In the Name of Health

I try to give you guys some updates on what I read and experiment with health. Obviously I am no expert, but I am really trying to make an effort to get my body as close to nature as possible because I think that is the path to optimal performance. I never want to say again "I can't run a mile" or "Surfing? No way, that looks too hard." I've spent a lot of my life being out of shape and mostly just completely lacking confidence in my ability. Now I can proudly say, "I can run a mile. I can run three miles, it might just take a while." I no longer have that "can't do" attitude which has inhibited me from doing a lot of things that probably would have been a lot of fun, if I would have just believed in myself.
Well along with making an effort to increase my physical stamina, I read a lot about nutrition. I'm trying to find the best way for me, Shanna, with my body type, to perform optimally. I don't have time to be tired. I also don't have time to die early, which sounds morbid, but I am very aware of my family history and so help me if I die young, it better be from an awesome ski accident, shark attack, or bungee jump that went wrong. No heart attacks here.
For 2 weeks now I have been on the South Beach Diet. I feel like a hypocrite because you have heard me rant about carbs and how they're good for you, aid brain function, and they give you energy. Well I talked it over with my nutritionist and she mentioned that for my body type, South Beach might be the way to go. I bought a book and looked it over. The no carb thing is only 2 weeks. I like the principle of South Beach because it's trying to teach you to quit eating white stuff. Don't eat bleached flour or refined sugar.
If you think about it.. why would we ever put something in our body that in no way contributes to its performance?? There's no way that you can get all of the vitamins you need in one day if you're putting fillers like simple carbs in there. Unless you eat constantly, which I don't have time for that either. The snow storm was actually really good for me because I had all the time I needed to prepare my meals at home. I learned how to get in the swing of things and eat a balanced diet with LOTS of veggies.
Now that the 2 weeks are over (Phase 1 of the diet) I can reintroduce carbs. It actually recommends several servings of fruit and whole grains every day. WHOLE GRAINS. In all honesty, it's going to be work, but I should never ever eat anything "white" unless it really is a special occasion. Obviously I'm going to eat some of my wedding cake. But I also need to limit what I consider a "special occasion". I am extremely blessed and I could think of something to celebrate just about every day, but while my mouth is having a party, my organs are having a funeral.
The good thing about doing the South Beach diet is now that I've got all of that sugar and simple carbs out of my system, I'm really not craving them any more. Yes, I ate cheese cake with Katie on Saturday, but it was a choice, rather than a need. I didn't have one piece of candy yesterday and I wasn't even tempted. See, yesterday didn't count as a special occasion because it's a stupid holiday.
I came up with the idea for this blog post while I was drinking a can of V8. It's not tasty. Some people love it, but I'm not those people. I will say that it is a good way to start my day. And where in any nutrition book does it say that being healthy means that you have to enjoy everything that passes your lips? Eating to LIVE not Living to Eat.
Obviously I'm going to have to work daily, forever, to practice what I preach. I am not the picture of health, but what I can tell you is that over the last 3 years I have made some serious (but gradual) changes to my life and habits, that I firmly believe will increase my life expectancy. I am so blessed and have so much fun, I don't want to give up one moment, not even for a Pepsi.

Posted in: Nutrition