Healthy Eating IS Hard work

I'll be honest, for the past few weeks I've been in a major exercise/eating funk. I usually exercise 2-3 times a week and eat my veggies and all that good stuff, but sometimes I just want to jump off the bandwagon and eat from every fast food place and be a permanent couch potato. The rolling of the eyes from some people when I actively try to choose the healthier menu option or suggest a less fattening recipe gets annoying. Sometimes, I wish people weren't so judgmental and were bit more open-minded. My family has a history of all the typical diseases that plague black people so I'm trying to be proactive about my health.

While speaking to a friend I realized I wasn't the only who had the same frustrations, so I decided to write about it. One would think that because I work at a health-related organization it would be easy, right? Well it isn't. All day I read studies about the healthcare reform and programs to reduce obesity but for some reason I haven't come across a study talking about the frustrations and setbacks and how participants get through them. Have any of you ever become frustrated or wished more people understood?


Update: I've gotten back on a regular exercise routine and created plenty of recipes for healthy and tasty meals. Yay!

Yes!! I feel your pain/frustration!!! My eating is all out of wack but I am still working out 3-4 times a week.

Lynnieluve wrote:Yes!! I feel your pain/frustration!!! My eating is all out of wack but I am still working out 3-4 times a week.

That's good that you're keeping the exercise up. I wonder if cold weather has something to do with it? What kind of workout do you do?

I've been working about a yr and a half now. I started out in the gym (treadmill, elliptical, bike, weight training) but as of June 2010, I started running! I never, ever thought I would enjoy running the way I do!! I even went out in the cold (40+ degrees this morning) and ran. My first 5k is on the 16th of this month.

Once it really starts getting cold, I will go back to the gym.

That's amazing! I can't stand running. I'll do swimming, elliptical, weights, spinning and anything but the treadmill. Since working out, my endurance has gone up but there is just something about running that makes me quiver. Good luck with your 5k. I chickened out when my friend asked me to do one ;(

Neems,
I feel the same way. While I don't struggle with sticking to healthy choices myself, I've been having a hard time responding (or not responding) to those around me who think I'm being strange, silly, excessively cautious, etc. when I question what goes into my food or how it was made. This has increased exponentially here in Australia, where it isn't common practice to list all or key ingredients on menus and product labels. (Australia surpassed the US as the most obese country in 2007, by the way). But what has really been getting me lately is that people always focus on the weight aspect:
"That's not fattening, so why does it matter?"
"You don't need to lose weight, so why does it matter?"

The obsession with weight drives me nuts! While weight is a good indicator of health, it really misguides people if they use it as the only indicator of health. Just because a food is "low fat" doesn't mean it's good for you! Like Diet Coke, or lowfat chips or cookies which are all overly processed foods, full of unpronounceable "chemistry experiments".

And just because someone is thin, doesn't mean they're healthy! I know someone thin with high blood pressure problems due to hyperthyroidism (endocrine disruption), likely because of the processed foods and household chemicals she insists on continuing to use. So, she has to take two drugs to deal with this, rather than just changing her diet. Who knows what the long-term effects will be for eating the processed foods, breathing in the household chemicals, AND taking the drugs.

Eating healthily is really about ensuring short-term AND long-term health - not instant health, instant satisfaction, or weight loss.

If I come up with something snappy and respectful to say to my friends who don't understand my choices, I'll be sure to let you know! In the meantime, I'm just reciting to myself "This meal is good for my body right now, and for years to come."

Gado-Gado Gal wrote:Neems,

Eating healthily is really about ensuring short-term AND long-term health - not instant health, instant satisfaction, or weight loss.

If I come up with something snappy and respectful to say to my friends who don't understand my choices, I'll be sure to let you know! In the meantime, I'm just reciting to myself "This meal is good for my body right now, and for years to come."

My mother always said that! I am finally understanding what it means to be healthy from the inside out.

I read an article not long ago that asked why we feel the need to even explain healthy eating habits to others. In terms of me- I found myself eating foods because I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings or because I wanted to fit in. Once I read that article I began to let those things go. I am not responsible for feelings hurt because I choose to make good choices for myself. They should be happy for me/us. I now go to parties after I eat first and make sure I say no to all or most things. It keeps me in line. Now, people see my progress and they tend to understand.

poeticlyspkng wrote:I read an article not long ago that asked why we feel the need to even explain healthy eating habits to others. In terms of me- I found myself eating foods because I didn't want to hurt someone's feelings or because I wanted to fit in. Once I read that article I began to let those things go. I am not responsible for feelings hurt because I choose to make good choices for myself. They should be happy for me/us. I now go to parties after I eat first and make sure I say no to all or most things. It keeps me in line. Now, people see my progress and they tend to understand.

That sounds like a interesting article. Do you remember the name of it? In terms of not feeling bad for making healthy choices I've gotten a lot better. Before I used to go to gatherings and eat even if I thought the food was gross; now I happily refuse or take a very small portion. I even feel no qualms having water instead of a sugary drink. Some might think I'm depriving myself but I know my body and I do much better when I listen to it.

There are many online tools that can help you know how many calories you should eat each day to lose weight. They generally represent your age, height and weight, but unfortunately they do not account for muscle mass or body fat may be an important factor.

It is kind of hard, but the main thing is to stay strong, and keep away from the junkfood isles at the grocery store. If you dont see it, you wont want it! Plus there are many ways to make the food that's good for you taste delicious!

MrsJones you're so right. I stay far away from the soda and snacks. Also, if I can't read the label, I'm not buying it so that eliminates a lot of junk.

Yes girl I totally understand your struggle because im trying to start leading a healthier lifestyle as well

Yeah sometimes it's hard. You eat healthy but then there's two days on a week were u is going to something and you eat a little unhealthy or fastfood.
But as long i'm doing my workout and not doing it to often it doesn't bother me, jist one day or two will not destroy everything u worked for. How can 1 day hit 1 month with health?
And that with people yeah i wish that they could they're like just take this it wont hurt it's just *some food*. But what i u dont want to, because u are doing it for u self to be healthy, and not because you are becoming crazy and want to fit a size 0, but just come in shape, with great condi and toned muscles. U just want to do it for u self so you can be proude.

@IAmHFJ Yeah, I understand what you mean about people not understanding the being healthy for the sake of healthiness and not wanting to be a size 0.

A healthy diet is readily available wherever you go, it's just a matter of what to look for and accept! A piece of bread or cake is often cheaper than a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar and make your own sandwich is not only economic, but often more nutritious!

Neems lovely post and i too share the frustration. I am retraining my brain, cooking more, exercising 3-4 times a week and just trying to live a healthier lifestyle. I became hypothyroid a few years ago and my body can not process junk the way it use to. All the best to us as we undertake this journey to wellness and nothing is wrong with sitting down on the couch once in a while but we must get up and fighto! as the Japanese say.

@kim you are to right. I too have begun cooking more at home, and I just started challenge to do zumba 5 days a week for a month so it can become a habit for me.

@Kim Thanks for reading it. I'm still on the exercise track and healthier meals. And I love taking a day just to relax and let my body recharge. I just noticed that your are located in Japan. One of my friends grew up on the naval base and just returned to live permanently.

@MrsJones Zumba looks like it requires hand- eye coordination, something that I do not have much of. How do you like?

Lol, I love it. Anyone can do it though, even if you dont have the best rhythm.

It is important to add variety to your diet. Do not eat the same food over and over again. You will probably get bored very quickly fall back into bad habits. More is probably what caused your weight gain menopause to start early.