Finding the intention.
Relationships with food and diet can be tricky. In general, I have been lucky enough to find a way to give myself permission to love my body for what it is – a gift. When I’m on the higher end of my scale range, I feel the urge to take action – I know that many people can relate.
Thus, my pattern: 1. Track my food intake and exercise with a weight loss app. 2. Increase exercise whenever possible – for the purpose of weight loss. 3. Intermittent fasting. Read: Obsess and track to lose weight.
Somewhere along the way I realized that this dieting behavior didn’t match my true relationship with my body. It was probably a leftover response to the constant, subtle messages that exist in our society that thin is beautiful. In looking at my true intentions, I discovered a new path to a new goal: Listen to my body to feel good.
Here’s what may be surprising. The only part of the formula that stayed was the intermittent fasting. I ditched the app, the scale, and exercise for the purpose of weight loss. I still exercise, but now I do it because it feels good.
I found that my body asked me for broth.
I had heard many recommendations to fast with juice, or with a juice/water/cayenne/honey mixture. However, this was not the magic sauce for me. I cannot speak to others’ needs (we all have different bodies), but I can say that when I discovered intermittent fasting or longer term fasting with bone broth, I had more staying power. Compared to my juice experiences, my energy levels were up, my heart rate was normal, and my mobility was better.
The bonus for me is that I am the co-founder of Taking Stock Foods, and the simplicity and high quality ingredients of our bone broths feel good in my body. I feel completely full while drinking them on fasts and have even extended them past 36 hours.
Next up, a focus on listening to my body.
With this newfound intention and my dear friend bone broth, I can continue to discover new (or old!) things about my relationship with my body. I realized that I have a history with intermittent fasting. Even as a kid, I didn’t eat breakfast. This meant that I would have dinner with my family around 6 and wouldn’t eat until noon at lunch at school the next day. It’s what my body has always wanted. Trying to force it to conform to other types of eating schedules, perhaps to match those of the people in my life, has always ended with extreme discomfort for me.
Learning to tap into the wisdom of the physical self and finding a healthy relationship with food has been a journey, and one for which I have gratitude.
Food has been and always will be a very important part of my life – and central to foundation of Taking Stock Foods. I am contented that I have learned how to use food as sustenance, nourishment, and perhaps most importantly, a joyous interlude that I can share with my loved ones.
