[The following is an excerpt from my email newsletter, if you want to subscribe, email me
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Joseph Pilates, the founder of the Pilates exercise method, believed that in order to achieve happiness it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. He believed that “physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” He also felt passionately that good health is our birthright, but must be something that we earn through good choices.
Lest good ol’ Joseph’s words be taken out of context, he was not saying that body builders are the happiest people, or athletes have it made, rather happiness is based on being the master of your body, rather than your body being a master over you.
At the beginning of another year, many people resolve to make needed changes: lose weight, get more organized, spend more time with family.
In my profession (both with the Wellness Forum and as a fitness instructor), I see that all too often people are driven to change based on fear or bitterness. “I’m not going to eat those eggs or that steak because these choices will eventually kill me” or “My girlfriend dumped me, I’m going to show her and lose 30 pounds, then she’ll be sorry she ever left me.” The main problem with this mentality is that it simply is not sustainable. Eventually, those choices that are made based out of fear (particularly fear of dying, fear of becoming overweight, ect.), will fall by the wayside. There is no power in fear.
So what motivations are sustainable? Love and freedom. While these two ideas don’t seem to be related with what you might put in your mouth, they really are at the base of sustainable, healthful living. When you decide that you want to live and live in such a way that is conducive to supporting a healthy body and healthy relationships, then negative behaviors such as overeating or eating foods that are not health promoting becomes much less enticing.
Why eat and live in such a way that will extend your life, if you don’t enjoy living?
I’ve heard, “Oh, but I’d rather die 5 years sooner than give up my ice cream!” The problem with this approach is that it is a bit short-sighted. When we think this way, we’re essentially saying “The momentary pleasure that this ice cream gives me means much more to me than taking care of my body so that I can have energy, be thin and trim, and enjoy movement and physical activity.”
There are dozens and dozens of ways to lose weight. (My dad went on a popcorn and rootbeer diet as a teenager and lost weight!) But really, most methods are simply not sustainable because they are not practical (who’s going to drink 3-4 protein shakes for the rest of their lives?) or healthful. For example, several of my university students have mentioned how they have lost weight through extreme dieting (restricting calories to 500 calories or less a day) or consuming nothing but protein shakes. After the weight is lost, the dieter goes back to life as usual, and because the issues that caused the weight gain were not addressed in the first place, the weight comes back quickly and often effortlessly. And the cycle begins again.
So what is the answer? It is simple. Begin to make choices based on living. “I want to eat fruits and vegetables, and other whole foods because they make me feel good, in the moment, and more importantly, later.” “I want to eat healthful foods because they give me energy to do the things I am passionate about.” “I want to exercise and maintain my ideal weight so I can be free to move and play like I did when I was a kid.” “I want to practice dietary excellence and optimal habits so I can take control of my health and not be a victim anymore of my bad habits.” “I want to increase my quality of life now and for the future, so that I can be there for my kids, or grandkids.”
And for those of you that think, “I am happy and healthy being overweight and/or sedentary.” If this is true, perhaps we have different definitions of health. I’m hear to say, as a recovering over-eater and overweight person, life IS better when you practice a dietary excellence through a whole foods plant based diet. Life IS better when you move, and stretch, breathe, and get your heart pumping every day. Everything is made better by these choices.
So if you only make one resolution this year, this is the the resolution to make: commit yourself to making choices out of love (for yourself and for your family) and freedom (the freedom to live and move with energy and vibrancy and not be constrained by poor health) so that you may enjoy the health, love and happiness that is your birthright.
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