One of the many areas of my life I am working to elevate this year is health and fitness. Weight-Watchers, water aerobics, bicycling and walking are my activities of choice. There are so many reasons to live a healthier lifestyle.
- I want to be energized daily to work with my customers, setting the example that leading fully present is one component of being fully present.
- I want to be the kind of grandma that can get down on the floor to play cars and trucks with my grandsons or run around the yard with them chasing butterflies.
- I want to share the joy my children will celebrate as they continue their life’s journey. I can’t wait to see it unfold! I also want to be here to support them through the struggles we all face.
- I want to live a long and healthy life with my husband so we can keep traveling together to our favorite beaches and enjoy the life we’ve worked so hard to build.
Sometimes, though, I really want that peanut butter cup. Or that bowl of ice cream. Or that second helping of pasta.
I had an “Aha! Moment” at this week’s Weight-Watcher’s meeting that I want to share:
Food is really nothing more than fuel for the body.
Think about the fuel in your car. How often do you stop to fill the tank? For most of us, it’s when the tank is low. We use up the fuel and then we get more. We don’t stop for fuel after traveling just a short distance, or because it’s been a few days since we visited the gas station. Why do we eat when we’re not hungry?
We carefully choose the kind of fuel to put in our vehicle. Do we add diesel, unleaded or premium? Each one works best in a certain type of engine. Why don’t we choose the foods that will make our unique body work best?
We don’t celebrate the highlights of a great trip by adding fuel to our cars. Why do we use food to celebrate so many of life’s special moments?
Even when we do stop to fill up, we only add what is needed; we don’t add the same amount as the last time, or the same amount the person next to us is getting. Why do we eat so much so often?
I know this is not anything we don’t already know. Sometimes, though, seeing information in a new light helps us see facts we may have otherwise missed.
What fuel does your body really need and why? How often should we fill up and with how much fuel?
Food, or fuel, for thought!
