Over the last 10 years of focusing on changing my health through food, I’ve learned so much.
I started with juicing because I knew my body lacked nutrition. I’d blown up into a person that I didn’t even recognize anymore.
Then I went low-carb, and I’ve been low-carb ever since. I’ve even included periods of no meat, keto, one meal a day with massive salads, but nothing really helped in the ways that I needed help.
You absolutely have to know how frustrating that is, especially when you have a lot of weight to lose. That weight is hindering me and stops me from doing a lot of things I’d really rather be doing.
Over the past few months, I’ve really started to focus more on not necessarily what I’m eating but how much I’m eating. And it’s starting to make a difference.
Naturally Thin People vs. Overweight People
I stumbled upon this account on Instagram led by a young woman who analyzed her naturally thin friends to figure out why they had food control and why she was carrying 20 extra pounds.
She asked them questions and, for five years, studied when they would eat something and how much. Recognizing that when they were satisfied, they simply stopped eating. They ate what they wanted and enjoyed food, but hated feeling full.
For many of us, feeling full is a way to satisfy something that is missing in our life.
There is Always More Food
I once saw Dolly Parton in an interview after she had lost a lot of weight say that one day she realized how much she loved food.
But that didn’t mean she had to stop enjoying food to slim down. It just meant that she didn’t have to eat it all at once. There’s always more, and she could eat whatever she wanted and still be satisfied.
Focusing on the Volume of Food
That has always stuck with me as well. So over the last few months, I have been really focusing on the volume of food that I’ve been eating, and I want to share with you some things that I’ve noticed changing in my body.
Currently, I’m only down about 13 pounds, but I’m definitely not stressing about that. I am letting my body do its thing.
I’m eating foods that I want but mindful of my carb intake and my protein intake, but definitely not obsessing over that. If I want a sandwich, I’ll eat a sandwich, but I choose bread that is high fiber, and is in a thin-sliced, small loaf.
When I was low-carb, high-protein, I was taking magnesium daily, feeling like my body needed vitamins. There was something missing that I tried to fill through supplementation.
Now I can go days between my vitamins and not feel like I’m missing something critical.
Here is What’s Changing
* I’ve been adding more fruit into my meals, which I definitely have not included a lot of over the past 10 years.
People are afraid of all of the sugar, but if you incorporated in with your meal, you won’t get the sugar spikes, plus it’s natural sugar. You can stay away from sugar bombs, like grapes and juices, and enjoy the whole fruit, especially apples, citrus, bananas, and berries.
* I am focusing on my stomach and trying to eat only when it is empty – not always possible. But more importantly, I am listening to my stomach as it tells me when I am comfortably statisified and not when my brain says I am full.
To do this, look for signals, like sighing or yawning. I tend to sigh or take a deep breath. It is amazing to realize how little food we actaully need and not how much food we want to eat because it tastes Good. Remember Dolly – we can have more, if we need it.
* I’ve had plantar fasciitis for almost 2 years, and now that I’m eating smaller volume meals, it’s clearing up on its own. I think that means the inflammation in my body is actually going down. I can walk without crazy pain most of the day. Big Plus – more activtity.
* I have more energy so I’m not feeling like I need a nap at the end of the day. My clarity is better becasue my body isn’t working as hard at processing all of that food.
* My nails are growing like crazy, and they are strong! Just by reducing the amount of food intake! Wild!
These are just a few of the things that I’ve been noticing over the past few weeks.
I’m trying to move more, and now that the plantar fasciitis is getting much better. I am able to use my new rebounder, which is still kicking my butt… What a change, and hopefully I will be adding more walking in soon.
Breaking Habits is Hard
I’m not 100% perfect. But I believe I am a little bit more mindful about the amount of food that I’m taking.
That really is the hardest part – trying to let go of what I used to eat and focus on what I’m going to finish on my plate.
Those old habits die really hard. Convincing yourself that it’s okay to throw out food or have leftovers or take something home from the restaurant is not a lesson that you learn overnight.
Breaking old habits is hard. But I’m not beating myself up. I’m not stressing out when I get on the scale. I’m not even getting on the scale often – maybe once every two weeks.
I think that in itself is healing my body and healing my mind. While I still have a long way to go, I am definitely more focused and determined to succeed!
What do you think? Share your thoughts.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.