The War Against Food

Many days, I'm the one teaching my clients. But more often they are the ones teaching me. Today one subject in particular came up with three different clients and it got me thinking - so much that I had to write about it. Afterall, this particular topic is the reason that I started this blog in the first place.

What I heard today: Food is the Enemy.

1) In a world where someone has attempted weight loss for years without sustainable success, food is the enemy. In the mind of many dieters, food is the reason that they are currently unhappy with the way they feel and look. This negative association becomes so strong that they can no longer enjoy food of any kind.

2) When food is the enemy, the social events that are so often centered around food become stressful and lose a lot of their enjoyment.

3) When food is the enemy, and you don't know how to make it work in your favour- you become afraid of it. Every time you eat something you wonder if its the right/wrong thing to have, if you're having too much - if you should be on the low-fat/low-sodium/no dairy/all protein/low carb/wheat free/Bernstein plan and in the end it's all too much and you supersize an order of fries in a fit of frustration.

When I started this blog, over the past few years I, myself, had come down a pretty wild journey with food. For years, I didn't care what I ate. I wasn't fit, active or healthy by any standard. Then I did a complete 180, when I started exercising and eating well I switched to the other end of the spectrum - healthy super-fitness food only. It was easy when I was at home and until I became tired of the basic 'diet' staples. I always loved getting together with friends but when the event included going out for a meal it induced almost a sense of panic. The fear of eating something that would derail my diet completely washed out any excitement I had about going out. So either I didn't go, or I went and was so anxious that eventually an hour into the evening I'd say 'forget it!' and would order nachos and beer and call it a day - neither of these options were good for my physical, mental or emotional health. I was in such a fitness frenzy that I was surviving on egg whites, veggies and protein shakes alone and although my physical health was strong, I was ignoring the inner part of me that loved trying new foods, savouring amazing flavours and sharing a meal with a friend (like actually sharing...not just eating my salad watching as they ooh'd and aaah'd over their seared scallops on top of pancetta and glass of merlot).

The benefits that my body gained from eating on my 'diet plan' were being wasted on the stress that this type of food plan had on my mind. If only I knew then what I know now. Maybe then I would have known that it would be okay to have my own scallops and salad as I cheers'd my friend with my own glass of wine every so often. Balance was missing from my life.

Fast forward to why I'm telling you all of this. Food does not have to be the enemy. Don't be afraid of it. Instead, beat it at it's own game. Like any other war, learn about the opposition. Find it's weaknesses. Master it. Own it. Find out how to make healthier choices that work in your favour both physically and mentally. We need to find a balance. We have to learn strategies to enjoy the food we love in ways that promote our health and fitness goals. It really is possible to have both. That's one of the reasons I started writing all of this. I want to help arm you with tools to take food from being your enemy, to being back on your side and something you can really enjoy.

The weapons: 
1) Knowledge - learn what is good for you - what correct portion sizes are - how to balance your meals so you can be satisified physical and mentally - alone and in social settings
2) Preparation - plan ahead - what food options will be available to you - when are you planning to veer off your typical nutrition program and how can you balance that out with the rest of your week?
3) Determination - remember why you are putting in all of this effort. Make your nutrition decisions for you and what is best for your life. Keep that in mind as you look at the menus and walk down the grocery store aisles and pot luck tables.

In the past, food may have won battles, but with the right tools, there is no doubt you'll win the war.

Anytime you have a question - ask it here, on the facebook page or if you want, email me directly at girardi.rachel@gmail.com.