I know what you guys are thinking--what is this random blip in the posts? I post nothing for a while, then post a few pics from Italy, and then WABAM! We're talking about diets.
Well, it had to come at some point.
Let me first clarify what I mean when I say "diet". People think the worst when they hear this word. It usually conjures images of miserable people doing whatever it takes to shed some extra weight for a period of time. That is often referred to as going on a diet. A diet, however, is simply the food and drink a person consumes.
My diet usually follows the 80-20 rule. 80% healthy, nutritious, whole foods, and 20% whatever I want. I hate restricting myself mainly because sometimes I have huge cravings for random things that I find more unhealthy to ignore (yes, I love french fries and burgers), but also because I am surrounded by so many different cultures that embrace different diets and I like to be open to them. I also enjoy cooking, which makes it easier to control what goes into my body, in case I do want to indulge but not go all the way (bean burgers anyone?)
But how did I arrive at this diet? Actually, it was from going through many other diets!
I love to research the different food choices people make. It's always nice to read that something really works for someone enough that they want to share it with the world! I've been known to do the same from time to time. The problem is, people often make the mistake of comparing results.
Why I wanted to talk about diets is because people need to understand that what works for someone may not work for them. And I don't mean in the superficial sense. I mean in that long term, glowy healthy energetic sense. I went on the Master Cleanse for about a week until I realized that it's just not for me. I was really shocked at how far I went without solid food (in case people don't know, the Master Cleanse is a blend of lemon juice, maple syrup, water, and cayenne, used to flush out toxins and purify the body in the time span of 10-40 days), but I missed cooking and I missed having variety. Do I regret doing it? No, I don't regret doing it. I don't regret any of the diets I've done because I've taken things from them to create my own personalized regimen that works for me and just me.
There are general health tips that work for the masses but at the end of the day, the people writing these articles will not know your activity level, what allergies you have, your daily schedule, your work and social environment, the country you live in (this matters a lot because foods sold in supermarkets are so different between cities and countries), etc. So experiment! Try things out, see if it works for you enough to incorporate into your life. At the end of the day, the diet you choose should become your lifestyle.
So, to sum up my whole post: stop comparing, see what works for you, and enjoy life! That's ultimately what a diet should help you do. It should never become an obligation or an obsession, but something that can improve other facets of your life.
With that, I bid everyone a happy Tuesday. It's chow time for me. :D
Well, it had to come at some point.
Let me first clarify what I mean when I say "diet". People think the worst when they hear this word. It usually conjures images of miserable people doing whatever it takes to shed some extra weight for a period of time. That is often referred to as going on a diet. A diet, however, is simply the food and drink a person consumes.
My diet usually follows the 80-20 rule. 80% healthy, nutritious, whole foods, and 20% whatever I want. I hate restricting myself mainly because sometimes I have huge cravings for random things that I find more unhealthy to ignore (yes, I love french fries and burgers), but also because I am surrounded by so many different cultures that embrace different diets and I like to be open to them. I also enjoy cooking, which makes it easier to control what goes into my body, in case I do want to indulge but not go all the way (bean burgers anyone?)
But how did I arrive at this diet? Actually, it was from going through many other diets!
I love to research the different food choices people make. It's always nice to read that something really works for someone enough that they want to share it with the world! I've been known to do the same from time to time. The problem is, people often make the mistake of comparing results.
Why I wanted to talk about diets is because people need to understand that what works for someone may not work for them. And I don't mean in the superficial sense. I mean in that long term, glowy healthy energetic sense. I went on the Master Cleanse for about a week until I realized that it's just not for me. I was really shocked at how far I went without solid food (in case people don't know, the Master Cleanse is a blend of lemon juice, maple syrup, water, and cayenne, used to flush out toxins and purify the body in the time span of 10-40 days), but I missed cooking and I missed having variety. Do I regret doing it? No, I don't regret doing it. I don't regret any of the diets I've done because I've taken things from them to create my own personalized regimen that works for me and just me.
There are general health tips that work for the masses but at the end of the day, the people writing these articles will not know your activity level, what allergies you have, your daily schedule, your work and social environment, the country you live in (this matters a lot because foods sold in supermarkets are so different between cities and countries), etc. So experiment! Try things out, see if it works for you enough to incorporate into your life. At the end of the day, the diet you choose should become your lifestyle.
So, to sum up my whole post: stop comparing, see what works for you, and enjoy life! That's ultimately what a diet should help you do. It should never become an obligation or an obsession, but something that can improve other facets of your life.
With that, I bid everyone a happy Tuesday. It's chow time for me. :D
