A Timeline For Healthy Eating And Living.
The idea that we will eat healthy for 21 or 30 days is quite an interesting one isn’t it?
I understand the idea that we need to start somewhere, and that many of the diets are there to reduce inflammation, and that is something I support one hundred percent!
When we remove inflammation from our bodies we become a much better version of ourselves. Often feeling more energized and full of life. No longer bothered by things like brain fog, joint pain, gas and bloating, BM issues, heartburn, headaches, skin rashes, sleep issues… an endless list of things really!
But then what?
I have done all kinds of gut resets, whole 30s, and elimination diets and I promise you that when I’m nearing the end of my agreed upon timeline, I am planning my exit with great joy.
I am thinking about diving right into a bowl of chocolate ice cream with a side of pain au chocolat from my local chocolate shop. I’m thinking about toast for breakfast and pasta for dinner and pizza for lunch. All with a glass of wine. ;)
I am not thinking clearly about what my desired outcome is after putting in all the efforts. I’m not thinking long term, about my health, and how I want to feel a year from now.
But that is EXACTLY what we should be thinking about!
Otherwise, why did we start the whole process to begin with?
The 30 days was to HEAL, the rest of our life is for living healthy so we STAY healed.
We don’t want to toss all our efforts back into old habits and ways of being, or we will be right back where we started!
Instead let's spend some time thinking about WHY we started.
If you haven’t done a lot of work around that, dig into it. Having a strong why will help you go much further on this journey to health then if we just stay on the surface and think it’s only about image.
Why did we start?
Was it to feel better and stronger in our body? To get healthier for our family? To have energy and motivation and clarity? To heal an ongoing ailment? To support our body in fighting a disease?
Even just contemplating our why for a few moments can give us some clarity as to how we want to proceed with our food and lifestyle choices.
Then let’s think about how we feel now and how we want to feel a year from now. How we want to feel 6 years from now.
Travel down that road.
Take a look at who you are if you stick to a healthy food and life plan. Have a look at how you’re living, eating, and sleeping. See yourself strong and healthy and full of energy. Having deep connections to people you love, and a clear purpose in your life.
It is worth spending some time with your future self because your future self is incredibly grateful that instead of sliding back into habits you wanted to avoid, you created a new way of living.
You saw the value and power in being mindful of what you’re eating and how you’re spending your days. You saw that just because many people think you’re nuts for being so careful with your food choices, it paid off.
You fell in love with feeling healthy and it made you happy, and before long not having those things that ultimately made you feel like garbage became ok. You didn’t crave them any longer. You didn’t need them like other people seemed to need them. You also knew that if you randomly did endulge, your body has become a sleek fighter jet in its ability to manage things that don’t serve you, and will just get rid of it.
You felt strong, healthy, motivated, energized, and happy. You knew why you started this path to health and why you stuck to it.
Not a diet, but a way of living that is uniquely healthy just for you. You eat things that feed YOUR body and support YOUR health and because of that, you are living your best life.
That is why we do these experiments with food, because we want to feel great.
Don’t give up on feeling awesome.
Why did you start? How do you feel now? How do you want to feel 10 years from now? What will it take for you to continue to prioritize yourself in this way?
When we start we might have a goal or idea in mind, but when we finish let it be more about a new way of life. About living our best life and actually knowing what that feels like in our body.
Let it be about prioritizing yourself and your health and who you want to be 5 years from now.
Travel down that road and see who you are in the future if you continue to treat your body like it matters to you.
Because the 30 days was to heal your body, and the rest of your life is to stay healthy.
This is the first time I’ve done an elimination diet with a strong WHY, and it’s the first time I’ve come to the end and been so motivated to prioritize my health.
What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you!
Xox,
Gwen
