As my religious readers may know, yesterday was Communion, where the congregation eats the "body of Christ" and drinks the "blood of Christ". It's every first Sunday of the month and the reason for this event is to remember (and celebrate) what Christ has done for us. I attended a baptism for one of my newest cousins (yay Adley!), and the pastor at her church said "today, we will eat this bread for the nourishment of our bodies". Not once have I heard a pastor say this, nor have I heard such a simple statement have such a great idea behind it.
I know, I know--what the heck is so important about this? Well, many of us overeat--whether it be because we just like to stay in the kitchen for most of the day, or we like to eat, etc. etc. I, for one, LOVE food. I can't get enough of it. For the past couple of months I've noticed that I'm taking less time out of my language and pilot learning so that I can mindlessly eat whatever I want. The outcome? I feel guilty for not putting enough effort and passion into the things I love, and for letting this overeating get to me. To be in control of your body is to be in control of what you do. It's as simple as that.
So, how do we stop overeating? One of the best things is to avoid food. Yes, it doesn't sound like fun, but you'll be able to focus on tasks that have to get done. If I indulge at the supermarket and buy that box of OREOS, you can be sure that they are staying in the back of my cabinet where I won't see it. Start drinking tea and water while doing other tasks, because we sometimes mix up "thirsty" with "hungry".
If you're hungry, and you've already eaten a meal, then go a snack such as fruit or nuts. After lunch, I tend to prowl the kitchen cabinets for something that "looks good". Instead, I will force myself to stop looking, to think about what delicious fruits we have, and eat an apple. Fruits and nuts can be such a filler! Usually after an apple or banana I'll feel full, and thus I won't have the desire to stay in the kitchen any longer. Even better, buy only healthy foods. This way you won't have the temptation at home, staring at you right in the face.
If you're more adventurous and love to stay active, workout instead of walking through the kitchen. I'd recommend working out after an hour of eating a meal, just so that you don't feel weighed down or sluggish. If you've already done your workout for the day (kudos to you!), then go for a walk. Find a Pinterest challenge if you want to watch your fave TV show (or during the commercials!). Anything! As long as you're moving, you'll begin to remember your goals and why you don't want that chocolate hiding above your fridge.
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| Eat these! |
It's rather simple--eat clean. Those two words sound easy until you begin your journey to cleaning up your diet and eating things that will make your body feel like a 10 ALL DAY LONG. What does clean eating include? Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meat. Not only does nourishing your body make you feel better, but it also helps you to tone yourself (with some working out). The 80/20 rule if a life saver for me, which is where you eat 80% healthy foods (such as the ones listed above) while the 20% can be the not-so-good-for-you food. Keep in mind though, that 20% should NOT include fried chicken legs at KFC. Make sure that you AVOID TEMPTATION AT ALL COSTS, and speed up (but surely not over the limit ;) ) once you see these fast food places because we do NOT want you stopping there!
Lastly, eat in 5-6 small portions a day. This way, you won't face any energy plummets because you haven't eaten for six hours. Always carry small snacks such as nuts with you so that you also don't feel the need to buy junk food on the go.
I hope that this helps you to understand that eating to nourish the body is NOT mindless eating--nourishment comes from giving your body the vitamins and nutrients it needs to power through the day with good-for-you energy!
Baylee
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