My Nutrition Journey
My family and I took a wonderful vacation to Italy back in 2012. The culture, scenery, and of course the food were all just as magical, if not more, than everyone tells you. There was, however, something wonderful yet unexpected that stood out to me. We all ate a LOT of DELICIOUS food and wait for it….we actually LOST weight. How is this possible? This, my friends, is why I wanted to become a nutrition coach.
While in Italy, we ate homemade pastas and pizzas, gelato and homemade baked goods, drank endless amounts of wine, and never for a second felt sick or fatigued. The food was simple...all fresh and pure...all homemade and homegrown….all real food that was made from scratch with love and excitement. It wasn’t just what we were eating but HOW we were eating it. The Italians ate slowly, enjoying every single bite. They stopped to talk and enjoy each other’s company and take in the scenery. They sipped and sniffed and swirled their wine. They were all so calm, serene, and present in the moment. They were not concerned about the carbs on their plate or how much sugar was in their wine. THAT, I realized, is the key to a healthy, fulfilling, and satisfying life.
Sometimes you have to ignore the noise; ignore all of the numbers and counting and measuring and obsessiveness surrounding the labeling of foods either “good” or “bad.” Eat simple.
I am not the type of nutrition coach that will suggest a restrictive diet or encourage you to eat a certain way. I have learned, through trial and error, that what worked for one person would not necessarily work for me. There is no one perfect way to eat, and life is meant to be enjoyed. After years of battling stomach pain and fatigue, dealing with yo-yos in body weight and body fat, trying every possible restrictive and elimination diet in the book, bombarding my system with medications prescribed by my doctor to help manage my symptoms...you know what ACTUALLY worked? Removing the stress surrounding food choices, consuming REAL food that I wanted to eat, and enjoying every minute of it.
Approaching life this way helped me to quickly see changes. My energy levels and appetite felt more stable. My cravings started to disappear. My need for caffeine lessened and instead I would pour myself a cup of coffee simply for the enjoyment and flavor. I did not need wine to wind down at night but instead enjoyed each and every sip when I would drink it alongside friends and family as they told me about their day. My digestion, skin, and body composition improved significantly, I felt like a new human being. I no longer lived a life of restrictions and anxiety and instead lived a life of excitement and satisfaction.
