So, about that other post.....
Right. Admittedly I had my panties in a bit of a wad, and while I stand by everything I said out over packaged, over processed food, I should have explained myself a little more clearly on a couple of points.
First and foremost, something I mentioned, but I am sure did not come across as strongly as I would have liked: I am in no way shape or form for cutting out all processed, packaged foods. Lord knows I eat my share of them (Chicken lasagna last night, anyone?) My argument was that we need to be aware that when we eat foods like this as the main portion of our food intake for any given length of time we are not eating healthfully. If for nothing else, the sodium levels in most prepackaged products are chest clutchingly high. I don't take issue with eating foods like this, as long as no one is kidding them selfs into thinking that they are the best choice to put into their body... When I ate that lasagna last night I was fully aware of the almost 1000mg of sodium in a single serving. When I ate the pizza on Friday night (and then the leftovers on Saturday and Sunday) and the Ice cream and the beer... I was fully aware that my choice of meals was not the most stellar, but I had no issue with eating all of that because I don't claim to, or aspire to eat healthfully all the time. But I have educated myself enough to know when I am making a good choice and a not-so-great one. ----and I will get into that whole chestnut more in a bit.
I also realize that everyone is different, and that we all need different programs/incentives/food to be successful. Most people who decide to lose weight for whatever reason need to learn how to eat less, and eat better. It is a lot of stuff to change all at once, and having the option to eat a cupcake and fit it into your eating plan is appealing and necessary for some people starting out. Sometimes people don't have the time or don't know how or don't want to cook from scratch, and prepackaged meals come in handy, not only for their ease of use, but for their controlled portion size as well. I think that taken by them selfs, these foods, serve a good purpose. The danger comes in when they are marketed and accepted as healthy.... and when people begin to rely on them rather than taking from them the lessons they can teach (portion size, perhaps the introduction of new vegetables) and then moving on---if they choose to really become truly (in my minds eye at least) healthy.
Which leads me to another point. I am fully aware that my idea of eating healthfully is not the same as everyones. There are people that think that 3 100 calories a day along with a couple diet soda's, a lean pocket and a smart one's constitutes a healthy lifestyle. And the way I feel about it is that if they really feel this way--meaning they have done some investigation into what they are eating, rather than just taking the food companies word for it, then I have no issue with an eating program like that, as long as it works for them. On the other side of the coin, I know people who don't eat any salt... who constrict fat (even good fats) far more rigorously, or don't eat carbs of any form. I happen to have a different opinion on these things, and sometimes it is frustrating because sometimes I truly do not understand where they are coming from but it's not my place to judge, or to try to convince anyone to do something they don't want to or can't do.
I would also like to mention that the longer I work on being healthy, the more the definition of "healthy" evolves. A year ago I ate things like splenda and aspertame regularly. Sugar free products were a definite part of my daily diet, but now I won't touch them---partially from learning from my own body that I don't react well with them, but also because I have decided to limit the amount of man made chemicals that are put into my body (because of some things I've read about their physical, ethical, and social-economic repercussions).Up until about 8 months ago I didn't track my sodium---Salt was far too important to me to give up... but over time, I was able to see the affects it has on me, and cut down (but trust me, not out) on it. It's been within the last 4 months that I have developed a large aversion to HFCS and PHO's. It's something I never would have thought twice about before, but now am adamant about not eating. The changes are due to reading, learning, forming my own opinions and also from learning from myself. Listening to my body and my mind are keys for me being successful at continuing a healthy lifestyle. But at the end of the day, my plan is unlike anyone elses. And there are times when I read or hear things from any number of people on any number of paths that make me want to scream. As long as I feel they are making an informed decision, I keep my mouth shut as much as I can, but when I see so many people (and really, Im speaking in general, not to anyone specifically) just blindly following along with the new "fad" I feel compelled to climb up on the soap box and say something. Which is where that rant came from, as un-eloquent and poorly thought out as it was.
So I guess my point is this: Educate yourself. Do not let someone else (someone with only your money to gain) ---any one else tell you what is good or bad. Then decide what is the right thing for you... and don't have any apologies for it, because at the end of the day, you have to be happy with your life and your choices--and your the one that has to live with the affects of your decisions. There are trade-offs no matter which path you take, and there is no perfect answer... and all anyone of us can do is to do the best we can with what we have available to us... but it is up to us to know all the facts, so that we can make educated decisions about the most important thing in our lives---our body.
