How I got started
I have decades of eating experience, but I never really thought much about what I ate. I stopped eating red meat and poultry nearly 20 years ago for environmental reasons, but nothing else was off limits. In fact, I used to pride myself on my prodigious junk food consumption. I eat often, and had an intense love (notice the past tense) for potato chips, pizza, and any cheese flavored snack. I was one of those people that others resented for being thin and able to "eat whatever I wanted." Of course, you always pay the piper - I didn't know it, but I was paying for the nasty unprocessed junk food in health if not in pounds.
In 2004, I checked my cholesterol at a health fair. I expected an enviably low cholesterol reading since I was thin, exercised regularly, and didn't eat meat. My results were borderline. Shocked, I asked several male friends to have their cholesterol checked (I chose men because they usually have higher cholesterol). One of the guys had just eaten a cheeseburger. They all came back with significantly lower cholesterol readings than mine. One of them was so proud of his results, he decided he was having steak for dinner.
At that point, I immediately vowed to cut out all processed foods and only eat "whole" foods. It wasn't easy since I had to fight my love of junk food. I did it though, and gradually I noticed that I had more energy and clearer skin. I rarely got sick. My daily battle against overwhelming sleepiness at 3pm ended. Now I'm never tired in the afternoon. I also stopped "spacing out" as much and developed body awareness for the first time (I now notice when I'm dehydrated or exhausted). I feel great, and you can too.
Where I am now
My diet isn't perfect, but I am mindful of what I am eating. I still have an occasional Cheetoh or mozzarella stick, but I am aware of it and consciously make the choice.
Like many of you, I work and I love to socialize with friends and family. I live in NYC. I'm busy.
I don't expect to have a PERFECT diet; I'm happy with a great diet and a high nutritional batting average. For me, it's about being moderate, mindful and consistent about good eating choices. My batting average is much higher than it was pre-2004, and the benefits have been many. In addition to lowering my cholesterol and gaining the health benefits I mentioned above, I was surprised by how much money I saved by eating well. I used some of those savings on a facial at the beginning of the year. The aesthetician asked me how often I had facials (once a year), and told me I didn't need them since I had such good skin. Wow. That has never happened. I attribute it to my diet and exercise (and my Sonicare facial brush).
I want to share my learnings with you to make it easier and faster for you to get healthy. I am still improving my diet - I will be my whole life - and look forward to even more health benefits. Now that I've lowered my cholesterol, I've decided this is the year that I eliminate my belly fat and cut down on my consumption of refined noodles. More on this in my posting on Setting Goals. I hope we can help you meet yours.
Email me at: jean at mindful eats dot com
