Is Food More Important Than Health?

It never ceases to amaze me that as a society, we can't seem to get over the eating thing. I'm beginning to wonder if it is more of a social thing then anything else. It seems like we are always around food. When Gina and I go out shopping or to a movie, or on vacation, we notice people are enamored by food.

How many times have you slept in on vacation and then went to a breakfast place for something to eat. When you are sitting at breakfast you're already planning lunch and dinner. Maybe there is a party you are going to and, of course, there is a lot of food at the party. How about meeting a friend after work for a drink and it's happy hour with little finger foods. It is all around us, not to mention the birthday's and anniversaries, etc.

Since I have taken responsibility for my health I look at food in a different way. I'm no longer held hostage by food. I know you know the feeling of going to a party and just going overboard, not because you're still hungry, but because it's there. I realize food is addicting, but seriously, the amount of food people eat is hard to imagine. I guess I can imagine it because I was one of those people. The type that is so conditioned to eating food that whether you're hungry or not, you're going to eat. Can you relate?

So this new found passion for being healthy is really exciting because I now view my health as more important than food. At one time that was backward. Food was so important to me for many reasons including social. However, what I have discovered  is that I can go to a party, have a shake before I go and have a great time drinking water all night and conversing with everyone. My night doesn't focus around food and I can still enjoy myself. Do you think you can do that?

The more involved I get with taking care of my body, the more I realize that psychology comes into play. It is your mind that is the issue. You feel that you have to eat to be a part of the festivities. In the back of your mind you might be thinking, "I know that this stuff is bad for me", but that's where it starts. The justification shows its ugly head and you begin by saying to yourself, "It's only one night, I'll be good starting tomorrow". I know there are many versions of the same thing, but you get my point.

I was asked how I can be so disciplined about not eating food that is bad for me. The simple answer is that I  decided that if I take care of myself now I can reduce my health care costs in the future and have a better quality of life. Some people have the thought that, "I'm going to die anyway so why bother with eating healthy"? That is so wrong on so many levels that I don't even know where to start. Life was intended to be lived in a healthy body and we can all achieve that, but it is going to take courage to finally take a stand. Start today and commit to it. YOU CAN DO IT, because your health is more important than food!!!