What Should I Be Eating?
Writer: Ryan Willms
Out of all the questions that have come my way since starting down this path, the kind of questions I get the most are almost always about diet. What I am eating? What should you be eating? Do I eat keto, vegan, paleo, do you drink celery juice, how much water? I can say with some confidence that I've probably tried them all at some point, for some period of time. And my biggest takeaway is that I don't believe there is one diet that is meant for everyone, or even one diet that’s mean to suit one individual forever. I’ve found the concept of physical cross-training to be a good metaphor for diet and spiritual growth, too. At times it may be good to eat more protein, or more veggies, or other times it might serve you better to go with soups and broths, or a juice cleanse. So much can depend on your training, the time of year, where you live, the quality of your diet in recent years, or even how much you may need to detox. Whichever the combination of foods, though, the more organic, whole foods is certainly the better - no matter what.
The age-old saying ‘You are what you eat’ is literally true, and often overlooked. Everything you put in your mouth becomes the cells and tissues that make you, well, you. From your toenails to your brain, you actually are what you eat - and that’s important to think about when making food choices. Something else to keep top of mind as you consider new diets, lifestyle choices or what you may even need, is that the human body is unbelievably adaptable. So, while we can survive on poison garbage to some extent, what might feel ‘good’ to us today might actually just be the level of normal we’ve grown accustomed to over years of bad habits. Feeling ‘good’ or ‘ok’ is possibly not anywhere near optimal - or the best you could be feeling. I never like to tell anyone exactly what they should eat or what diet they should do, but I will say that trying new things can seriously open your eyes to a new horizon of wellness.
Truly, the best suggestion I can provide in response to diet questions is to document your daily diet, as well as how you feel. It's the only real way you can get to know yourself on a deeper level, and how food really affects you. Documenting your habits and well-being gives you real data to work with, and soon you’ll be able to connect the dots and make conscious decisions for yourself. Sadly, there is no one-diet-fits-all or food guru - but in this case, you can consider yourself your own guru. Then you can always trust in the process, because you’re constantly testing it on yourself and gathering honest results. We are the scientists of our own lives, and looking within is the best way to find the answers we seek. After all, when it comes down to it, we can trust our experiences much more than what others tell us.
If you're always guessing and looking for an external answer, you’re setting yourself up for a challenging process. I know, because I've been there - and I’m still working on it too. At times, I still find myself looking for the magic cure in a new supplement, diet, or cleanse. But, I’ve learned that it’s really about developing a deeper connection with myself and listening to the signs from my body, because its wisdom is truly magical.
And if you still want to know what I eat - personally, I’ve found success decreasing body fat, increasing energy, aiding in digestion, and balancing my blood sugar by eating more protein, less carbohydrates and utilizing intermittent fasting. But that may not have been what I needed two years ago, or what I will need in another two years. Our bodies will guide us, but we need to nurture our ability to listen to them. That said, some of the educational resources that I have found useful are How to Eat Move and Be Healthy by Paul Chek, Bulletproof’s Keto guides, Whole 30, Dr. Junger’s 21-Day Clean program, and the Metabolic Typing Diet.
The start of a new year can be a great inspiration to make changes, but whatever new choices you make, it’s important that it’s sustainable. Any change is going to require a level of discipline, so a little bit everyday is better than swinging for the fences.
Tags: Nutrition
Ryan Willms is a practicing Holistic Life Coach, working with clients one-on-one to help nurture personal well-being, health and growth by optimizing nutrition, movement, and emotional healing.