My Commitment to Health & Fitness
I’m a label reader.
I can’t help myself.
If it claims to be food, I want to know what is in it.
I haven’t always been this way. Well, that’s not entirely true. Most of my adult life I have spent on some “diet” or another, managing after my children were born to lose enough weight to be almost 20 lbs lighter than I was for my own wedding. The label reading I did was to look at the calories and fat-content. But along the way, I learned that the word “diet” actually encouraged eating foods loaded with chemicals and processed ingredients, so I look at food labels very differently now.
Back Story:
What caused this revelation is rather a long story. One that involved my daughter from the very beginning. Reflux, colic and chronic rashes taught us that she was pretty much allergic to everything. Special laundry detergent and prescription formula (an elimination diet wasn’t working) helped her get through infancy, and for the most part she was fine until she turned three.
When she was three, more rashes started appearing, rashes that she scratched so hard eczema invaded her body. She saw an allergist and was tested for food allergies (needle tests all over her back). This was the most brutal day of my life, but a trip to Build-A-Bear and her favorite restaurant relieved some of her pain.
The allergy tests were inconclusive.
All that pain for nothing.
So I did what moms do when their child is hurting and can’t find relief. I searched the web. And what I learned changed our lives forever.
This really could be an entire book, but I’ll keep it short.
When Abby is on a 100% organic, chemical and preservative-free diet, she doesn’t break out in a rash. If she eats processed foods, she does. The doctor prescribed creams and bleach baths to deal with the symptoms, we found a cure.
Fake things in our food supply are linked to so many problems from allergies and autism to alzheimers and cancer, and once we discovered Abby was sensitive to these thing, we made radical changes.
Our Diets:
Yes, I said diet. We are not ON a diet, we have a diet. That diet is organic, clean foods, most of which we try and make ourselves.
- We consume about 90% organic fruits and vegetables. We do buy non-organic for some things like pineapple and watermelon that have a thick skin that we don’t consume, when those are the only option. But when given the option, we almost always choose organic over non.
- We limit our purchase of pre-packaged foods. We do make an exception for some brands (such as Annie’s or Nature’s Path) because, like most people, we have busy lives and sometimes you can’t make everything from scratch. Cereals, granola bars and some packaged pastas we do purchase if certified organic to have on hand.
- Organic doesn’t always mean healthy. You still need to focus on clean eating because preservatives come in many shapes and forms and even organic foods have things in them, though not chemical, that you don’t need. This is why I prefer to make things from scratch. They may have a shorter shelf-life, but at least they have fewer ingredients.
- We are strong supporters of the GMO labeling movement and will boycott companies that oppose it. We have a right to know what is in our food. Period.
- We have begun experimenting with a gluten-free diet. The human body does not properly process gluten, some people are more sensitive than others and it might be a contributing factor to other body issues such as arthritis and allergies. We are in a learning phase with this area.
- I am a supporter of a plant based diet but not exclusively. I believe that we need to flip our traditional thinking on it’s head and that plant based foods should be the “meat” of our daily intake and animal products such as meat, eggs and dairy should be smaller portions.
- I like cake. When made from scratch with organic, clean ingredients such as raw honey.
Beyond the Food:
I guess I am green. I don’t use chemicals in my home for cleaners or personal care products. Except deodorant. I’m still on the lookout for an organic or pure deodorant that actually works. For now, mine is aluminum free but I’m not 100% happy with it.
We use brands such as Seventh Generation, Dr. Bronner’s, Method, and others that derive their ingredients from natural, plant-based sources.
Fitness:
I workout. A lot. I run, walk, do jumping jacks, bike, etc. It makes me feel good. Sets a good example for my children and helps me maintain my weight. The modern conveniences of today cause us to move less, so I believe we all should make up for it with dedicated physical exercise. I own a treadmill, a stationary bike, an “old lady” beach cruiser bike, and more running shoes than dress shoes. I have my eyes on an elliptical machine but haven’t yet been able to get one.
I completed the Insanity workout, and am always on the lookout for ways to change-up my routine and challenge my body.
Brand Campaigns:
From a PR and brand perspective, please don’t reach out to me with food products that do not fit my lifestyle. I will not review them. I will not share them with my readers, even for money. I believe very strongly that our food supply is corrupt and has negatively affected the human body in radical ways. We need to change, and I would rather be looked upon as a kook for my views than contribute to something that is making our planet very sick.
