Nothing affects us like what we eat. We are made of food. It becomes our bones, organs and every part of us, including our brains. Our brains control our thoughts, thoughts control our actions, and actions determine our lives. So, the outcome of our lives is indeed the product of what goes into our mouths.
To have a winning edge in this competitive marketplace means commanding your ability to concentrate and be productive, energetic and dynamic. These traits have been proven time and time again to be instrumental to success, and at their root is self-care. The world’s top professionals recognize this and constantly make it a priority.
Healthy eating habits are the major component of good self-care. More and more, people are confused about just what “healthy” is. There’s conflicting information and differing opinions. Also, we’re often too busy, overwhelmed and distracted to give this area the time and attention it deserves. Ignoring this leads to an overall decrease in energy, productivity and increased health problems. Unfortunately, the less energy we have, the more out of reach a healthy lifestyle becomes. Letting healthier habits slip, thinking it will be temporary, will cost you, affecting job performance, personal relationships and more.
So, what is healthy?
Low fat? Low carb? Snacks or no snacks? Take lots of vitamins? Only organic? We’re inundated with information and opinions of what constitutes a good diet, making it difficult to make a confident food decision. So, how do you make sense of it in a way that improves your individual health and well being?
The good news
We’re all different. We don’t have to figure out what’s right for everyone, just what’s right for us. We’re each biologically diverse, have unique lives and different likes and dislikes. The key is tuning in and figuring out what really makes you feel vibrant, nourished and strong. This begins by getting very clear on your own goals. For example, eating large portions, skipping breakfast and eating before bed—as many do—would be a great thing if you were a sumo wrestler. If your goals, however, are to wake up feeling refreshed and energetic, or to lose a few pounds, you may want to make a different choice. There’s no right or wrong food, no right or wrong way to eat. But there are foods and lifestyle habits that can support or delay the achievement of your goals.
Figuring out your own user’s manual takes focused time and effort. What’s right for one person is not necessarily right for the next.
Here are some simple tips to get you started:
• Pay attention to how eating different foods make you feel. Take note.
• Eat breakfast! Large or small, light or substantial—this depends on what makes you feel best.
• When choosing what to eat, ask yourself, “How do I want to feel after I consume this?”
• Eat the highest quality, most nutritious food you can get your hands on. Remember, you are what you eat.
One big mistake I see people make is to adopt eating habits based on external criteria—not on internal wisdom or self-knowledge. The truth is, diets just don’t work. A system of eating that relies on external criteria like what you read in a magazine, what worked for a friend or even what your doctor told you to do, especially if it requires a lot of willpower and discipline, will never become a natural, fluid part of life, no matter how healthy or correct it may seem on paper.
Real change comes with finding the foods that make you feel good, taste good to you and are easy and enjoyable for you to prepare.
Another vital element in creating lasting change is addressing the emotional and habitual factors involved. Finding the right diet for you, and changing the internal dialog around food, will not only support true health, but will do it in a way that will last forever.
Taking the time to figure out your own “formula” will pay off.
A young executive came to me after being diagnosed with food allergies. Weight gain, chronic exhaustion, fuzzy brain and insomnia were the presenting symptoms. Compounding that was stress at work and at home.
The advice from that person’s previous nutritionist was too restrictive and exacerbated the stress even more. We worked together to create flexible eating plans that were entirely appealing and doable. Along with that, we enlisted stress management tools and techniques. The results were astounding. It didn’t happen overnight; habits that take a lifetime to create rarely do.
The external changes were weight loss and a dramatic change in complexion. A once puffy, pale face changed to glowing, vibrant and rosy-cheeked. Even more magical changes happened internally—not including the chronic constipation that had finally been resolved. A new sense of self-confidence and self-respect emerged with this new system of self-care. It was recognized by coworkers and bosses alike.
As a result, the person received more respect and responsibility in the workplace. Consistent clear thinking, well-grounded composure and amazing self-management all contributed to increased productivity and trust within the company. This is a great example of someone who invested in themself to build the solid foundation for a lifetime of success.
Linda Partida, founder of Linda Living, is the authority at supporting those who wish to take back control of their health and life. Results include blood sugar and cholesterol control, weight management, energy support and more. Educated at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City, she studied major dietary theories and combines these with metabolic type, NLP techniques and knowledge of traditional philosophies. For more information, please visit www.lindaliving.com or call (707) 838-2994.
