Have you ever overheard conversations between women that go something like this…
Woman 1 - “Ooh they look wicked, are you going to get dessert?”
Woman 2 - “No, I shouldn’t, I’m trying to be good.”
Woman 1 – “I’ve got a wedding coming up so I’d better not either, I’ll just order a skinny cappuccino.”
Woman 2 - “Me too.”
Why do we associate food with crime? Food is for nutrition, not for punishment. It does not instantly pool in a gelatinous mess on your rear end the minute it has been swallowed. Unless we can have a healthy relationship with our food and not view it as a sin, we’ll never enjoy it or discover why as a nation we are progressively getting fatter and fatter.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen hungry women pick up something labeled ‘low fat’ and scoff it down without blinking or stopping to read the label that says it is FULL OF SUGAR AND CHEMICALS. Then they wonder why they are always tired and their weight constantly yo-yos up and down. I work with a girl who is always eating these so-called ‘health’ foods. Low fat no sugar yogurts, fat free cookies, fat free lollies, 99% fat free pretzels… for crying out loud… ‘diet’ low fat no sugar non dairy gluten free CHOCOLATE health bars!! What is the point of eating if you are not nourishing your body and instead filling it to the brim with gunk and junk! It’s nasty. She’s perpetually on a diet, is tired all the time, never loses weight, her weight teeter-totters from slightly overweight, to slightly more overweight, despite her vigilant efforts to STAMP OUT FAT! She is constantly snacking on these ‘guilt-free’, ‘good’ over-processed Frankenstein ‘treats’. I have never seen her eat an apple, come to think of it, the only thing she eats that is NOT from a packet is a white bread, cheese sandwich… NO BUTTER. AND then she uses plastic cheese! GOOD GRIEF!!
The most annoying thing about this scenario is, she doesn’t believe me when she asks me what I eat. She refuses because I eat all the things most dieters dream about and stay slim, yet how can that be? Full fat everything, delicious cheeses, creamy yoghurt, olives, smoked and fresh salmon, fresh butter, antipasto in olive oil, real salad dressing, cream in my coffee, Thai curries with rich coconut cream, gravies and sauces with my meals, lots of nuts etc etc. Sometimes I even eat a divine slice of baked cheesecake! How can a diet like that WORK? Everything she reads in diet books, in fashion magazines, from her friends, says the opposite. As for me, I can actually recognise a fruit or vegetable when I see one!
People like this assume that I’ve got some trick or a ‘fast metabolism’ or that I work out like crazy, none of which are true. I merely eat simply, enjoying foods in their natural state as much as possible, with a large variety of colours, flavours and textures. I don’t over eat and eat when I’m hungry, which is usually 3 good meals a day with snacks if I need them. Move my body whenever I can. It’s not rocket science.
I do not preach anymore, mostly because I am met with such incredulity. People are sceptical if they haven’t seen a program about it on Today Tonight or read it in Women’s Weekly. Mainstream shmainstream. It hasn’t worked for all this time, in fact everybody’s health is going down the toilet!
Come to think of it another co-worker who is a professional dieter has really ballooned out this year. She also eats low fat pseudo-food and in particular, weight loss health shakes. It seems to go, 1 kilo off for the week she sticks to shakes only (can you think of anything worse?) and then 2 kilos on the next when she reverts. It’s sad because she feels helpless. She is only doing what the government and popular society recommends! Why do they persist?
Rant rant rant. (Hope you’re not too bored!)
New topic - weight training. Who does it? I’ve just started back up again after about four weeks break (slap!) and am loving it. I’m going to be doing two sessions a week again and I’m really looking forward to it now I’m sleeping better and have more energy (thank you Robyn!).
In September the company I work for is moving into our new office which is only 3kms from my house. I’m planning on riding my bike to and from work each day (how very French) which will make 4 days biking in total (ooh and 24kms). So between the weights and the biking I should get pretty fit (and saves petrol)! It means I can skip my lunch hour walks and use the time for relaxing over my lunch and unwinding, instead of scarfing it down and rushing to the park! I’m still going to be doing that until we move, but hey, there’s only so many hours in the day and I’ve got to find time to move it. Right now, there is no way I’m getting up in the dark! Dark is for sleeping right?
About the Author...
I've finally overcome my destructive eating habits by learning to accept myself, applying the WAPF nutritional principles daily. I'm now at a stable, healthy, slim weight, have lots of energy and no more guilt. I've been happily married for 7 years and am a graphic designer. In the near future I'm hoping to start a nutritional course and start practicing as a qualified nutritionist. At the moment it's all self education.
COMMENTS - 0 Responses