Choosing You - Eating Mindfully To Fuel Your Health

I don’t talk a lot about food a lot when I’m talking about deep-level self care but it is an important part of self care and also about choosing yourself.

When we eat healthy, fresh, whole foods, then in turn we feel good, we have energy, and it supports our long-term health.

When we eat processed crap 0% of the time, we don’t usually feel great but also this habit will have long-term effects on your health you might not see until middle age.

To listen to the podcast version of this blog post, head over HERE. 

Let me tell you a little FACT. When you reach middle age, you don’t feel old. I mean I feel the same mentally as I did when I was younger so I kinda want my body to feel good too.

Making some really small shifts in your mindset and lifestyle will help with this. 

Some of you might not know this about me but I started off as a holistic health coach and then I got my certification in culinary nutrition as an instructor before I was a life coach.

I got certified as a life coach out of frustration when working as a health coach. People only seemed to want a quick fix and I was in it for the long haul of lifestyle transformation. So this is why I like to combine all three of these to help my clients transform.

I also had a stroke when I was 39 which led me down the road of this career change because I realized that you can seem like you're doing everything right, you're fit, you're eating healthy, and then still, bamm, you still have a stroke.

Health is not just about how you eat and whether you exercise enough. It's about your lifestyle, your stress levels, and your happiness. It’s a whole package of things baked in a beautiful pie. Yes, I’m kinda quoting Waitress. the play.

With all that said I want to share with you today a few mindset shifts to help you heal with the food you eat.

• Whenever you eat or drink I want you to get present and be mindful and ask yourself the question, does this serve your health, body, and energy OR does it hinder your health, body, and energy?
• Every time you eat or drink be grateful that you are able to have good food in front of you. This could be as simple as, thank you universe for all of this great food to help fuel my body and lifeforce.
• Take a few deep breaths before you eat. Getting yourself in a relaxed state before you eat can not only help you absorb nutrients better but also help you digest your food better. When you’re in fight or flight, your body is focused on survival, not digestion. This can cause stomach upset, gas, and indigestion. By taking a few deep breaths you can come out of fight or flight and move into rest and digest.
• Follow the 80/20 rule. Eat well at least 80% of the time. So what I do is focus on eating really healthy during the week. I eat real whole food, almost all plants (my preference) and then I relax on the weekends. Now I don’t go nuts, mostly because I don’t really want to feel like shit but I do say yes to my indulgences. 
• DO NOT take yourself too seriously. What I mean is, don’t be the food police. Just do the best you can and don’t stress yourself out, because if you do, you’re kinda negating the positive effects of you eating well in the first place.
• Lastly, when you can make eating an event! Get out the good china, the cloth napkins, and the crystal glasses. Even if it's just a bowl of oatmeal. Treat yourself like the queen you are. Setting the table, turning off the phone and tv, and putting on some music sets the stage for a relaxing meal that serves your body and your soul.

This is just the start of some of the small shifts you can make when your fueling your body. 

Always be intentional but also a bit relaxed. 

Remember, we have to live in these skin suits for a little bit so let's take care of them so we can show up in our life like the bad-a**es we know we are!

 Xo, T

P.S. Be sure to get yourself signed up for my FREE Soul Aligned Self Care Masterclass Series for 2023.

There will be 5 new masterclasses coming this year and when you sign up, you will get access to them throughout the year when they become available. First one coming in Feb.2023. Yes, all for free. Sign up here>> https://www.tinastinson.com/soul-aligned-self-care-masterclass-series