Ever stop to wonder how people have changed their focus from eating food for “nourishment” or “energy” to eating because they either know they are hungry, or they are eating for pleasure? When did certain foods become extra “special” or viewed as a “treat”? When did it become the norm for treats to be a daily experience? How did food that used to be considered a treat become a regular on the dinner table?
When I was younger, going for a Sunday drive WAS the treat. Over the years, something changed, and going out for a drive (or to the park, beach, movies, etc) was not enough, and the outing needed a “treat” to make it special.
Is it because outings have become so routine, that we feel we must stop for ice cream, chips, or candy to make the trip more pleasurable - the cherry on top of a good day?
Is it because going on an outing or adventure isn’t special - so the outing is ONLY to get a treat?
Is it because we feel that we deserve treats and we have forgotten that treats can be something other than food?
The word “treat” is defined as an “event or item that is out of the ordinary and gives great pleasure” with one dictionary example mentioning going to the movies. The Cambridge dictionary describes it as a “special experience”. Although these definitions do not allude to a treat being food, if the food gives you great pleasure, then it would be called a treat.
Most of us buy food that we label a “treat” – some people buy it more often. For most people they buy it because it gives them pleasure to eat it. The fact that it nourishes the body, or that it does not nourish the body, doesn’t even enter into the purchase.
Or maybe, DEEP down, we know that the treat is “bad” for us, but we justify buying it because we feel we deserve it. How many people on a restricted diet, feel that they have been “good” and that they deserve to be “bad” so they eat something unhealthy?
I could suggest that our issues with food started when “sugar” became widely available to everyone and not just available for the wealthy. I could also suggest that it started with the mass production of food for the city people who could not longer grow or raise their own food. Or perhaps when the production and supplying food for the people became MORE about making a profit than ensuring that people were well nourished.
However, I think it is more than that – a combination of changes in society and in our thinking. Our relationship with food has changed, from one where we eat to nourish our body to one where we allow our desire for pleasure, or instant gratification to choose our foods. We have convinced ourselves into thinking that we need certain foods to be satisfied – or even happy.
Perhaps it is time to change our thinking and the way we think about the food we choose. Try to think of food as “food that either gives you energy” or “food that takes energy away”. If you listen to your body, it will help you know which food is RIGHT for your body. The next step is to forget about eating certain foods when we feel we are being good or bad.
Don’t panic - everyone deserves a treat! Make a list of things that bring you pleasure and nourish you and when you feel you deserve a treat pick something from the list.
My list includes reading, a pedicure, a massage and an afternoon out of the house (typically coffee & a walk)
What are you going to write on your list?
Life in an office environment means potluck lunches, pizza, coffee and of course, donuts. For me it was easy to choose the healthier foods at a potluck and absolutely necessary to avoid the pizza & donuts. I knew without a doubt that I would not be able to work if I ate either of them.
Most people who knew me were aware of my issues with food, but one day a co-worker questioned why I wouldn’t eat the donuts that were brought into the office. Besides the fact that I was allergic to MOST of the ingredients, I was avoiding sugar and the donuts were covered in it.
I decided to keep it simple and just say that they were bad for me.
I will never forget his next comment –
“You should eat what you want. You are too young to worry about what you eat. “
Now if this comment were directed to me when I was in my teens or early twenties, I could say – yeah, I guess one donut isn’t going to hurt me. However, I was in my late 50’s – and all I could think about was I WISH I had started worrying about what I ate when I was younger because, just maybe, I would be in better health now.
This simple comment started me thinking. A LOT of people are not concerned about their health until they get older. It is more than just being too busy to think about it – people don’t want to think about it. It can even take a major health issue for people TO think about.
Shouldn’t having {insert illness here!} be a giant slap in the head? Yet, even after being told they have a major health concern, some people don’t pay attention to what their body is telling them. I have even heard people say that diseases are part of aging. (Hmmm…IF this WERE true, then EVERYONE would suffer from the same diseases as they aged – which isn’t how it works)
So…Why do we wait until we are sick to look for solutions for health?
Why do we live day to day without making conscious choices about our health and wellness?
Why do those that KNOW they should make better choices, justify their choices by saying “everything in moderation” - but do not have a realistic definition of moderation?
As a society many people are REACTIVE to sickness, and not PROACTIVE about health or wellness.
I believe that it is NEVER too late to make a positive step towards wellness!
Because if not NOW – WHEN?
Sleep?? Who needs it? Not me!
Yeah, that was my attitude for most of my life. Turns out that I was wrong – I did need sleep and I need it even more now! I used to say “I will sleep when I am dead” or “I must have been a cat in my last life, and got all the sleep that I needed then”. Who KNEW that in my 60’s that I would appreciate, and VALUE my sleep!
When growing up, I apparently missed the memo on sleep. My mom said that I stopped napping before my first birthday and she even asked the doctor what was wrong with me (although, I doubt they knew! haha). I remember in grade six, I would find that reading a book was WAY more interesting than sleep – telling my mom that it was homework. I survived on 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night right up until I was 25 and pregnant. My body knew how to grow a child, and I slept more every night than I had ever slept before. Once I had the kids though, I was back to shorter nights – back to believing that sleep was overrated.
Now I know that sleep is necessary! We need sleep to be our healthiest version of ourselves! Sleep is when all the magic happens – for your brain and your body! Sleep has an impact on every system in your body – heart, lungs, metabolism, immune function, mood, resistance to disease and your brain.
