Physical Training For Jedi
Part III - The Non-Diet
by: Jade Tigresse Jedi Tighearna*When it comes to health & nutrition there are so many diets out there that some people can get really intimidated by what to do. Others will leap from one diet fad to the next and end up in a vicious cycle of dieting & failure. :(
Most "Diets" are very restrictive in what they say you can eat. They tell you exactly how much, what time, what kind, etc. It is always a quick fix cure for whatever ails you and is THE ANSWER. Also some of those "Diets" are actually based upon poor logic or poor nutritional advice. These programs set you up for failure from the start so that they can keep you coming back for more and shelling out even greater sums of money to solve the problems that were created by the "cure". It is better to stay away from them altogether.
What is better is the non-diet approach, in which you learn about proper nutrition, and make sound health choices. Listen to your body. NOT what the food commercials have your brain believing you want- but what your body is telling you.
Do some simple taste tests- actually hold the food you are eating in your mouth for a whole minute and TASTE it. Does it taste good to you? Or are you just eating it because you think you want it? Try an organic apple as opposed to a regular apple. Your body will tell you which one it thinks is better for you. Pick up a book on nutrition from your library or bookstore. One book I got has all the effects of pesticides etc. in an appendix- scary reading.
The point is to make a lifestyle decision about what you are putting into your body. A conscious choice about your health & well being.- Though one caution- while soy milk is a wonderful thing DO NOT replace milk with soy for children as it does not have the proper nutrients they need to grow. Also do not think of it as punishment or a pass fail kind of situation. THInk of it as something you are doing to benefit yourself.
Another thing to be aware of is comfort eating. We all do it when we are stressed. In fact I read a report recently claiming that those comfort foods release certain neurochemicals in our brains that help us feel better. That's why we can't stop- it feels so good. ;-) But be aware of your triggers. and know when you are eating because you really need to eat it and not just because of boredom. Just be aware not to binge with the comfort foods.
I know once a month I got to have my chocolate-when I do I go get myself the best chocolate I can and enjoy it. Also do not use food as a punishment- your body needs food so do not starve yourself because you feel bad about something. face the problem and deal with it- but remember to eat. Try to not eat out of boredom either- the hand to mouth syndrome can really add inches to your waist.
Another trick that I've learned - don't eat everything on your plate. Leave at least one bite left untouched. It may not be much but it trains your mind & body to be able to stop eating and not keep stuffing itself because it thinks it's going to starve if it doesn't have every last little bite. Because about 5-10 minutes after you've stopped eating your brain will finally register that you are full.
There are may ways to not diet and still get healthy. the biggest obstacle is your mind.
First Posted Tues Dec 9, 2003
*Jedi Jade Tigresse Tighearna was studying to be a personal fitness trainer when we last heard from her. Posts on our forum by other Jedi indicated she had gone on with her career in fitness and also had begun her own Jedi group. We wish her the best.
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