Having completed week 10 of 12 of my Mind and Body Transformation Challenge, made me realise how far I have come in 10 weeks. My body has changed but most importantly I feel more active, healthy and my skin looks and feels softer. Mentally, I feel stronger and I feel good with myself; it is that feeling of accomplishment you get when you know you’ve kept a promise with yourself. Reflecting on the past week, I’ve realised that part of feeling great is due to the way I’ve kept my body well nourished and hydrated. I realised I have been sourcing my body with “good fuel”. Therefore, I decided for this week to write a little bit about what I eat.
When I get asked, about diets, my answer is: “I’m always on a diet”; and then I get the puzzled look. You see, the very word diet comes from the Greek word “diata” which means ‘way of life’ or ‘manner of living’. That’s what I do, that’s my way of living: one where I have energy, I feel good and have a clear mind. I don’t have any bizarre health rituals, or go on starvation, denial or suffering mode. For me, the way I eat is one where I align my body and mind. I eat foods that give me a comfortable feeling when I’m eating, but most importantly I choose foods that give me a healthy feeling three hours after I finish eating.
In a nutshell, 90% of my diet consists of:
- Vegetables raw and cooked – lots of greens!!
- Grass-fed beef
- Free-range Chicken
- Pork
- Seafood
- Free-range Eggs
- Fruits
- Nuts
I cook with coconut oil, use olive oil and organic apple cider vinegar as salad dressings; keep salt to a minimum, eat lots of avocado, drink water and coconut water. For snacks I have nuts, fruits and I also enjoy having fruit/veggie smoothies (kale, spinach, orange, apple, berries). I drink coconut milk or almond milk and keep dairy to a minimum. I cook meals that are easy and simple to prepare. I have a treat or two on the weekends but what I find is that the longer I go without having treats the less my body craves or tolerates it. It is a fact that my “normal” way of eating makes me feel better emotionally and physically.
The other day, a dear friend of mine told me that she wanted to lose weight but that she loved her food and that she didn’t have the will power to go on a diet. My answer was: “I also love food and I don’t have will power either!” I enjoy cooking and I love serving food that is full of colours and that tastes fresh. The difference is that I have made a dedicated choice to look after my body and my health. I am committed to feeling great and looking great and I make no excuses for it! Being healthy, fit and at your ideal weight cannot be seen as a chore, it needs to become your normal. Once you start feeling better, having more energy and looking better you start becoming more selective of what you eat. I approach food as nourishment for my body so I choose foods that reduce inflammation and that provide my body with the minerals, nutrients, vitamins and protein required to function at its optimal health. Before your next meal think, what foods are really giving you your best body, best health and a clearer mind? How do you feel during and three hours after you finish your meal? Are you bloated, tired, grumpy? Or are you feeling healthy, energised and active?
My two cents of advice: find a way of eating that works for YOU, that makes you feel and look great today, in three months and for the rest of your life.