but just to reiterate, the digestive system is everything to our health. If we clog that up, we can have unhealthy insides and outsides (bad skin, thinning hair etc.). Understanding what certain foods would do to my body from the inside made it so easy for me to avoid them because I immediately became conscious of the state of my inner systems and organs. This understanding was so much more powerful for me in instituting a lifestyle change than any change I had tried to make prior with the motivation of just losing weight.
This understanding was so much more powerful for me in instituting a lifestyle change than any change I had tried to make prior with the motivation of just losing weight.
the emotional piece
One aspect that a lot of diet books and nutritionists tend to omit is the emotional side of eating. When we’re out of balance, be it from stress, depression or anything else, some of us tend to eat for emotional support, often times making less than optimal decisions with food. The good news is that being conscious of this fact, and making a conscious effort to do things that keep us in balance can also keep us on a healthy track. Also, once you start eating well, you begin feeling better physically and then want to continue that. So if you’re someone who indulges often out of emotions, there is definitely a way out!
That being said, I do think it’s important to indulge in whatever you need if you’re having a bad day (there’s a difference between a bad day and a longer period of time of course! ). The emotional component to food is extremely important for most people and it’s nearly impossible to keep up with making healthy choices if you are not in a positive place emotionally.
For me, these two components lead me to easily continue to make healthy choices. If I start to veer off course, I just reread parts of my book or listen to some of Kimberly Snyder’s podcasts to remind me why I’m making the decisions that I am.
What keeps you on track?
A presto,
Amanda ❤️
Love this! Very informative. Where did you get your hat by the way? It’s so cute!
Author
Thank you so much! I got it at Forever -> here
I think this topic is so important, especially this time of year. Thanks for sharing!
Author
Thank you! I always feel like if something clicked for me that it could for someone else too! 😉
Definitely needed to read this post right now, just got back from Mexico with all you can eat buffets for every meal haha http://briannamarielifestyle.com/
Author
Omg I hear you girl! I just remind myself of what’s happening inside my body and it makes me want to grab good stuff!
This post is great, so true! I think I will buy that book as well! I actually recently read – string by Khloe Kardashian as well and really enjoyed it ☺️
Author
This book changed my life, honest to god. It really opened up a whole new way of understanding food and health. Interesting, I didn’t know she wrote a book! I will look into it for sure!
I meant *strong by Khloe Kardashian
I meant *Strong
Love this blog! So informative and interesting 😊
Author
Thank you so much!
The topic is very important! Years passes very quick and the oldness will come with problems. If you eat healthy food now you’ll have less problems in the future. We are what we eat!
Author
Very true!!
I loved this post, probably because I relate so much with it! I also enjoy eating healthy and what keeps me on track is the logical and emotional piece of it! For instance I have finally given up completely sugar. Which is not been an easy thing considering I kinda used to eat a chocolate a day, even though have kept my eating habits quite good, but chocolate was always something I ate, independent of eating healthy or not. I would have always had a chocolate a day. Realizing it was my emotions that wanted that chocolate, realizing the logic behind the need of the need of the body and the brain and all the info that I follow online, made me capitulate my desire for chocolate and sugars completely. It is actually amazing that I do not feel that I do not go ahead with the urge my head or emotions were telling me to follow. IT’s like being the boss, and managing my mind and emotions it’s the best thing someone can experience! You have actually given me a great idea to right a blog post similar to yours! Thank you for sharing your experience! Stay on the right track! http://www.georgyana.me
Author
Aw thank you so much for this feedback, I’m so happy to read this! I feel like everything is rooted in emotions and if we can just work to get more balanced in that sense, everything else follows suit. So happy to hear about your success and keep it up girl!!
Love this!!
Wow! I am always trying to tell people this! Seriously, if you want to lose weight start looking at the science behind it. Eat because it makes your heart healthier or lowers your blood sugar. Eat for the benefits and if it does not benefit you, run! Love your blog!
Author
I know, right? That’s the information that did it for me, but that still doesn’t resonate for everyone. All you can do is try to help! Thank you so much!!
Loved this! I’m debating getting back into my Vegan eating habits to turn into a lifelong commitment. We’ll see how it goes 😩 lol
Author
I used to eat strictly vegan, but now I just try to do vegetarian/vegan most of the time but I don’t put too much pressure on myself. I definitely like the 80/20 philosophy of healthy to not healthy eating.
Good information, motivating too.
Author
Thank you, I’m happy to hear it!
Needed this – I am post surgery and have little motivation for healthy eating – little motivation this morning 💛
Author
I hope you’re doing well and feeling better every day! xo I’m glad to hear you go something out of my post. I’d definitely recommend “The Beauty Detox Solution” by Kimberly Snyder if you’re into learning why or why not things are healthy for us. My favorite book of all time.
Feeling, energized, healthy and mentally balanced when eating and living healthy and eating a clean diet is the best motivation💕🙏
Author
Couldn’t agree more! Once you feel great, you just want to stay there!