You eat what? That looks gross.

So I stumbled on an interesting comment today and it got me thinking. I posted this picture of my food on Instagram and wrote a short note about why preparing and packing my meals for work helps me stay successful when it comes to my health.

The note reads, “If I don’t do this, I fail at staying on track and believe me with my job there’s literally no time for a break so instead of using that as an excuse I find a way to make time for the healthy lifestyle I’m striving for. It’s hard and I’m not always 100% because who is perfect anyway, but this is part of my recipe for sucesss with a demanding career. Just passing my knowledge and experience on to you…”

Pictured is what I packed for lunch, dinner and snacks for my Monday workday. A chicken thigh salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, blueberries and balsamic. Lentil beans, a chicken breast, and raw vegetables for dinner. Some almonds, an apple, cherries, a turkey protein bar and Kombucha for my snacks and belly health.

Somebody said (and I don’t fault them), “that doesn’t look appealing at all.”

It didn’t bother me because it took me back to the days that I would see people putting “healthy” food on their plates. “That looks gross,” I’d think to myself.

“Obsessed skinny people eat like that,” was another common thought.

“I eat what I want, when I want…I’m not one of THOSE girls,” I told myself.

You know…one of “those”girls.

That was a great attitude or so I thought until I went in for my annual checkup. I wasn’t even as bothered about the 15 pounds I put on, …okay, wait that’s a lie…I was surprised. I hardly noticed the weight gain. It wasn’t until the doctor told me I had high cholesterol that it hit me.

The doctor advised me, “You need to eat more vegetables, fresh fruit …” he went on.

“Oh…I have to eat like “those” girls,” I thought to myself.

It took me a long time to understand and appreciate the benefits of healthy food in my diet. Don’t get me wrong, I indulge. I just ate authentic Mexican food for dinner Sunday, stuffed myself with homemade strawberry cake and rice crispy treats (doesn’t that sound amazing?) It was amazing until I frantically excused myself to the restroom. TMI. But in short, my body is no longer tolerant of unhealthy foods. It wreaks havoc on my gut and it always has. I just never knew what it felt like to actually feel good.

Now that I do, there’s no going back. I know…it looks “gross.” My food may look like what one of “those” girls eat. I’ve been where you are.

I don’t eat like this to look a certain way. Not anymore. It may have started that way …but it’s become more than just about my body and physique. It’s become about the way I feel, inside…and there’s nothing gross about it.

;)