You read that right. Dillan DiGiovanni is challenging you to EAT MORE in 2014.
With all the dieting crap out there, (and let’s just call it that because that’s what it is) a lot of people walk around thinking they are eating too much. Or they are “being bad” when they eat something they like that involves fat, sugar or something else.
Do you fall into any of those categories?
I’m here with a new question for you: are you actually eating enough?
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Did that surprise you? I don’t doubt it. Dieting is a losing game for pretty much anyone other than those in the industry. It makes a lot of money for those folks. Not that there’s anything wrong with money or making it. But I’m all about supporting people making money for things that HELP people feel amazing. I haven’t met too many people who associate dieting with the word ‘amazing’. Most connect it with low self-esteem, regret, deprivation, negativity and feeling like general crap inside and out. Even if people feel amazing after losing weight, they don’t feel that way when it comes back on. In fact, they often feel even worse.
Resolutions and diets fail because people are usually starving from not eating enough, so it’s really diets, not people, that don’t work.
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And then come the Resolutions. When the Resolutions fail, people think they couldn’t make it work. Resolutions and diets fail because people are usually starving from not eating enough, so it’s really diets, not people, that don’t work.
When you’re not eating real food, your body knows it. It tries to communicate, but we’re so busy obsessing over grams of fat that we can’t hear it. The time spent worrying about calorie consumption could be put to better use for any number of things, but I’ll give you one: think about what you are or aren’t eating with an entirely new perspective. Consider what is missing from your diet–what essential nutrients don’t cross your lips and get into your gut where they belong. Think about what you’re eating and what it’s doing for your body, instead of to it. It’s possible that while you’re consuming enough calories, you’re not actually eating enough of the right things.
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Confused? Ok. Answer these questions with the first thing that comes to mind. Pick the closest answer.
1) How often to do you eat something green?
A) never B) twice a week C) pretty much every day
2) How much water do you drink each day?
A) none B) a few glasses C) I power the water down
3) How often do you cook for yourself vs. get take-out?
A) never B) twice a week C) every day
4) How many regular, balanced meals do you eat each day?
A) none B) one C) three
5) How much of your daily diet is animal protein compared to veggies?
A) all animal B) 50/50 C) mostly veggies
See what I mean? A lot of people get so focused on how many calories are in their Starbucks lattes (around 600-900) that they don’t even stop and ask themselves the last time they ate something green. Greens are vitamin-packed foods. Salads are great but they aren’t all there is. There’s a world of greens just waiting for you. Kale. Broccoli totally counts. Spinach. Brussels sprouts. You get it.
I was raised on breakfast cereals and Pop-Tarts, so I know what it’s like. My mom DID make good dinners, though, so I knew the concept of veggies. It wasn’t until I became an actual vegetarian that I realized how hard it is to cook vegetables on a regular basis and not get sick of them. When I got bored, I stopped eating them and ate crap instead and gained weight. No matter what I ate, I couldn’t get full because I was eating food with no nutrients. In the past few years, I’ve added really clean, locally-sourced meat back into my diet and learned more ways to make veggies so I don’t get bored.
I think the food has literally changed my brain. Now, when I eat something full of sugar, fat or caffeine, I don’t think to myself, “Oh, I’m bad”. Instead, I realize I should balance that sucker out with a huge plate of veggies later and take a few days off of coffee in the meantime. Instead of focusing on what to avoid or deprive myself of, I just incorporate more of what my body actually needs so I cover all my bases.
It’s so easy to understand, a little harder to practice, but hey–we’ve got 365 days to practice!
So get out there and practice eating less of the crap and enough of the good stuff. See what you notice.
Top photo: —Photo ugod/Flickr
Instory photos courtesy of the author
Great advice Dillian. We Americans consume lots of calories but very little in the way of nutrient rich foods, like leafy green veggies. While I am not a vegetarian, I adhere to a simple rule: lots of fruits, veggies (usually steamed), and nuts. Few sugars, pasta (unless whole grain), diary (i prefer almond milk) and animal protein. I do eat free range and hormone free locally raised chicken twice a week. It is not about dieting. It is about eating properly. I would suggest to all to read the book, “Eat To Live” by Joel Fuhrman. Lastly, we cannot forget… Read more »