Actually the lesson is "Fuel or Filler" but first I want to share an experience I had this afternoon (probably because I have followed Days 1-11 more than once!). I left work early to go shopping at a "farm stand" - actually it's a HUGE Italian market but I call it a farm stand because 50%+ of it is fresh fruits and vegetables. But oh my - the cheeses, the bakery, the Italian deli, the flowers and plants.... Anyhoo - I did my shopping for all of next week (which frees up tomorrow afternoon!), then I stopped at my favorite Dunkin Donuts to get an iced coffee that I haven't had in ages. As I pulled out of the space, I just had such a light bubbly feeling - and all I could think of was "Boy, I'm happy. For no particular reason. I'm happy."
So back to "fuel or filler" - I have been looking at my food that way lately and trying to make decisions of what I eat based on that. I have been eating very nutritionally-dense foods lately and although the light fluff adds up fast with calories, not giving you much volume, I have to tell you, neither does nutritionally-dense foods give you a lot of volume. I'm not talking salads - where you can eat a HUGE bowl - 4 or 6 cups - for under a 100 calories, but good-for-you carbs, fruits, "heavy" proteins, legumes, nuts, oils, etc. (seafood is light in the calorie department, though).But I'm finding that when I eat well, I'm satisfied with less food than I would for the same amount of junk food - as all the media shows to be true - I'm just disappointed that I get to eat so LITTLE. But, all in all, fuel - albeit dense and so it takes less to fill you - is way better than filler.
I think we still need a little filler here and there. Like my small bag of chips yesterday - it was just the perfect touch to a fuel-lunch. I'm just thinking that I need to limit "filler" to just a few times a week, whether it's chips at lunch, or a small dessert once in a while. I'm struggling with not being sad that I have to limit quantity. I still see myself in my mind eating so much more.
But... I have my "happy for no reason" feeling to remember when the sadness of having less food creeps in.
Don't worry. Be happy.
Miriam
I think being on this journey is giving us an exhilarating feeling, Miriam! I, too, feel happy and those around me have noticed the difference (though being retired has probably added on to it!). When you know you're eating healthy and focusing on healthier routines in general, I truly think it gives us a overall "feeling good" attitude, and that translates to a feeling of happiness, exhilaration...a lightness which is both tangible and intangible! Here's wishing you many, many more "happy for no reason" days!
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