I’ve been working on a few ideas about #inmodification vs #inmoderation in my head. I really think it’s one key to why diet programs/theories work for some but also fail for others, why we don’t all (maybe even most of us don’t) fit into the same box and why we need to be our own private investigator into what works best for us.
Changing habits takes hard work. Some people might look at me and think “wow she eats so healthy, she’s got more will power than me.” However, the truth is if my body didn’t start fighting against itself I don’t know if I would have taken such a giant leap. I’ve always been interested in health and wellness but like most people, investing a bunch of time into discovering what actually works for my body may not have been a priority.
I’ve heard people say that certain WOE (ways of eating) aren’t sustainable. But I actually disagree. It is sustainable if 1. the quality of your life depends on it and 2. if other people didn’t assume it was so weird. Because really the Standard American Diet (SAD) is what’s not sustainable for most people’s body longer term. And listen there are all shades of gray in there too. And here’s when we get to this notion of everything in moderation. It’s really a dated concept similar to “a calorie in = a calorie out.”
I can’t eat certain foods anymore because if I do it aggravates my autoimmune disease. Is the science specifically clear on why say, gluten does this for ~80% of people like me? Not exactly (theories on protein mimics, gut health, inflammation, etc. are being explored). But until then here’s what I DO know. If I eat just a little bit my stomach bloats – BAD. It hurts. If I start to eat it consistently, I break out in hives. Nightshades are another culprit. Same bloated reaction. Occasionally I eat nightshades, and I’m consistently miserable for the next few days. Corn is another. It mimics the protein in gluten and therefore probably causes a similar reaction in me. What’s my point? I can’t tolerate these seemingly healthy foods even in moderation. I actually had to make modifications to my diet to feel the healthiest version of me that I can.
And it’s not just for us lucky ones with autoimmune issues. I believe that as we age and our hormones shift so do our requirements for nutrition. It’s not about metabolism as much as it is about hormones. So maybe the foods that we consumed in bountiful amounts before will cause inflammation (bloat) now. This inflammation in turn makes us feel not so great, not as vibrant or strong or healthy as we deserve to feel. I know when I feel extra bloated, I also feel less patient, less focused and more tired. And of course I do because everything in your body is interconnected. So maybe if we can start to accept that our brains, guts, and all the systems in our body actually support and communicate with each other we can start to appreciate that what we eat matters.
And this is why I find so many people struggling with set products and diet plans, they actually need support figuring out what modifications are needed rather than just trying to fit into a set plan. The diet plans out there might be able to support your healthy lifestyle (if that’s what you’re looking for) but if you don’t also make the individualized modifications first you’ll stall or never even start to see improvements.
The future of health is much more individualized. But you don’t need to wait for that. If you’re not feeling well you can play detective yourself. You can work to remove some of the major inflammation culprits for your WOE for a solid 30 days, observe how you feel throughout and at the end. After at least 30 days add each food group back in and see if you still feel good or if you start to increase the inflammation again. If you do, that might be a trigger food for you. Do note, I’ve worked with some clients that needed more than 30 days at times 60+.
AND NONE OF THIS IS EASY! And you’ll never be perfect at it. BUT the closer I stick with what works for my body the BETTER I feel. And the more CONSISTENT I feel. And really that’s what makes it all worth it.
Bottom line, if we spend less time comparing ourselves to others success or failures, let go of the judgement or feelings of guilt and turn inwards to pay attention to our own body and mind we’ll learn much more about what we actually need.
#modificationovermoderation #bioindividuality #nutrientdense #youdeservehealth