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when it comes down to it... food is most important
See how I didn't call this the "diet" page? That was on purpose.
See how I didn't call this the "diet" page? That was on purpose.
The word "diet" has so many unfortunate connotations anymore... It's like "diet" automatically means you need to change something, or you need to watch something, or you are avoiding something. In reality though, your diet is literally just the stuff you stick in your mouth...
The word "diet" has so many unfortunate connotations anymore... It's like "diet" automatically means you need to change something, or you need to watch something, or you are avoiding something. In reality though, your diet is literally just the stuff you stick in your mouth...
my story:
my story:
If you're anything like me (actually, how I USED to be) food is stressful, well, it WAS stressful. I remember the days when I counted every single calorie that went in my mouth. My food scale was always on my counter, it seemed to run out of batteries quicker than the TV remote... I couldn't not think about food. It was always in the back of my mind. I was always hungry, I was always counting down till I could eat again. I tried to eat mass amounts of protein, and I forced down protein shakes even if they made me... well, you know... "uncomfortable". At this time, I was single and in school, so I was on my own schedule and there was nothing to “mess up” my food routine. I ate every 3 hours, had to pack snacks for EVERY single thing on my schedule, I thought too much about food. It wasn’t fun anymore, it was a chore… which is definitely not the way I was raised. I was raised to love cooking for the ART that it is. But still, there were nights I would come home from spending time with friends, worried to death about the food I ate and the drinks I had. I was worried they would “ruin” my progress, that I would instantly gain weight, that I wouldn’t feel like I was worth anything. I even had times when I was tempted to throw up the food I ate. I never did do that, but it is still a hard thing to think back on.
It was fine… I guess… It worked… I guess… but I was miserable.
It was fine… I guess… It worked… I guess… but I was miserable.
Then… my life changed, for reasons that had NOTHING to do with fitness… Thank goodness it did, because who knows what negative “diet place” my path would have taken me if I hadn’t met my husband at this time. As a typical whirlwind love story goes, we got wrapped up in each other and my diet quickly fell by the wayside, and for good reason! I had something better to think about and spend my time on. Working out still existed in my life, but that was an easy habit to keep because we were “long distance” for the first 6 months we were together. Basically I would do my “best” during the week with working out and food, then let it all go on the weekends when we were together. This mindset has evolved over time and has become much more positive, but it is still with me today.
Once school was over and I had to start “adulting” in my new life containing a very serious relationship, my food choices evolved further still. Because we were no longer long distance I had to figure out how to eat for my goals without missing out on the enjoyment of food with my boyfriend. My role eventually became the main grocery shopper and “chef” of our pair so I again regained control over what I ate every day. BUT… It was totally different. As many of you can relate to, cooking for just yourself is way different than cooking for others. I no longer felt I could eat “weird”, “diet-y” things, I had to make more balanced, “real” meals that appealed to someone who had never had a skewed, unhealthy view of food. Although it was a new skill I had to learn, it was rewarding to be able to provide good, healthy food for my soon to be fiancé. I got it down to a science eventually: protein, carb and healthy fat at each meal. It impressed my husband, kept him happy, and the food was delicious.
But even though I was eating these healthy things and eating more than I used to, I still had a tough time. I enjoyed the art of cooking again and enjoyed food for the taste rather than the calorie count, but I was still constantly hungry, and “hangry” became a frequently used word in our lives… Instead of Saturday and Sunday mornings being laid back and relaxing, they were spent with me being grouchy and mean to my husband because of how hungry I was when I woke up. I stuck with things for a couple of years though, until keto (eating low carb and high fat) came on to my radar…
At first, keto was appealing just so I could get a bit more lean… but quickly, I learned that keto is WAY more than that. Keto let my body become "fat fueled", meaning I could FINALLY go for longer than 3 hours without eating and be ok... I didn't have hangry spells, I didn't bite my husband's head off anymore, and when I did get hungry, the hunger faded quickly if I wasn't able to eat right that second. To better explain that phenomenon, imagine... forgetting to eat. Forgetting ... to ... EAT? UH, what? Yes. It was possible.
For the first time ever, I stopped thinking about food constantly.
For the first time ever, I stopped thinking about food constantly.
how I eat now:
how I eat now:
I am definitely not your "typical keto" person... I do like carbs, and over time I have learned that my body needs them, just a bit, each day. My brain feels more awake in the mornings when I have some carbs at dinner.
My "perfect food day" would look something like this:
My "perfect food day" would look something like this:
- BREAKFAST (whenever I get hungry, usually around 9-10 am) consisting of NO to very minimal carbs: three eggs, bacon/sausage and avocado
- fatty SNACK if I need it: cheese... oh how I love cheese, or some veggies dipped in homemade mayo
- DINNER (again when I get hungry) consisting of mostly fat and protein, with a "splash" of carbs: steak, veggies with butter, small sweet potato or a bit of rice
- DESSERT (yes I did say dessert): chocolate (like Lily's sweetened with Stevia)!
Eating this way allows me to keep a level blood sugar, to not be hangry, to eat when I want to (not when I "should"), to have more time for other things in life, and to not feel deprived. I honestly can't imagine a day when I would want to eat tons of carbs ever again.
Over time, I have come to realize the importance of where our food comes from, how it is made, and how "real" it is. We try to eat as little processed foods as we can, and we try to source our food from the best local places.
1. meat
1. meat
My husband is a hunter, so our freezer is always stocked with local Ohio venison. For the other "turf" meats, we recently joined a local CSA (and are loving the amazing quality of meat for such a great price ($85 for 10 lbs). For the "surf" meats, I try to buy wild caught when I can, and Costco is a great option for us. I buy in bulk, separate it into two person portions, and stick it in the deep freeze. Costco also has great free range eggs!
2. produce
2. produce
We love veggies... LOVE them. Each summer we try to have our own garden, but you just can't beat the variety you get when someone else takes care of the growing! This CSA has been amazing, I have learned about so many new foods and the value is great as well. When they are in their off season though, I try to buy organic from the regular grocery store.
3. supplements
3. supplements
Yes, I do take supplements, but only if I can really feel a difference from them. I take: a prenatal (which has been amazing for my hair), vitamin D (helps my mood), turmeric (helps with inflammation), milk thistle and dandelion (both help with digestion).
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