Choose a Better Life

As you know from reading the other posts in this category, I’ve made great progress in my health over the past year. Thankfully I was lead to a plan that helped me trade much of my dysfunctional, as in not working, lifestyle for a functional one. I can do things today that I didn’t even dare to dream about a year ago: the least of which is maintaining a healthy weight.

That being said, I still have quite a way to go to get to optimal health. There are entire systems in my body that need attention. They have been taxed for so long that they just no longer function correctly. But thankfully, I am well enough that proper nutrition, whole food supplements, exercise and chiropractic care will correct much of the dysfunction.

So, the question I’ve been pondering for some time is this – Aside from the financial limitations of holistic treatment, knowing the value of good nutrition, why do I struggle with making the right food choices? By good nutrition I mean taking the required supplements; eating whole, organic, non-chemically treated foods; and staying away from the health detractors (sugar, wheat, refined foods, etc.)

I know I’m not the only one who struggles with this. I’ve talked to many people who would rather indulge in the coffee and chocolate bar than eat an apple and some protein. My daughter is a prime example. Gluten and diary trigger her migraines. There is no doubt about that. However, she would rather deal w/ migraines (and the meds) than stay away from gluten and dairy. Now granted, since I make many of her choices for her (she is only 12) she has not had to experience the torture of daily migraines, but regardless, her cravings tell her to eat the poison.

I am not much different. I crave the junk …the things that helped make me sick in the first place. And, unlike my daughter, I have a clear understanding of what these foods do to me. I know that when I eat the candy bar I will pay for it with my health and ultimately my quality of life. So, why am I willing to trade my health for a candy bar? Why do I eat the junk?

Immediate gratification is the “pat” answer but, I think it is more than that. I think there is a lot to do with my desire to be “normal” and to break free of my limitations. But what I need to realize is that the “normal” I think I want is really an unhealthy way of life. It is one that condones overeating and living with poor health. And I am not just talking about struggles with weight. I’m talking about increased fatigue, mood swings, foggy thinking, memory problems, shortness of breath, pain in our joints, etc. What I really want is freedom from all these things.

So, part of choosing a better life is choosing to feed out bodies healthy nutrition. Regardless of what we are craving or what we feel like eating, we need to stay committed to making wise choices. We need to commit to trading immediate gratification for long-term health. Will you commit to that with me today? Will you Choose a Better Life through good nutrition?