It always comes down to the freaking journey; no destination, no end point, just the very cliche moment itself. And yes, I'm about to turn this into a food story.
When it comes to food, it's safe to say that most of us are looking for that "a-ha!" moment where we realize adding or eliminating something has done it - "it", of course, taking on many roles, like bloating, abdominal pain, energy levels, extra pounds, muscle fueling, or having smooth moves on the porcelain throne. Whatever your "it" may be, I'm sure you'd like to find a way to manage it, and hope that maybe, just maybe, cutting out dairy and adding probiotics will be the magic potion you need. The thing is, or at least that I've learned, is that everything works - but temporarily.
Anytime I eliminate a food group or, say, add more greens or water (hello cliche of health) to my foodie-routine, I feel better. I think, YES! I have found the answer; all is well in the world and in my gut. And then, two weeks later, any "it" I had comes waltzing back on in and debunking my "a-ha" moment. Damn you, two week timeline.
Along with eliminating, I found that a new level of comfort could be excused. No dairy? Well, let me fill that void with all of the almonds because, hey, they're not dairy and I'm sticking to my diet. No alcohol? Well come on over here, you luscious chocolate bar, because you're my buzz-less replacement now.
Intermittent fasting did the trick for over two years; I ate any foods I wanted within an 8 hour window of the day, allowing my gut and digestive system a break from, well, digesting, for 16 hours each night. But, when I combined the comfort of a two-year routine along with habit formation, I found myself doing most of my eating at nighttime, in bulk, with the justification that I wouldn't be eating for hours, and often went to bed way too full. Plus, by the time noon rolled around the next day, I'd be so starving from that morning's work out plus not eating since 8pm the previous night, that my meals were often much larger than my digestion could (should?) handle.
So, what the hell? Eliminate foods here and there, feel good for a short time, but live with restrictions and be that guy who "can't eat that"? No thanks. Add foods that you loathe just to be able to say you're eating better? Nah. Keep all your eating crammed into a small window to justify large portions and anything a little "extra"? I think I'm good. So again, what-the-hell!?
Change. If it's one thing that has been a constant in this Food Journey, it's simply change. Keep changing it up! Remove this or that here or there, not to be an asshole to yourself, but to open your eyes to other meal and snack options, and to simply see how you feel. And, once you get bored with that, move on! You may discover something that truly makes you feel better, or you may be totally relieved that it didn't help at all (like that time I tried giving up coffee - no bueno). Maybe some days you will naturally intermittently fast, because you wait to eat until you are truly hungry. Your body and metabolism are constantly changing, and with those changes come different bodily needs based on work out routines, age, illness, injury, you name it. Pay attention to these changes and the needs that come along with them.
Throw the norm out the window. If you feel like steak for breakfast and a smoothie for dinner, go for it. Throw comparison out the window. If your friends don't eat carbs or avoid fat like the plague, feel free to smother your hunk of bread in creamy avocado. Rid of the rules, restrictions, can'ts, and guilt that you attach to your relationship with food. Change keeps it interesting. It keeps your body guessing, it removes boredom, it allows for flexibility, and forces you to step outside your comfort zone (hello personal growth) to try new things. You'll learn more about not only your gut, but about your own control and power - you can take it all back with the willingness to try and accept change.
You'll like never *not* have carbs, dairy, fats, desserts, or booze ever again. There is no final destination when it comes to our diets, it's all about the change up. And so I circle back to the journey - even when it comes to food and health, you can enjoy the ride.