I wish I HAD received the memo on the importance of sleep earlier, as it is during sleep that your pituitary gland releases the growth hormone which helps your body grow. (Hmmm. This could explain why I am vertically challenged!)
During sleep your brain is quite active, not only storing new information, but working hard to clean out toxins and improve how the neurons communicate with each other. This activity allows you to learn new things, create new memories, helps you concentrate, and improves your response time. Everything we NEED to stay healthy and active, especially as we age.
Sleep training an adult is as challenging as it is when sleep training a small child (yes, I know this personally). I had to create new habits and get into (*gasp*) a routine! Getting enough sleep was part of my commitment to becoming the healthiest version of myself - part of my proactive wellness plan.
I will share tips & tricks to getting a good night sleep (Adult Sleep Training) on the website under LEARN, as well as in the Guides section of the FB group.
Wishing you sweet dreams on your journey to a healthier you!
Yours in Joy,
Susan
The noun, Gratitude is defined as [the state of being grateful; thankfulness] 1
To me “Gratitude” is so much more – it is an emotion, a habit and perhaps you could say a way of life. I started practicing Gratitude when I became interested in Positive Psychology. I started to focus on the positive aspects of my life, and gradually the negative aspects faded away.
I am NOT saying this was easy – trying to see any positive when you are emotionally defeated is not an easy thing to do. Whenever I had a negative experience, I consciously had to think of ONE positive thing about it. And gradually, over the years, I began to get better at noticing the positive side of life and appreciating the small things. I am not sure when I stopped focusing on the negative – I gradually just felt more optimistic about my life and the world. Life is SO much better when you focus on the positive.
I do believe that when people think the world is “all bad” and have a “negative view” of the world, they only notice the negative. Seeing only the negative validates their original opinion, and the cycle continues. Practicing gratitude stops the cycle. More positive thoughts, lead to more positive thoughts which is a much better cycle!.
Practicing Gratitude has other benefits which have been proven in numerous studies completed by Psychologists. These benefits include improving mental health, becoming more optimistic, and having a greater sense of well-being (which leads to lower stress and depression).2 I found an article posted by Berkley called “How Gratitude Changes You and your Brain” (link below and on the Facebook page). It is a quick read but does a good job of explaining the benefits of Gratitude.
In our materialistic culture, where many people believe “things” make you happy, it is refreshing to know that people are starting to wake up and show appreciation for what they have in their lives.
Remember: It is not joy that make you grateful – it is gratitude that makes you joyful!
Wishing you JOY always!
With loving gratitude,
Susan
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1Merriam-webster Dictionary
2Psychology Today
Most women are aware of menopause and what it means, but have you ever wondered the origin of the word? I had never really thought about it, although I had heard many comments about there being ‘men' in something that has nothing to do with them. The word Menopause is actually two Greek words - Meno, which means month, and Pause, which means to stop. Menopause by definition is defined as ‘the time in your life where your monthly cycle has stopped for one full year’. Sounds pleasant enough- right? Hahaha
In retrospect, menopause itself for me WAS a relief! I celebrated the event during a trip to New Orleans with my mother which also coincided with Mother’s Day- very appropriate! For me, menopause was a welcome event. An event that isn’t always celebrated as a milestone in your life, but as one that often brings out feelings of loss or regret.
For me, it wasn’t just the end of my cycle that I was celebrating, it was also the END of all the hot flashes, crazy mood swings, insomnia, etc that occurred for the 6 yrs prior to reaching menopause I mean, seriously, as if women didn’t go through enough with pregnancy and childbirth, by some twist of fate women also get to endure enough hormonal issues to drive themselves crazy for 8 to 10 yrs prior to this major shift in their body.
I remember my doctor asking me how I was coping with menopause. Not, are you menopausal? Any symptoms you are concerned about? I assumed as she was female, she accepted that menopause ‘is what it is’ with no opting out of the program. I was quiet for 20 seconds and said, "well…I know why women get called crazy and have mood swings. How can anyone be expected to function like a reasonable adult when you DON'T SLEEP? And I LOVE pretending that I am taking multiple daily trips to the Arizona desert." She laughed and told me to take Magnesium, continue to eat clean (she knew I already avoided processed food) and drink lots of water. She mentioned some other supplements that could help, but I didn’t pay much attention at the time.
I know that many women have a much harder time with menopause than I did. If you were, or are one of those women, I will send positive thoughts that it ends soon. If you need to, find someone to talk to. Check with your doctor if the symptoms are unbearable – search for ways to make life better! I know what worked for me, but you may need to try something different.
What surprised me is that I thought the crazy hot spells would stop once I had reached "menopause", and they did for four or five years. Then they returned and I felt like my thermostat was broken again. Friends, co workers and Dr. Google felt that it was common for menopausal symptoms to continue for years after reaching menopause. I felt betrayed by my own body and having a hard time believing this consensus. I started to research and found that other issues can cause hot flashes or random sweating as well - even a fatty liver! This made way more sense and I went back to the Dr. who ran some tests. I didn't have a fatty liver, but I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. My thermostat worked again, after I got my thyroid under control with the prescription drug, plus supplements and my essential oils for hormone support.
So now I am just crazy ..for life, for laughter and for adventure.
Wherever you are in your journey - perimenopause, menopause or post menopause, I wish you laughter as you time travel to your own hot spot…wherever that is!
