As I type, it is snowing outside. I am so thankful I got my walk in early, while it was a balmy 35 degrees. It was actually very pleasant. I wore a hat and gloves and I was moving so I stayed warm.
Today I have been doing bothersome work. I just closed a bank account that was charging me a fixed monthly fee. This activity requires hold times and irksome questions. The only rational response to this “extreme stress” is to eat, right? No, no, no. Not hungry and not going there.
Today I am thinking about freedom vs. deprivation. When most people consider the process of reclaiming their health, they think: I’ve got to give up all the things I love…lounging around, drinking wine, eating whatever I feel like…Is it really worth it?
While we are free to eat and drink whatever we like, is that real freedom if the choice leads to poor health? If we suffer from high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, being overweight, unable to go hiking or up large flights of stairs, are we really free to fully experience life?
Limiting what we eat and what we consume leads to more freedom, not less. By putting reasonable and science-based limits on my diet, I get the benefit of maximum mobility, good sleep, healthy blood chemistry, good hormone health, self-confidence, and countless other benefits. I save money and I have less stress.
The idea of “get it now” drives us to fast food and other ridiculous choices if we consider the long-term cost. If I feel deprived by not consuming a certain food or drink, that feeling is my choice. I am free to live in poor health or good health.
The cost of making poor choices (short-term “freedoms”) is long-term deprivation of good health and all the associated benefits. The problem with “get it now” is that it quickly becomes a habit. Our brains want the quick fix; the lizard brain must be caged.
It is frustrating that good habits seem to be harder to form than bad habits. However, I am encouraged by every time I make a good choice. All those little choices add up and are interest in my good-health account. Every day, in every little way, I’m getting healthier and stronger.
Anne Ivans Home and Family 