How can I eat in a way that makes me feel good?

“Life is Short. Eat dessert first. (But maybe not every day!)

In April this year, I posted a few times about Food for Thought -my thoughts on food. There’s so much contradicting information out there that it’s easy to get confused. I explored a few different food-related topics, but my conclusion was simple: Eat real food.

The Food for Thought Summary Post.

The problem? Even though I know I want to eat real food (and I know which foods those are), I’m tempted by treats every single day. And honestly, I don’t want to give them up. I don’t want to tell myself I can never have warm white bread, chocolate, fudge, caramel, or rusks. The issue is that I was having too much of these every day—and I could feel it in my energy levels.

Worse, I felt guilty every time I had a treat, which meant the treat wasn’t even that enjoyable. Once I opened the gateway to sweetness, for example, with one block of fudge, I just wanted more and more. Sometimes, I ate so much that I felt my heart race, and I knew my glucose levels were over 7.8 mmol/L. Then the tiredness hit so hard that I couldn’t even think straight.

Maybe poor eating isn’t the only reason I’ve been tired, but I know it plays a big role. I felt out of control. I’d start the day with good intentions, but as soon as someone put a cupcake in front of me, I gladly gobble it up and hope I can have another. (And not just on Sundays… I’m a free-range treat eater!)

There’s that quote: “Life’s too short, eat dessert first.” But I’ve realized life’s also too short to feel tired all the time from eating all that dessert.

I sometimes feel like I lack self-motivation, so I asked my sister if she wanted to do a “2-week clean eating challenge” with me. She suggested instead that I really investigate my sugar issue. Otherwise, she said, I’ll keep feeling the same: tired, guilty, frustrated, and disappointed in myself.

She’s right. I really love food, so I can’t promise to never eat certain things again. But I can explore this sugar story more deeply and share what I learn. 

Please join me in this exploration: How can I eat in a way that actually makes me feel good? For real this time.

I’m calling it My #SugarStory.
Do you think I could find a balance between healthy and sweet?
How do you stay balanced between eating and feeling good?