Mixed Signals, October 23rd

We all know that healthy foods and hunger don’t usually go hand in hand. In fact, sometimes the hungrier we get, the harder it is to stick with well-intentioned good choices. This struggle can be a meal-to-meal challenge that is frustrating and can put us in a bad mood thinking that we are loathe to even trust ourselves to stay on a healthy path. Why? Good question. Internal signals tend to be at odds. The tiny but rational part of our brain says to eat clean– lots of leafy greens, sensible amounts of lean protein, healthy fats, and no processed foods. This certainly sounds reasonable and we feel empowered. Yay us!

And then we take a gander at the wrong side of the menu that boasts deliciously fried things, carby temptresses, and bready demons. So the powerfully loud obnoxious need it/want it/gotta have it instigatingly devilish part of our head screams, “Salad boycott starting now! Oooooooh. Let’s get the bad stuff! C’mon. Let’s do it.” So before you know it, you’re having a full-blown internal crisis right in front of the waiter exactly at the moment of truth when you lock eyes and he politely requests your order. Then, without much notice, the beast inside you screams “QUESADILLIA!” loud enough to turn all four heads from table six in your guilty direction and your server looks at you like you might be having some sort of an episode. Which, let’s face it, ya kinda are.

It’s so easy to get swept up into bad choices based on what your body is craving. And calling a spade a spade (see what I did there??) the bitch does not always have your back. There. I said it. She makes you lose all sense of reason and forget that you’ll be stuffed, bloated and hateful after that last delicious bite of crispy pizza crust, or oozing cheesy buffalo chicken quesadilla with extra cilantro. (And by the way, F You, table six!) She also blinds you to the fact that you didn’t need a double scoop of sweet gelato immediately following the dang carbfest. But alas, left to our own good judgement, we often give into temptation with creative justifications and when those run out, well hell, we tend to do it anyway. Like with bacon. Enemy to all, except when we order a club sando or fried eggs and then she’s suddenly our new BFF with the sexy talk until we surrender to the salty, crispy goodness of that first crunchy bite. Then we are goners. Uuuugh!

The other thing that makes sticking to a plan difficult is table sabotagers– you know who you are! We try with the salad and you order fries “for the table.” (Allen!) We order egg whites with mushrooms and you get a lemon ricotta pancake “to share.” (Mom!) I see you! Or we order our own meal, already thinking of portion control and without checking with us, you just assume it’s a sharing scenario and now I am expected to eat half of your pizza burger. Yeah, ummmmm, no.

If you ask me, you can only be so good for so long. Making healthy choices usually involves a lot of substitution of unhealthy favorites for better for you foods. Below is a chart that illustrates the point…

People always recommend avoiding the grocery store when you’re hungry, but I think that you can find inspiration when food shopping. Case in point… and genius packaging by the way!

But don’t risk coming undone. You’re stronger than that! We both are. Having your life together is so important. Being on top of your finances, maintaining a good attitude, enjoying a terrific social life, taking advantage of preventative medicine, eating right– all these things build a solid foundation. And yet…

Now who among us can’t relate to that statement?? As we get older we try so hard to be good, healthy, smart role models for our kids and the younger generations. So why aren’t we actually making progress? Well, the answer is complicated…

Being happy is always a choice. So hey, look good, feel great, make peace with yourself. These are all building blocks to a great life. This is our one shot to make the most of today. Take advantage. And by the way in case no one told you, you don’t just look fabulous today… you are fabulous!