A new month means only one thing around here: It’s time for a new resolution!
As we approach the halfway mark of 2022 (btw, how crazy is that?!), I’d like to pause and consider what you’ve accomplished so far:
- You made a donation.
- You encouraged others by writing to them.
- You practiced gratitude by “counting your blessings.”
- You reduced your screen time.
Whether you blew these goals out of the water or struggled, you should be proud of your efforts so far.
So now let’s move to something new…. nutrition.
Now, if you think this month’s resolution is to cut out sugar or carbs, you can rest easy. There’s not enough happiness in this world, and it seems cruel to snuff out even more. But what we ARE going to do for this month’s challenge is to log our food.
Every single thing you eat, you’ll record. Whether you use an app like My Fitness Pal or whether you go for the old-fashioned pen and paper, it doesn’t matter.
Recording our food helps us be more intentional in our eating practices. It forces us to come to terms with what we are putting in our bodies.
But if you’re someone who would like to drop a few pounds? Recording your food can help. In fact, during one study researchers found that people who kept a food journal lost twice as much weight as those who did not.
I want to be clear, though. The primary purpose of this resolution is not for weight loss. It’s for intentionality and for building healthy habits.
After all, it’s easy to grab a value meal from a fast-food chain when you’re on your way home from work or headed to the umpteenth ball game this week. It’s not so easy to write down “double bacon cheeseburger, large french fries” in a food journal and see it each day. For most of us? Things quickly get uncomfortable.
On the flip side, it feels very good to open up a journal and see something like, “grilled chicken with roasted vegetables and a whole-grain roll.” It’s encouraging to see fresh, natural, energy-giving foods make up most of your meals.
And don’t forget, you won’t be alone. I’ll be joining in, too. Am I going to still eat a cinnamon roll or two? You betcha. Am I also going to get plenty of protein and veggies in there, too? Absolutely.
Nutrition doesn’t have to be a bad word. Record your food, let go of the guilt, and focus on increasing the good. It’s that simple.
Will you join me?