This blog is my love/ hate relationship with food and my body's reaction to it. It is a journey and my destination is a healthy fit body. I'm not caught up in the vanity of it, but the reward of good healthy energy that enables life to be lived happily and free of disease.
For as long as I can remember I love to eat. In my highchair I was dipping bread in spaghetti sauce. I could recognize those magical golden arches from miles down the road and like any kid I was drawn into the world of the polyunsaturated clown.
I had a normal, happy childhood that celebrated food.I went through the chubby phase in elementary school, was the last to be chosen to play on any sports team and was the subject of many fat jokes. Was I a victim? No, just made poor food choices that was helped along by ignorance. My parents did the best they could, but in the age of convienience foods there was an overall lack of awareness. Who knew to read labels back then? the Lunchables with a whopping 2000 mg of sodium, Mac & cheese, most frozen dinners. Once kids reach a certain age, these are the kind of food choices we get used to seeing on restaurant menus everywhere- hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and mac & cheese. Easy, convienient, and inexpensive.
It is easy to judge parents on poor nutrition choices for their kids, but I think it is a combination of many factors. Our American lifestyle of long hours leave little time to prepare meals and actually sit together and enjoy them. It seems like so many of us have abandonded the culture of dining together, if not by choice. Also I think marketing has lured in so many brains it has created poor food choices. There is a whole psychology about the yellows and oranges used in so many fast food logos to entice young eyes.
Should they take away happy meals? No way! Just healthier choices, and real ones. Sure, mcdonalds has swapped fries for apple slices, but the chicken nuggets share the same ingredients as my yoga mat. And what good is juices that exceed the scale of sugar In a can of soda?
What inspires me to work towards a healthier body is balance. Being a new mom and having many challenges when it comes to being consistent with my workouts and food choices. I find it especially difficult in the picky eater stage. One day they are eating and the next nothing is to their liking. The stress, mess and food wasting is enough to drive any mom straight into the nearest bag of chips or bottle of wine or both.
My name is Gina and I am a carbaholic. Carbs don't have to be evil but in my weight loss journey, they can be a major obstacle in the road.
