Eating by Accident

I do this way more than I am comfortable admitting.

The food is in front of me, usually not a lot, and usually somewhat “healthy,” so I put it into my mouth.

An organic Oreo (ironic huh?), a 40% fat free kettle chip or two or three (40% less fat!!!), a slice of artisan bread (it’s homemade and local, what could be better for me)!

Usually these moments are when . . .

I am busy and on the run
I completely ignore myself and what I am eating
I am focused on what’s next on my list, instead of being present
I convince myself that I deserve it

That’s when the accident happens.

The thing is, I think of myself as a very healthy person.  I drink my eight glasses of water a day, I don’t skip breakfast, I haven’t eaten “fast food” in decades, I actually love to exercise, and I have shelves full of health and wellness books, files and files of magazine articles on diet and exercise, personal journals with food lists, ab burners, diet highlights, weight loss mantras . . . you get the point!

But even with all of my good intentions, knowledge, well meaning perseverance . . .

Years of eating by accident has caused my body to be STUCK!

No matter how many spinning classes or boot camps I take a week, no matter how many magazine articles I read about healthy eating habits or fat burning workouts, no matter how healthy I THINK I am eating . . . my body is telling me something else.

So now I am really listening.
I think I am figuring it out.
I have stopped eating by accident.

I am now eating intentionally . . . on purpose.

I am now asking myself before every SINGLE thing I put into my mouth . . . “Will this nourish my body?”  It’s not nearly as tedious as it sounds, I promise!

I am not fighting with my food, because I know I will never win. I am STILL eating that organic Oreo, sipping on my red wine, enjoying that slice of bread. . . but doing it with intention.

I am deciding how I want to nourish my body at this moment . . . pure and simple.

It’s been a challenge . . . but not as challenging as I had expected. . . why??

Maybe because I have been stumbling along this path for many years, fallen hard, gotten back up and I am now ready to stroll.

Maybe because I was inspired to grab the “right” book of the shelf, the one that I needed at this moment.

Maybe because I didn’t plan on this . . . I didn’t push myself into this . . . it just happened. . . when I was grounded, happy, playful.

It doesn’t matter how it happened.

All that matters is . . . I am feeding myself intentionally, I am making a change, and my body is slowly and confidently freeing itself one intentional mouthful at a time.

What are you “accidentally” doing in your life right now?

toxic relationship
overeating
stressful job
harmful habits
painful and limiting beliefs

Ask yourself . . . “Is this nourishing my body?”

Chances are . . . it’s not!

So now what?

I can tell you what is working for me . . . Turtle Steps. {Breaking down the steps needed to reach your goal until you find a mini step that you know you can accomplish easily, and completing one of those mini steps each day!}

Eating intentionally for me means, taking ONE MEAL at a time, that’s my turtle step.

Simple
Authentic
Successful

Find your accident.
Discover your simple, authentic, successful turtle step.
Take that first step.
Stop living accidentally.
Live on purpose.
Nourish your body . . . pure and simple.