Insight Into My Personal Nutritional Habits
I think every one of my clients ask me the same question at one point in our coaching journey: Alex, what do you eat?
So I thought I would write some of my habits and answer this question for them and everyone else. They are neither the best habits nor the worst. Choose the ones you believe can benefit you.
I will talk about things that I do and things I do not do in terms of nutrition. And I will try to keep it real and tell you about the less good things as well hoping you will find something to learn from this.
Consistency
I have sustained this type of diet and lifestyle for many years. A few exceptions were made when I moved from country to country, when the first 3-6 months were a struggle to adapt to the local food.
However, my body is very well adapted to this kind of diet and lifestyle. So if you try any of these habits and you find they do not work in the first 3-6 months that means that either your body needs more time to adapt or this is not the right thing for you.
Just bear in mind that a lifetime of poor habits takes more than just a few months to change and for the body to adapt. You need patience and perseverance, be committed to your daily habits and don’t make exceptions after exceptions.
After all, exceptions made on a regular basis are actually habits.
Exceptions from my rules
Since we mentioned exceptions I make exceptions one day a week, and many times not even that. I don’t do this because I have to, but because I do not need to make those exceptions.
Many times we make exceptions because friends and family urge us to “have a break”. I don’t allow this to happen, and if I do I am very controlled no matter how much I like what I am eating.
I have developed this control over the years. It’s not something I’ve always done.
Fuel
Food for me is fuel for my body. Thus my food choices follow this rule. Taste is just an awesome add on.
Processed stuff
I used to have a pot of chocolate ice cream a month. I haven’t had for the past 3 months. But if I want it I will have it. I usually don’t want it, because I don’t really need it. Can’t think of anything else I have.
Dairy
Yes, I have dairy. Maybe a little too much sometimes. However I am aware of the quantity I have.
It is important to be mindful of your habits as this way you will be able to control them.
In my case dairy is cheese, white cheese (you find this in eastern Europe more), goats cheese (not any goats cheese) and yoghurt. That’s pretty much it.
Meat and fish
I grew up eating meat, all sorts. I am not vegetarian today but I eat meat very seldom. I do have fish 2-3 times a week.
Fruit
Every day. I don’t particularly like bananas for two reasons: there is not much water in them, they are pretty dry for me and they have a lot of sugar.
Since I don’t have a lot of sugary foods, bananas for me don’t taste that awesome. On the other hand I have them if I have no other choice of fruit.
I don’t have dried fruit. It’s again the taste of high sugar that I don’t like. This happens because I don’t have sugar in general so when I do have it’s too much.
Fresh vegetables
Every day. Every day I either have a big salad with each of my meals or I have them cut on a plate and I just have them like that, with cheese, or next to eggs, or whatever.
I always have my salads with: vinegar (not vinaigratte, but wine, apple or plum vinegar), olive oil and salt.
Drinks
Water. How much? Don’t know. I drink throughout the day, I have it next to me and in my back pack and I just drink.
Unsweetened tea. Not every day.
Warm water with lemon and ginger every morning and sometimes during the day. It’s not a “trend” thing though. I like lemon in general.
Grapefruit juice I make myself. By the way, have the pulp, the best things are in the pulp.
Coconut water….once in a blue moon when water and tea become useless for hydration. That’s it really.
Snacks
Baby or plum tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers.
Fruit. Depending on the season: strawberries, oranges, nectarines, sometimes grapes.
Nuts and seeds. I used to have every day because they are convenient, particularly when I coach several consecutive sessions.
But I was beginning to have too many so now I seldom have them. Although nutritionist advise us to have fruit with nuts, that just makes me not eat either. The combination for me is not great.
Natural yoghurt
I have every day: diary (that;s cheese and natural yoghurt), legumes: beans, peas, broccoli etc; quinoa and other similar stuff, warm water with lemon (every morning! ), fruit, vegetables
Other things I probably have 1-3 time a week: rice, eggs, honey, humus, broth or soups, meat, fish.
Every 2 months or even less often: these are more like treats: cereal (with the least sugar i can find) with rice milk, home made rice pudding
Twice a year …or 3 times maybe, I go “crazy” and I have: pizza or chips
Other habits
I don’t eat after 6-7 pm. I like to go to bed with my stomach calm.
I eat when I am hungry.
I finish eating when I am still hungry, 80% full. Remember the Food Discipline lessons I wrote the other day? Check them out.
I eat little and I get hungry more often. So I eat little and often. The fact that I have my own business gives me the possibility to live on my own terms. Having little food as often as I need to is very important for me and I can do that now. So you can say I am lucky….made my own luck really.
Discipline. I have my own food diary. I know what I have had in the week and month and I am mindful of the quantity of food I eat.
So there you have it. A summary of my habits. There will always be ups and downs but I respect my rules, if not 100% then very close to that anyway. Why? Read The Story Of How I Changed My Relationship With Food to better understand
Questions? You know how to find me.
She works with entrepreneurs, men and women, and re-engineers how the body functions to run like clockwork. This is done through building lasting foundations and a fit, strong and powerful body through Natural Movement in the Natural Environment.
Her mission is to challenge the status quo to enable people to reach their goals. This is done through building strong, lasting foundations in the natural outdoor environment; reducing the risk of injuries and educating people on the power of the fundamentals of Natural Human Movement™.