Vegan? Paleo? Raw? Which Way is the Right Way?

Years ago, after hearing a leader in the raw food movement speak with such passion and conviction regarding the power of a raw food diet, I was ready to give it a whirl. Until my acupuncturist told me raw foods were not good for my constitution and a girl at my gym shared how her hair started falling out when she became a raw foodist. I decided this path might not be for me, and was actually relieved, as one of my all-time favorite dishes is a hot bowl of homemade soup.

Then I learned about the blood type diet. I was intrigued until I discovered that my O blood type meant I would function best on a meat-centric diet. I stopped eating meat when I was 17 for a variety of reasons and really didn't want to return to my meat-eating ways.

Some years later, after reading a book on the dangers of gluten, I was convinced if I ate one more kernel of wheat, it would kill me. So I started playing around with a gluten-free diet.

I've listened to various experts talk about dairy over the years, and as a result, I’ve gone from skim milk to whole milk to raw milk to coconut milk.

I could go on and on regarding my history of bouncing around from one idea to the next, but I think you get the point.

Confused? Join the Club.
It’s easy to become confused and overwhelmed by the constant influx of new information and varying opinions on nutrition, diets, health and wellness. Much of it is quite compelling, extremely convincing, very tempting and maddeningly contradictory.

Vegan? Paleo? Low carb? Low fat? Gluten? Whole wheat?

Three square meals a day? Or, fast two days a week?

What’s a person to do?

This is what I do, and what I tell my clients:

Your body is utterly unique.

So are your nutritional needs and food preferences. A way of eating that works for someone else may not work for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Experiment with an open mind to discover what works best for YOUR body—not your boyfriend’s, best friend’s or favorite celebrity’s body.

Tune into the messages your body is sending you. It will tell you if dairy gives you gas, if diet soda gives you a migraine, or if coffee gives you acid reflux. It will show you if it thrives on a vegetarian diet or one with animal protein—or if it feels best somewhere in between.

In order to hear the wisdom of your body, you must slow down. You must be willing to pay attention and make connections, then honor what your body is telling you.

Remaining flexible is also key. Your body and nutritional needs are constantly changing. What worked for you three years ago, may not work for you today.

Connecting the Dots
Figuring all of this out can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re not used to listening to and trusting your body.

If you want support, give me a shout. I can help you connect the dots and determine what way of eating works best for YOU.

I promise you, the freedom, empowerment and ease that come from crafting your own personal diet are so worth it.

Bye Bye TV, Gossiping and Body Bashing

Are you a lover of learning? 

I am. 

My curious mind and insatiable appetite for knowledge coupled with my deep desire to support my clients in living the best life possible means I’m constantly absorbing new information and learning fresh ways to help others thrive. 

Most recently, I embarked on a yearlong journey to obtain my certification in positive psychology, the scientific study of individual and societal happiness and flourishing. 

As a part of my training, I flew to the East Coast for a weeklong immersion in March. While killing time at an airport bookstore, I spent a few moments scanning the covers of women and men's magazines (e.g., fashion, fitness, health, etc.). I was quite disturbed and saddened by what I saw. 

The extreme exploitation and objectification of women reminded me of why I stopped reading these magazines (along with celebrity pubs) years ago. I don't like their negative messaging—mainly that a woman’s value lies in her youth, beauty, body shape and sexuality. Nor do I like the feelings of inadequacy and deficiency they are designed to provoke. I don't want to waste my time and pollute my mind with them.

Bye Bye TV, Gossiping and Body Bashing
I’ve made other changes over the years to diminish the negativity in my life so that I can preserve my energy for more fulfilling, positive pursuits. For example:

• I limited my news exposure (research has found that people who frequently tune into the news have higher levels of stress, anxiety, fear and pain)
   

• I discontinued watching TV, with the exception of an occasional program that is super inspiring and/or informative, like Oprah's Super Soul Sunday or a PBS documentary
   

• I stopped viewing violent movies 
   

• I greatly reduced my complaining, gossiping and judging 
   

• I quit speaking negatively about my body to others and myself 

Of course, some of these changes were easier than others. I’d much rather read a good book than watch TV. And some were more challenging, like no longer criticizing my body.

As a result of ridding these toxins from my world, I feel incredibly lighter and more balanced, relaxed, peaceful and joyful. And, well, much more positive.

How Does Negativity Contaminate Your Life?
Take a moment to do this quick negativity inventory:

• What sources of negativity contaminate your life?
   

• How are they impacting your health and wellbeing?
   

• What steps can you take to remove or reduce them?
   

• Which one can you start addressing immediately?
   

• How will you feel when you decrease your toxic load?

I've also taken numerous actions to boost the positivity in my life, like keeping a daily gratitude journal. We'll dive deeper into positivity boosters another time.

Why I Couldn't Stop Eating Conversation Hearts

Valentine's Day reminds me of a time in my life when I couldn’t be left alone with a bag of conversation hearts without eating every single one of those pastel sugar bombs. And, thanks to handfuls of those cutely packaged Valentine’s Day mini candy bars, February afternoons at my corporate gig became much more bearable.
 
Of course, my sweet tooth didn’t rear its demanding, insatiable head just in February. Bingeing on sugary treats was a year-round occurrence back then. Eating them made me feel alive when I felt dead inside from doing unfulfilling, uninspiring work.
 
The less alive I felt, the stronger my desire was for quick hits of intense food. When I flatlined, sugar was my lifeline.
 
A Symbolic Substitute
For many of us, sugar is a symbolic substitute for fulfillment and freedom. For others, it’s salty snacks, fatty foods, booze or pot. These things take us to a place where we can forget--albeit temporary--about the dissatisfaction and discomfort in our lives. We use them to leave ourselves when life gets hard.
 
It’s not that these things are necessarily bad, or that we’re bad people for consuming them, or that they shouldn’t be a source of pleasure. Challenges arise when we rely on them to fulfill a need they were never ever meant to fill.
 
If this sounds all too familiar, what steps--big and small--can you take to feel more alive in your day-to-day existence?
 
How can you infuse more vitality into the realms of your life that feel lackluster and lifeless, whether it’s work, relationships, intimacy, physical movement, spirituality, personal growth, creativity, etc.?
 
Take a minute to write down all the things that make you feel more alive. Don’t hold back. 
 
A few items on my list include: aligning my passions and values with my career, running at sunrise, re-centering at yoga, challenging my body with a new workout, walking with a friend, reading a captivating book, learning new ideas, hiking along the coast, planning trips, exploring foreign lands, losing myself in a creative project, helping others, and connecting with my coaching clients.
 
What makes you come alive?
 
Remember, food can fill you up, but it can’t fulfill you.