#iinsight – 4

Have you heard of the “Peanut Butter Diet?” When I asked hubby this question his response was: “I bet there’s a diet for anything.” I have to say he’s right. This week I learned about over 140 different types of diets and I have access to each one of them. If you really want to know about a certain one please e-mail me and I’d be happy to share the research! So my next question is: Is there a perfect diet? Module 4 talks about the different diet theories and how diets at their core, just don’t really work. We all know this. Diets don’t work because of bio-individuality. Remember this concept? This means that one person’s food is another person’s poison. What might work for you, doesn’t necessarily work for your best friend. No one diet is going to work for everyone. Diets encourage you to place all of your focus on external rules, making the diet the expert, not you. Food (or the deprivation of it) controlling me? No thanks, I’ll pass!

So now you might be recalling that one time you went months without seeing a friend and when you finally reconnected, you were amazed at how great she looked. Her secret? Well (enter whatever diet you want here) of course! But diets don’t work, right?!! One of the reasons diets actually DO work is because they offer better options for what the person was eating before. However, this is only for a short duration of time. The body cannot sustain deprivation forever. IIN taught me that 95% of people who go on a diet eventually gain all of the weight back and then some.

So what is the fuss with diets? It seems that almost daily a new one is introduced. Personally, I think people are too obsessed with labels or needing to fit a label. I think it’s important not to label yourself or become obsessed with being so regimented. I’ve seen people define themselves as “vegan,” but weeks into the label, they order fish when out to dinner. I think you can absolutely implement some elements of different diets, but you don’t have to obsess over it. If your body and what it needs is constantly changing, how in the world is it possible to stick to one label? If you have a medical condition and a specialist has recommended you follow a certain way of eating, then that’s one thing. If not, find the foods that nourish your body and soul and bring you balance. Stick to what makes you happy and then let go of the labeling! IIN has taught me that rather than focusing on a diet or label, it’s important to find lifelong tools that set you up for more of a lifestyle than a quick fix. I’ve started practicing what I preach and can honestly say I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been. I’m also the happiest. I think these two go hand in hand. If you’re healthy, you feel good and in turn are happy. Here’s a pic of hubby and I celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary/my 30th birthday this past weekend. I think this new decade is going to be the best one yet!

One thing I’ve really started practicing is Intuitive Eating. This is an approach that helps build a connection between mind and body. It’s the idea that you’re able to distinguish and respond to inner body cues regarding food which could be physical and/or emotional. It rejects diet laws or trends. It honors hunger, makes peace with food, eliminates any negativity around certain foods, and therefore unlinks any emotions around eating. I’ve noticed that since viewing food as my friend and no longer categorizing food as either “good” or “bad,” I’m able to eat like a “normal” person. I no longer binge/restrict. I can identify when I’m full. I allow myself to indulge without the guilt. I don’t have to lick my plate clean and I understand that the foods I want will still be there tomorrow. I’m not eating as if it’s my last meal on Earth. And let me tell you, this is SO LIBERATING!

IIN also encourages experimentation when it comes to food to discover what works best for you and your body. It’s more than just the food you eat; it’s a lifestyle. It encourages home-cooked meals (to ensure you get your Vitamin H & L!), engaging in physical activity, doing fulfilling work, developing spirituality, and fostering healthy, supportive relationships. Along with intuitive eating, I’ve tried to experiment or temporarily eliminate certain foods that might be triggers for my acid reflux. I use the term temporarily because I really don’t believe in permanent elimination for myself. Recently I’ve found that coffee and alcohol are triggers for me. Shocker! I’ve eliminated coffee for certain periods of time, but have allowed myself to have it here and there. If you tell me you don’t love coffee, I’d have a hard time believing you. What’s not to love? I love how it smells and tastes, but even more so, I think I love the ritual of drinking it first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, my body doesn’t love it as much as my mind does. So I’ve temporarily eliminated it, or rather, crowded it out with another beverage. A green smoothie. I make a variation of this daily, but it always includes the FAB4: fat, fiber, protein, and greens.

Here is an example of my green smoothie recipe:

• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 scoop protein powder (I use the perfect fit vanilla)
• 1 tbsp maca powder
• 1 tbsp organic peanut butter
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• 1 date
• topped with chia or hemp seeds

Sometimes I hold off on the date to keep the sugar down, and have yet to remove the banana, but might substitute riced cauliflower for it soon! I will also be talking about Maca and other Superfoods on my next post. Stay tuned!

Food for thought: What rules around food, or labels in general, can you eliminate today?