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.
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