THIS DID IT
September 8, 2011 While browsing what was new on Netflix streaming the other day, we came across Forks Over Knives. I'm all for documentaries, so we pressed play. Within a few minutes of watching I had a feeling this was going to change everything. It did. So often, and I mean way too often, I've told myself I'm going to start eating healthier. That I want more energy, want to get fit, the list goes on. I've never really gone on any "diets" because that's not the route I want to take. What I want/need is a lifestyle change (it's just easier to deny it though, isn't it?). This film hit the right nerve in both myself and my husband to get us to change. I've seen family members and friends, that are my age, get diagnosed with cancer and other related diseases. I've seen them go through the harshest treatments and even pass away. I've heard them get told, by doctors, to just get on chemo and rest it out.
Without making this a crazy long post, the problem is this: We eat horrible food (that shouldn't even be called food), drink milk because we've been told to do so for a healthy body (what other animal drinks the milk of another animal?), eat meat because we think it's jam-packed with protein that we're told we need, again, the list goes on. So, we consume all this and then wonder why we're all getting sick, feeling tired all the time, having this and that problem with our health?
The answer (which I think we all know deep down inside) is so simple that it's ridiculous. Eat a plant-based, whole food diet. Basically, eat the stuff you know is good for you that came from the ground, not a factory line. When something like this has been researched & scientifically proven (scientifically proven!!!) to prevent and most often reverse diseases, how you can you turn your head and say, "Nah, I'm just going to eat what I want. You only live once!"? I'm guilty of saying that exact phrase every time I've put carne asada, a bag of flammin' hot cheetos, beef taquitos, juicy burgers to my mouth.
So, why change? Easy. I don't want to end up in the hospital. I don't want to stumble through bottles of pills because a doctor tells me that that's the only solution out of my illness. I don't want to put my husband or family through the pain of seeing me sick. I don't even want to have that illness to begin with. And, as cheesy as it sounds, I want the food that I eat to help me live longer. If I can do one thing in life that would make me proud, it would be to take control over my own body and not give into the processed meat and dairy that society has told me (through endless commericals and ads) that I'm supposed to eat.
As you can see, this film slapped me in the face. Thankfully, it also slapped my husband in the face (ha, that sounds funny) and now we both have each other to support as we go through the actions of changing the way we eat. I'm sure I'm going to be tested, and that this is going to prove to be quite challenging, but it has to be done. It is reassuring to know that these changes are going to make us feel better, healthier, give us more energy, give us better poops (so I've heard), and arm us with the best possible way to raise our children (when that day comes). This is so unlike any blog post I've written, but I felt it was something I had to share. As if you need me to say that I recommend that you watch this film, just watch it!
Reader Comments (2)
Love it. Whole foods is the answer. My rule is that I try to "open" only one of the things I eat per day (ie nothing packaged). That eliminates a LOT of crap.
I'm not familiar with the documentary you posted, but I CrossFit for exercise and they subscribe to a Paleo (or caveman) diet that is based on what humans ate before agriculture took over. Basically lots of vegetables, meat, some nuts and fruit. Not a ton (if any!) dairy or grain.
I hope you'll follow up on this post in the future. Can't wait to read about your new journey.
Ooo, I'm going to have to adopt that "opening one thing per day" rule! I'll definitely do my best to follow up with my journey on the blog. I think it will be fun to see who else out there might be going through the same thing, or can share some advise - I'm sure I'll need it! Thanks!