"What could be more important than a little something to eat?"
- Winnie the Pooh
So today is my first day back to eating "regular food" post Whole30.
If you don't know what Whole30 is, you,
a.) don't check social media because at least 5 of your friends are doing it at this moment
or
b.) think it has nothing to do with food and everything to do with yoga or some other hippie thing.
To say it was a tough 30 days would be a correct statement. I have little to no self-control when it comes to foods that include chocolate, sugar, bread, and ice cream, which basically sums up everything you can't have.
Whole30 (for those of you who don't know yet) is 30 days of "clean eating." Basically it means no beans, sugar, gluten, dairy, or anything closely resembling the diet I consisted of prior to the 30 days. You have eggs, fruit, meat, veggies, and potatoes on the reg, and get used to tricking yourself into believing that the fruit is actually a chocolate bar (it doesn't work).
Why did I start on such an adventure? Well, I kept seeing people post about it, and I thought to myself, well, maybe I should get the cookbook and see if I even like eating the stuff and maybe in the far future I'll do it! Fast forward to getting the cookbook and my roommate saying "I'll do it with you if you want!"
Seeing as I bought the book? I couldn't really say no.
So, there we were. Our fridge was the epitome of health. Chicken coming out our ears, and veggies to spare. I attempted to keep a food journal of my thoughts on Whole30 each day, but quickly failed after day 5 when the only thought was "why am I doing this?"
About halfway through, though, I discovered something. As I began to feel better, have more energy, sleep better each night, and generally have overall health improvement (I wasn't sick ONCE during Whole30 which is quite the feat if you know me), I began to notice something.
Now that I couldn't have any of the foods I was used to, I began to want all the foods I could see. I would see people post pictures of pints of ice cream, their favorite candy bars, or "insert food here" because their day had been like such and such, and even though it made me want that food, it also started to make me wonder.
Food is meant to be a gathering of people. You eat with others (for the most part). It's a social event, and it's something a lot of us, myself included have many memories associated with food or sitting around a table with loved ones. My comfort food- the dish my mom makes when it's cold, or the day has been rough- will always being me back to my childhood and the feeling of security and safety associated with that food. The problem comes not when we enjoy eating good food with family and friends, but when we rely on food to make us feel better.
I don't know how many times I've said "gah, I just need some chocolate to get me through today!" or "I just need some Diet Coke to keep me awake to get me to 5pm." It's just not true though. This lie I've fed (food pun!) myself is that food will make whatever crappy or stressful thing is going on, better. But it won't. I end up feeling sick and actually worse about myself after eating that dozen glazed donut holes.
The truth? Only God can fill that place that we try to throw food, or any other activity, at. I don't need to rely on food for a pick me up, I need God to step in and remind me that I am loved, unique, or whatever else I need to hear in the moment I turn to food for comfort. It's time to stop our dependency on food (good or bad) to make us "feel better." Accepting yourself, your circumstances, and trusting in a God who is bigger than my craving for Oreos the last 30 days, is better than any promise food, or other activity can make. Even eating well won't make me a happier person. Sure I may feel better, I may lose some weight, but ultimately if I'm looking at food to satisfy me or to make me into a better person, I will never find peace.
Maybe that's too deep since it's just food, but it's something I've really noticed during the last 30 days. Will I never eat another cookie in my life though now that I've done it and feel so much better? No. Bring on all the Oreos. Just kidding, but I do believe that moderation is key, and ultimately recognizing that my struggle with turning to food for comfort is not because I need it, it's because I'm looking for it to bring me comfort that only God can bring to my life.
On that note, I'd encourage everyone to do a Whole30-type thing, get your mind right when it comes to food, and experience what it feels like to watch everyone else eat cake and realize you can't have it too. ;)
Until next time,
Jackie
If you don't know what Whole30 is, you,
a.) don't check social media because at least 5 of your friends are doing it at this moment
or
b.) think it has nothing to do with food and everything to do with yoga or some other hippie thing.
To say it was a tough 30 days would be a correct statement. I have little to no self-control when it comes to foods that include chocolate, sugar, bread, and ice cream, which basically sums up everything you can't have.
Whole30 (for those of you who don't know yet) is 30 days of "clean eating." Basically it means no beans, sugar, gluten, dairy, or anything closely resembling the diet I consisted of prior to the 30 days. You have eggs, fruit, meat, veggies, and potatoes on the reg, and get used to tricking yourself into believing that the fruit is actually a chocolate bar (it doesn't work).
Why did I start on such an adventure? Well, I kept seeing people post about it, and I thought to myself, well, maybe I should get the cookbook and see if I even like eating the stuff and maybe in the far future I'll do it! Fast forward to getting the cookbook and my roommate saying "I'll do it with you if you want!"
Seeing as I bought the book? I couldn't really say no.
So, there we were. Our fridge was the epitome of health. Chicken coming out our ears, and veggies to spare. I attempted to keep a food journal of my thoughts on Whole30 each day, but quickly failed after day 5 when the only thought was "why am I doing this?"
About halfway through, though, I discovered something. As I began to feel better, have more energy, sleep better each night, and generally have overall health improvement (I wasn't sick ONCE during Whole30 which is quite the feat if you know me), I began to notice something.
Now that I couldn't have any of the foods I was used to, I began to want all the foods I could see. I would see people post pictures of pints of ice cream, their favorite candy bars, or "insert food here" because their day had been like such and such, and even though it made me want that food, it also started to make me wonder.
Food is meant to be a gathering of people. You eat with others (for the most part). It's a social event, and it's something a lot of us, myself included have many memories associated with food or sitting around a table with loved ones. My comfort food- the dish my mom makes when it's cold, or the day has been rough- will always being me back to my childhood and the feeling of security and safety associated with that food. The problem comes not when we enjoy eating good food with family and friends, but when we rely on food to make us feel better.
I don't know how many times I've said "gah, I just need some chocolate to get me through today!" or "I just need some Diet Coke to keep me awake to get me to 5pm." It's just not true though. This lie I've fed (food pun!) myself is that food will make whatever crappy or stressful thing is going on, better. But it won't. I end up feeling sick and actually worse about myself after eating that dozen glazed donut holes.
The truth? Only God can fill that place that we try to throw food, or any other activity, at. I don't need to rely on food for a pick me up, I need God to step in and remind me that I am loved, unique, or whatever else I need to hear in the moment I turn to food for comfort. It's time to stop our dependency on food (good or bad) to make us "feel better." Accepting yourself, your circumstances, and trusting in a God who is bigger than my craving for Oreos the last 30 days, is better than any promise food, or other activity can make. Even eating well won't make me a happier person. Sure I may feel better, I may lose some weight, but ultimately if I'm looking at food to satisfy me or to make me into a better person, I will never find peace.
Maybe that's too deep since it's just food, but it's something I've really noticed during the last 30 days. Will I never eat another cookie in my life though now that I've done it and feel so much better? No. Bring on all the Oreos. Just kidding, but I do believe that moderation is key, and ultimately recognizing that my struggle with turning to food for comfort is not because I need it, it's because I'm looking for it to bring me comfort that only God can bring to my life.
On that note, I'd encourage everyone to do a Whole30-type thing, get your mind right when it comes to food, and experience what it feels like to watch everyone else eat cake and realize you can't have it too. ;)
Until next time,
Jackie
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