Not today.
“Not today”. That’s what I told myself mid morning when my stomach was growling and I felt a little off. Today I wasn’t going to fast. Today I was going to eat. Eat and eat well! I am on a weight loss journey right now as I heal in postpartum. It is very difficult for my body to return to it’s natural state after pregnancy and birth. In the past I had done weight loss programs that didn’t allow me to say “not today”. That was so psychologically damaging. In her book “Fast Like a Girl” Dr. Mindy Pelz talks about the deep psychological damage diets do to our brain. The level of shame we feel. How easy it is to “fall of the wagon” and deal with the repercussions days later. Diets may make us feel better or lose weight but they are only taking away and not sustaining, not building, not strengthening so when we have a “bad” day or a day that eating ice cream with your kids is more important than that pound you could have lost. With a diet we have to choose, which can make us depressed, can cause us to withdraw from life and loved ones, or feel shame. I have learned with fasting I don’t have to choose but I do have to plan. I’m sitting in a coffee shop with my husband and enjoying a full flavored mocha! I’m taking in the whole experience. I’m filling my soul today. The pound or 2 can wait until tomorrow. A holistic lifestyle is not about saying no. It is about building a healthy body and mind that is strong enough to take the hit for the stressful day or the big holiday feast! A healthy diet plan is temporary and so delicate. A healthy lifestyle is a long lasting fortress!
Fasting has allowed me to enjoy all the pleasures of life. It has allowed me to fight my anxiety and postpartum depression. It has kept the puffiness and swelling away. To date I have lost 20lbs in 3 months. I have never lost weight that fast. I am 35 and have 4 children. I saw a picture of myself when I was 20. Most people look back at pictures of themselves in their 20’s and wish for that body or skin again. I DON’T! That poor girl had chronic pain, she had terrible acne and she was so puffy! 15 years later my skin is beautiful, my body looks pretty good for having 4 kids and I have left behind the chronic pain! If someone tells you getting old means pills, pain and the beginning of the end that’s a person who has given up thinking there could be something more something better! It’s not just fine wine that becomes better with age people do too! Just like wine if we build ourselves in an environment or lifestyle for us to thrive, in our advancing age we will become better!
If you are interested in learning more about fasting follow the link below to “My Favorites” Page where you can find Dr. Mindy Pelzs podcast or her book “Fast Like a Girl”.
