There is No Good or Bad Food

Although my body may not need a deep-fried Twinkie more than once a decade, it still is not bad food.  A typical myth I enjoy “busting” is the idea that some foods are good and others are bad—and that’s not exactly true.  This is, however, the kind of thinking that keeps us trapped in fat connections with our bodies.  Most of us in a weight battle are desperate to identify which food we can eat and which we should stoically shun.  Have you ever felt that way?  While there certainly are higher-quality fuel items than a fried Twinkie, the truth is we need all groups to become balanced, including treats.  We become out of balance just as quickly with too much salad and not enough carbs as we do with the reverse.  And yes, Twinkies are carbs.  The proof of this need for treats is evident in the fact that after two weeks on any diet our denial rises to a fever pitch and we become unfit for human companionship.  We find ourselves alone in a parked car outside the grocery store eating doughnuts with abandon, knowing full well we will flog ourselves with guilt when it is over.  This is the thinking of fat people.  This keeps us in a weight battle.

In order to live effortlessly at an ideal weight we need to live without restriction and become balanced.  Balance means fueling our bodies with exact proportions of fuel groups you need that day.  Plant fuel is premium because it just gives us more nutrition, than say, pork rinds.  But we also need to round out the day with varying quantities of dairy, meat, fruit, oils, and treats.  Some days we need more of one and less of another—but in general they all combine to give us balance.   Experience the freedom that comes from recognizing all food is there for our use.  There is no bad food, only choosing to live in balance or out-of-balance.  Too much chicken is going to make us feel saturated and heavy.  Too much broccoli will result in gas and indigestion.  Too much bread will create bloating and constipation.  Too much pie…well, we can all relate to too much pie.  To boost a metabolism that gives us wiggle room for parties, holidays, and travel eating, live in balance each day with the correct amount of each group.  Select with intention your treats, meat, oils, and dairy.  Never feel guilty about having a treat (or ribs, or cheese, or butter...whatever) when you need it.  There is powerful chemistry produced in our minds when we feel satisfied and live without restriction.  This chemistry allows our bodies to prompt us more clearly on what we need and how much of it we require to produce a continual cycle of balance.  Have a cookie.  Go ahead.

Tres Hatch is the author of Miracle Pill 10 Truths to Healthy, Thin, & Sexy