Fat at 15 - Fit at 50
At age 15, I was considered “chubby” and at age 20 I developed an eating disorder (long before anorexia had a name) and now at 54, I’m healthier and more physically fit than I have ever been. Over the years I investigated and learned the truth about food and fitness. So here it is… a blog to share what I know and to stay in touch with my passion, and perhaps together we’ll continue to help others gain these insights to improve their health and longevity.
By the way, I also love to travel and find new foods and interesting healthy dishes that I can easily make home so, I’ll be sharing those as well.
Lets face it-living life fully is a more robust experience when you feel great! Feeling good can eliminate many of the issues we all face, depression, drug abuse, low self esteem, the list is long. Food and activity play a major role in how we feel. It isn’t rocket science but the very FIRST step is to take the blinders off and understand what we're eating. Or as my dad use to say, "use your head"
It’s simple but there is a process. We begin by, getting back to the basics!
O.K., I know what you’re thinking, “back to the basics? You mean grow my own food?” No. Although growing your own food is a great idea, it's not really an option for everyone.
Take me for instance; I’m a road warrior. I travel 3 weeks a month, stay in the average hotel. Many have only vending machines rather than restaurants and some (believe it or not) don’t even have a gym.
So how do I, a road warrior at age 54, stay healthy fit and feeling great? It’s a process, but not a difficult one. Today healthy eating is an integral part of my regular thought process. The best part is, I eat what I want!
In fact while in San Antonio last week, I went to lunch Downtown with the sales guys, Tony and Tony. They love BBQ so we did BBQ at a neat little family owned restaurant.
I wasn’t in the mood for BBQ and although I didn’t say this out loud, my thought process kicked in. Food for Thought, Most BBQ s sauce is packed with sugar. Mix that sugar (carbs) with the fatty food (beef or pork, and you retain the fat because the carbs burns first.
The two Tonys suggested a ham and turkey club sandwich. I did explain that I chose not to eat processed meat because… well for starters because it’s processed. (Huge topic) And then the manufactures add all those viruses to combat the bacteria that form on the process meats. We’re up to 9 viruses on Ham (another entire topic - feel free to add your questions, comments or knowledge on this topic, it does deserve discussion.
As for this trip, I was able to find several things on the menu that both fed my hungry brain and fed my practical “food educated” brain. To top it off, the Chicken Caesar salad was made with a quality chicken breast. Not the “rubbery, over-processed, full of steroids and salt” kind--overall, a pretty healthy salad and for only $4.99.
Has anyone noticed that everything I just talked about has to do with making your own choices by truly understanding what your eating? I call it cognitive eating, that is… to stop buying food in a trance-like state. Start thinking for ourselves again! Stop trusting that the FDA has the manpower to investigate, comprehend and then police the food manufacturers.
I’m not saying, “trust me – I’m a professional”, I’m saying, trust me, that we as consumers, have do our own research (as I’ve done ), and at the very least just start reading the labels on the foods we buy and then ask ourselves, “what’s true and what’s advertising for profit.”
OK. Let’s start the Cognitive Eating Process
We select foods that the marketers have labeled “diet, low fat, no sugar added, and all natural” because we believe these labels denote better for you or less fattening. Well think again. Not only are these labels deceiving but the ingredients, and the food manufacturing processes utilized to enhance the flavor of these “so called” healthier foods, actually leave your body looking for nutrients that were lost in the processing.
Note to Self: Go ahead-check the label. Low fat milk verses regular milk. Notice the additional sugar in most so called low fat milk products. Yep exactly, you thought you were being healthier when in fact more sugar is not the healthier choice.
Now My Question:
Why have consumers become so complacent? When did we begin blindly following and believing advertisements?
(NPR) National Public Radio recently discussed that even the president is taking notice. President Obama just launched a campaign to hold the food manufacturers accountable for false advertising. It’s a start but it doesn’t mean we can fall back into a trance like state. There really isn’t enough nutrient in processes food, at least not when you consider the calorie to nutrient ratio.
Marketing at Its’ Best
There have been countless books articles and blogs about healthy eating. Yet sadly there are too many people that till don’t get it. Shall we blame those highly talented marketers? Or is it the fault of an oversaturation of false advertising that comes at us from all directions? I believe in taking responsibility for most of what happens or doesn’t happen in my life. I also believe that most excuses are simply justification for not doing something or for doing the wrong things over and over again. Does anyone else see the value in starting with an open mind - a clean mental slate? For me there are - NO EXCUSES!
Food for Thought
Cognitive Eating – it’s not about brain food it’s about using our brains before placing the food into our mouths. It’s about using our brains before we make our shopping lists and before we head to the store to buy the food in the first place. It is all about truly understanding what we’re eating and then internalizing and owning the responsibility for our own health.
I wonder what healthy food and activity I'll find on my visit to Phoenix.
Whats your food for thought? Questions? Comments, Ideas? Have healthy eating comments of your own to share. Please do! It's all about getting the information out there from real individuals through our own experiences.
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