Processed Foods...A Bittersweet Ending

One of my goals for this year was to eat more like my dog. When I really thought about what I feed her, I realized her diet did not consist of any processed foods. All her treats and meals are all natural and organic, no additives or preservatives. With that thought in mind, I moved forward in cutting out processed foods in my daily diet.

Before I start, one question needs to be answered, what are processed foods? Processed foods are foods that are processed and have different additives, chemicals, preservatives, etc. added to them to enhance taste and/or shelf life. Most processed foods typically come in a box or a can. The key rule in spotting overly processed foods is to read the label of ingredients - if you cannot pronounce an ingredient(s) then it's most likely not natural.

Ok, back to my story. I set off only eating whole foods - lean organic meats, fresh produce, nuts, grains and seeds. The first couple weeks I felt like crap. I was sluggish and had a lack of energy. At first I thought maybe I was getting sick, but then realized my body was purging itself of all the chemicals that are added to processed foods. Once my system was clean, I felt great and had more energy.

Another couple weeks went by, I was doing good and had eaten very little processed foods. One stressful and hairy day at work, I broke down to comfort myself (I stress eat on occasion) and wondered down to the vending machine and bought myself a Twix, a favorite I liked to indulge in once in awhile. I got back to my desk, opened up the wrapper and took a much needed bite. Hmmm, this tastes weird. I took another bite and it still tasted weird. It actually tasted disgusting. I threw it out thinking I got a bad bar but then realized how processed a Twix was. I had purged myself of all those addictive additives, I now taste all the processed chemicals. Blugh! That was a 65 cent lesson learned.

It was a bittersweet moment of ending a food I once enjoyed, but in the end gaining a healthier diet. It's definitely a lifestyle change, but a change for the better.

Goal for 2011 - Eat More Like My Dog

My dog Sophie is 10 years old going on 4. Even though she's petite for her breed, she still acts like a puppy and everyone that meets her is shocked to learn her age. I contribute a good portion of her health and physique to her diet. She gets the best food and supplements money (or my tab) can buy, filled with an organic raw food diet with added fresh fruits and vegetables, fish oil capsules and two nutrient supplements. Plus, she gets daily exercise and playtime with her buddy Wilson - a 2 year old Australian Cattle Dog that is 52 lbs of solid muscle but she can still body slam the hell out of him and say "giddy-up" to go back for more.

My goal for 2011 is get back that same level of energy and stamina. When I have a healthy diet, I feel great which makes me look great. It's definitely a lifestyle choice that needs to become a habit again.

So with that said, I'm going back to my roots as a human being and diving into a diet of whole foods both cooked and raw - what nature intended. I'm at a point in my life where change needs to happen so later in in life I'll be 70, going on 28.