On a recent trip to a city that still has a mammoth Barnes and Noble, I picked up a wellness magazine. Full of glossy images of berries, salmon, green tea, and fresh herbs, it made me feel healthy just looking at it. (All magazine-buying is aspirational, isn’t it? Witness my stack of discarded issues of Real Simple—clutter intended to get rid of clutter.)
In this case, the hefty (and rather pricey) publication came from Dr. Andrew Weil, who reminds me of cross between a Tibetan monk and a super-fit Santa Claus. In my mind, I will someday be like Dr. Weil, eating tofu and greens for breakfast, drinking freshly brewed green tea throughout the day, consuming dark chocolate “sparingly” (ha), and radiating self-possession and calm.
As I flipped through the magazine, enjoying a Starbucks flat white (which happens not to be part of Dr. Weil’s healthy eating pyramid), I began to get a little uncomfortable. Very little of the information was new to me—I knew all about the health benefits of salmon, the antioxidants in blueberries, the importance of omega-3s—but I realized that my so-called healthy habits had become a little warped.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had salmon. Coffee, wine, and chocolate had crossed over from mere treats to part of a steady diet. Even my favorite healthy snack, almonds, had become a vice in a way—I dipped into the family size jar multiple times a day.
I read about a man years ago who followed an extremely low-calorie diet in the pursuit of health and longevity (at the time, people thought he was a bit crazy, but he’d fit right in with the intermittent fasting movement today). I don’t remember the details of his meal plan, except that he allowed himself three almonds a day.
Well, ok. I am never going to be a three-almond-a-day person. But I’m also never going to be a zen-like, salmon-and-tofu-consuming member of society unless I start making choices consistent with that goal.
Paradoxically, I think the more knowledgeable we are about health and nutrition, the easier it is to convince ourselves that we practice healthy habits. It’s the equivalent of wearing work-out clothes every day and never going to the gym. It’s the gap between knowing and implementing that keeps us from attaining a goal.
In my mind, I “don’t eat bread anymore.” In reality, sometimes I do – usually when I’m scrounging for a snack and end up grabbing a slice or two, because it’s quick and I can eat it standing up (which I know experts say is the worst way to snack!). The implementation gap is also why I consistently choose a walk on the treadmill over strength training, even though I am aware of the research showing that lifting weights improves insulin resistance in the long run.
We make seemingly small choices like that every day—usually with the subconscious thought that “it’s just for today” or “I’ll start tomorrow”—and pretty soon, the week, month, or year looks nothing like we envisioned it. The gap keeps growing wider.
I’ve had the opportunity this week—due to a relaxed summer schedule—to change up my routine and actually make some of the ideas in my head a reality. I went to a body sculpt class (and consequently, will have difficulty getting out of the chair after posting this) and ate vegetarian meals three days in a row. Feels good. If I go to the class once a week for the next 52 weeks, how will I feel? Pretty darn good, I bet.
Remember the old weight-loss advice to post pictures of your thinner self on the fridge as a reminder /motivation? I think we can all agree that kind of reminder isn’t helpful… but I may consider keeping one of those beautiful pictures of berries and salmon from Dr. Weil’s magazine on my fridge to remind me, “This is what you really want – not the kids’ leftover pasta.” Also maybe a picture of Dr. Weil himself – as a sort of Elf-on-the-Shelf reminder – Santa Claus is watching! Maybe not…
Picture your ideal, healthy self. Where would you like to be with your goals this time next year? Does it feel aspirational or achievable? What daily reminders help you stay on track?