Am I the only one who gets annoyed when the main ingredients in something include sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup? Seriously? Why would you sell that to me? Why would or should I eat that? Gross. That is all for tonight’s random ramblings.
Peace, love and no beef!
G
I’m dedicating this post to the discussion of how to really obtain a firm connection and understanding of your body and becoming one with yourself by listening to what you need.
I admit I had assumed people would just get this since it feels so natural to me. I feel that I’ve maintained such a reverence for my body that listening to it is incredibly crucial. I know when I’m tired, when I’m hungry, when it’s time to rest and when I simply don’t feel well. This takes time, conscious effort and awareness. When there is a lack of awareness, there is disconnect, imbalance and often illness. I do understand that many people struggle with body image, self-control, self-esteem and other nutrition and health related issues and this may seem as though it is a great challenge. Luckily it’s easier than you think. And what’s even better about it is thinking about it (in regards to listening to yourself) is discouraged and unnecessary.
However, for the moment maybe you might want to reflect just a bit on your current lifestyle. What do you want to change to better your health? How is your environment, career, relationships with others influencing your health? In case you didn’t know already, all of these things influence our health (but that doesn’t mean to go blame someone for your health, just recognize the impact these different aspects of your life have on you). Our minds, bodies and souls are all connected, they are one entity. When one is slightly off, the other aspects are influenced.
How often do you find yourself eating but then realize after you had scarfed down a whole bag of salty potato chips that in actuality you were not truly hungry? How often do you find yourself merely eating out of habit or out of pure pleasure rather than for your health?
Before you grab something to eat today take a moment and really ask yourself how you feel. By taking just a minute (you can spare one of those, right?) and observing how you feel opens up your awareness of yourself. The moment you stop to pay attention to yourself, awareness increases.
When you are truly hungry, you are not eating to cover up or fill an emotional void. A perfect example is the stereotypical pint of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough after a stressful day. Sure, it tastes great but what are you really feeding? Most likely you’re not feeding your body, you’re feeding your emotions. When you are truly hungry, your body will tell you. Your stomach may start to growl; you may not be able to focus properly. Don’t underestimate how intelligent your body is. You are blessed with an incredible system. If you just pause for a moment and allow yourself to really pay attention to your needs, you can hear your body subtly hinting to you. Self-awareness is silent, reflective and intuitive and in the beginning takes time. Recognize that you are truly worth it. You are the only you.
Peace, love and NO beef here.
Guramrit
It truly amazes me how disconnected people are with themselves and their bodies (and their body’s needs). We are easily distracted from our own needs and our own health. It’s easier to satisfy a temporary pleasure than it is to think on permanent results. How can we expect to grow into healthier people if we find an excuse for our behavior? Laziness and excuses serve no one.
By Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D. Associate Nutrition Editor for EatingWell Magazine
I’ve always thought the new year should start in September. Fall seems to bring with it a fresh start. And although I don’t want to rush the change of seasons (I love summer!), I am starting to feel inspired to shake up my routine and, um, get one. It’s all too easy to let healthy habits slide in the summertime (all that socializing can lead to some not-so-stellar food choices… Hamburgers and ice cream have been in my diet more often than I’d like to admit). So if you’re itching to get into (or back into) a healthy routine, as I am, then here are some steps you can take right now:
Don’t Miss: Ditch These 4 Foods to Clean Up Your Diet
How to Start Your New Healthy Routine:
Stock your kitchen with healthy foods. A first step in eating right is getting prepared. Go through your fridge and pantry and toss the super-unhealthy stuff you want to eat less of. Then, get ready to cook up healthy meals by stocking your pantry with healthy-cooking essentials. (Check out this guide to stocking a healthy kitchen for advice on where to get started.)
Must-Read: 10 Everyday Superfoods You Should Stock Up On
Make a meal plan. Get organized about your eating habits. Make a meal plan at the beginning of the week, shop for it and follow it. You can leave a couple nights open for eating out or takeout, if you like, but planning it ahead of time will help you make intentional, healthy choices. (Give meal planning a time with our “5-Day, 1,500-Calorie Diet Meal Plan.”)
Eat vegetables or fruit at every meal. Simply upping your consumption of fruits and vegetables — foods packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants — helps to lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Not to mention all the other benefits: For example, beta carotene in carrots and sweet potatoes helps keep your eyes, bones and immune system healthy, and lycopene in tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit may help protect against prostate and breast cancers. How much you should eat depends on your age and size, but many adults need roughly two cups of fruit and three cups of vegetables daily.
Pack your lunch. A packed lunch isn’t just for kids. Packing a healthy lunch to take to work will make it easier to eat more healthfully throughout the day. Remember to pack nourishing, satisfying snacks, too, so you don’t give in to the afternoon lure of the vending machine (or cafeteria cookie, sweet coffee drink or whatever your particular vice may be). Think about taking leftovers from last night’s dinner and adding some cut-up vegetables, fruit and nuts for snacks. (Find out how to pack a lighter lunch with our three ingredients of a get-skinny lunch.)
Hide tempting foods. One study found that keeping unhealthy food hidden can help you eat less of it: When secretaries were given candies in clear dishes to place on their desktops, they helped themselves to candy 71 percent more often than a similar group that was given the same candy in opaque dishes so that the candy wasn’t visible. At home, stash tempting treats inside a cabinet where you can’t see them — or better yet, get rid of them altogether and keep the apples and other healthy eats out on the counter.
Don’t Miss: 10 Ways to Snack Smarter
Schedule your exercise. If you wait for the mood to strike or for a lull in your day, you might not get in an optimal amount of exercise. Make sure you get enough by checking your schedule at the beginning of the week and penning in appointments to exercise. Need some incentive? Just remember that in addition to boosting your energy, exercise can help keep your heart healthy, lengthen your life and lower your risk of chronic disease.
How much exercise do you need? Experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity (jogging/running), as well as strength-training twice a week. You can break that total time up into chunks that work for you — 10-minute walks at lunch five times a week would knock out 50 of those minutes, a longer hike on the weekend or a couple of bike rides or dance classes could fill out the rest (just make sure the segments are at least 10 minutes long).
[LOVE THIS!- Had to post the article in it’s entirety. Please read more healthy reads on: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eatingwell/]
Yes!
No Beef Here 