Chanting Healthy Consumption

I want to hear from you...

Tell me about meals for the past couple days... I remember being several days in to my weight loss program knowing that I had done pretty well so far... I began to feel so good inside that I really just lost interest in the sweets, the soda, but most of all the fast food. Really..., we all know what we can and cannot do to effectively lose weight.

We cannot eat foods that have enriched in the ingredients list. And we find ourselves reading the food labels on the foods we buy every time we go into the grocery store. We know whole grains are necessary. There is no reason to be emotional about it. Our body needs it. Remember, that appetite is a thought, hunger is a physiological response of our body. You can feel it deeper.

We do not want enriched, we do not want much sugar. In fact, I steer clear of anything that has much more than 6 grams unless it is a healthy whole grain breakfast cereal or something (not one with marshmallows)... A recent article shared a list of cereals that are advertised to children that are over 50% sugar.

Did you know that sugar is one of the only things listed on food labels that don't show a % of Daily Value? Do you want to hear something sad? We live in a time when many people don't really know that represents the percentage of that ingredient that is healthy to consume in a day. A small 16 oz soda at McD's (that's right, I said small 16 oz... that has become the size small... crazy!) has 40 grams of sugar in it. Who drinks small soda's anymore? Even sadder, I know.

How much sugar should we consume in a day? The answer, according to the article, "America: Drowning in Sugar" published by Center for Science in the Public Interest in 1999, is "ten teaspoons or 40 grams" which was what the USDA recommended nearly ten years ago. Next time you see someone drinking a soda or consuming sugar... take a second look at how much they are taking in. It is scary. Check out that article here (interesting information that I am continue researching).

One more thing, we have to become aware of the amount of caffeine, sugar, and aspartame that is being consumed in these energy drinks marketed to our youth. Some schools even have them in their pop machines.

The phrasing, "pop machines" makes me sound old. What are they even called anymore? They look different today. Like some kind of giant display of light and color. They are as stimulating as a television commercial. Funny isn't it?... especially, when you consider the second law of learning: Repetition.

Does it ever seem like someone wants us to be thinking about that sugar, caffeine or aspartame? You look forward at how stress is going to affect the health of our species, we better consider letting go of these sugars, artificial sweeteners and unhealthy caffeine distributors. They have taken form in a can or a cup at, most if not, all fast food restaurants, and convenient stores or at our places of employment or education. We have to choose water instead. It saves us money, it saves us resources, and it saves our health.

When I started planning and preparing the majority of my own meals, I became much more appreciative towards my consumption and production of energy experience. My meals had me feeling strong, energetic, excited about life. I was thinking clear because the chemicals in my body were in repair mode. Plus, my taste improved and those foods just taste better now.

It became easier and easier to find the energy to engage with my children. How natural it felt to just listen to the wind blow the sounds of birds chirping. The sky became beautiful again. Spend a day looking at the colors of the world. You'll be surprised of the thoughts that arise.

I never miss the feelings of being bloated. You know that feeling where you just cannot cram another chicken finger or french fry in your throat. No more chips or crackers... The heartburn and the late night acid reflux trip to the cabinet for Rolaids is certainly not something I wish I was still doing. Nor do I miss the irregular stool samples (gross I know, but it makes a difference in your quality of life).

My body was finally feeling the benefits of physical healing. It encouraged me to find the time to take my walks every day, acting out of faith that I would reach my wellness goals, as I established memories of my new healthy behaviors. The brain is plastic and we have the capability to learn and unlearn our behaviors (Check out the book, "The Brain that Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge M.D.). Take an inventory and determine what is worth learning to you. Then learn it. Mine was health and happiness.

Thanks for listening. Your body will thank your subconscious mind with a healthy living. You will find more attention towards what you value in life.