Today’s post is a link up with me and Jax over at Raviolis & Waterworks. We email and talk almost every day and this topic came up so we decided to write about it, as we both don’t like the term “diet.” Her post today is about how she lives a healthy lifestyle, without going on diets.
I have long been a proponent of healthy eating as a lifestyle rather than fad and binge dieting to be healthy. Now, I know a lot of you ladies, and some of you gents out there, are dieting right now. I am not judging. I am just saying that to me it makes far more sense to always eat well, than to constantly be eating the latest “thing” or “lite” food.
Every weekday morning I have 8 oz. of vanilla natural yogurt with flax seed. For lunch I have the only processed food I ingest: a Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones meal with a piece of fruit. Now, I wouldn’t recommend this. This is sheer laziness on my part. But I’m all about honesty, and this is how I honestly eat. For dinner I eat a small portion of protein, a starch, and a vegetable. My entire diet besides weekday lunches consists of whole foods made from scratch, and it’s the only way I could ever eat. I shop at local farmer’s markets for produce, and get hormone free meats from local grocers.
Women at work often comment about which diet they are currently on and I just can’t relate. The other morning we were out to breakfast for a co-worker’s birthday and I had a scone and a half grapefruit. I was asked, “What diet are you doing?” I responded, “I don’t diet. I eat healthy on a regular basis and then if I occasionally want a burger or ice cream, I have some.”
I exercise an hour a day four days a week. Two days of cardio and two days of weights. I also walk around the park near my work three days a week which is about 1.5 miles. I park about ½ mile from work to get in that extra mile every day.
Our nation is the only nation with lite food, diet foods, gyms all over, etc. and we’re the least healthy. My only goal in life is to be healthy and live to a ripe old age. But my intentions aren’t all that pure. I want to live to be really old so that all of the weird stuff I already do will be regarded with a, “But Melanie can do that, ‘cause she’s 80.” Some day I'm going to be eccentric rather than weird, and I look forward to that day very much.
Happy picture of the day: A 1968 Charger. My dream car. I will own this one day I will.
Ohh, mines a 1967 Impala!! lol The body is the same as a 1968, but the engine is different! Vroom Vroom...
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! I love that we linked up and we should totally do it again. This has been so fun.
You made a great point...US is full of all these options to lead a healthy lifestyle, but very few utilize them. I don't get it!
Is the '67 the one in Supernatural? If so, I love that car.
ReplyDeleteWe should do it once a month or something. That would be keen.
I would argue that they aren't healthy options at all is the thing. Other countries just eat smaller portions and less processed foods. They don't eat lite and go to the gym every day, and they live way longer and are in far better health. We're doing it wrong.
When I went to Germany where there is a lot of cheese and breading, I was the only larger person I saw my age. There's something to that.
Just came over from Jax's place, so HI!
ReplyDeleteSo, that 68 Charger...my neighbor has one that looks exactly like it and he is the original owner. Love that car!! You have very fine taste!
Thanks for coming over Melanie! *hearty wave*
ReplyDeleteYou have a great name by the way.
The original owner? I should come over and make nice with them so they leave it to me in their will! :)
He fires it up every weekend. And he's getting old. Just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteI can totally pull an Anna Nicole and get that car! A few bj's with a gray fox is worth it. Okay, not really, but I want that car.
ReplyDeleteMy dream car is a '68 Camaro. BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteI like the '69 Camaro. I'd totally take one if someone gave it to me.
ReplyDeleteConsistent exercise is my problem. I eat as healthy as I can - and I'm learning how to garden so I can eat my own produce. But in terms of the moving? Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI'll be all gung-ho for a week...maybe three and then something comes up...rain, period, bad mood and so I blow off the daily routine and then I find it nearly impossible to get back into it. So a few weeks will drift by and then I'll feel all out of sorts and BAM back to the exercise.
I did much better when I had a buddy who would walk with me daily. Because I guess I need supervision. :)
As for a dream car...A Delorean or an AstroVan or a 60s VW Love Van with cheesy but totally psychedelic curtains.
I am not positive but I'm sure I'm quite a bit older than you Heather. You'll notice as you get older you have to exercise. Just eating healthy is no longer enough. If I didn't exercise I'd consistently gain weight, and while I'm not trying to lose, I most certainly will not accept gaining.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Unicorn lost 90 pounds and wants to lose 40 more, so hopefully by being with him a bit I'll take a few more pounds off. I would love to be under 200 pounds, I just don't care enough to starve myself to do it.
I wouldn't mind an Econoline the likes of the Mystery Machine if someone wanted to hand it over. I love those vans!
1976. You?
ReplyDeleteHardcore since '74, just like Hustler! Haha.
ReplyDeleteWhy did I think you were in your late 20s? 'Cause I'm an idiot? Oh yeah, that's it.
No. It's probably because I am completely immature. Really.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm totally convinced that most people are shocked when they realize my blog isn't written by a 13 year old. So I can relate.
ReplyDeleteI got a comment that I sound "Old" when I write. LOL.
ReplyDeleteThat's a damn nice car!
I feel the same way about diets
You do not sound old. That person was a nincompoop (something an old person would say).
ReplyDeleteIsn't it.
Yeah, diets are weird. I've been on my share of them.
I definitely don't pay enough attention to what I eat and how much I exercise, but I'm a staunch anti-diet person. I prefer to enjoy life rather than obsessing about every morsel that passes my lips. I may not be the fittest person in the world, but I'm definitely on the higher end of the scale of the happiest.
ReplyDeleteKellie,
ReplyDeleteThat's all that matters. If you're happy I say keep doing whatever it is you're doing that makes you happy.
I am a heavy gal who isn't having kids so I do what I can so later in life I can be self sufficient.
Yesss, it's totally the supernatural car and totally the reason why I want to rock it so bad!! hahahaha
ReplyDeleteYes, I have to say the same thing about Greece. There is something about fresh food and very little access to processed/fast foods.
I am going to Greece. Well, in three years, but still. Almost in two years actually. This birthday is New Orleans, next is New York, and the 40th is Greece.
ReplyDeleteI KNEW that was why about the car. I will take it if Dean comes with it. *sigh*
Oh, and go ahead and write down, "Spend the day with Melanie" somewhere in your calendar October of 2013. :)
I love older cars! I totally agree with you about eating healthy. My son thinks I am crazy because I have resistance bands tied across the top of my bed posts. I pull them every chance I get.
ReplyDeleteEvery little bit helps. Of course, I went a little crazy this winter eating and being lazy...
I am a super healthy eater as well. I am taking a class right now with my health guru on super foods and phytoenzymes.
ReplyDeleteI no longer eat so much for what tastes good as much as I eat for what makes me FEEL good.
Like your car.
@Crack,
ReplyDeletethat is funny about the bands. And you have to let loose sometimes. Last time I was at Unicorn's house I pigged out. And this Saturday for his bday dinner I will again. Then I'll make up for it by eating light the rest of the week. :)
@Not,
I still eat what tastes good, it's just that my tastes have changed. I like the class on superfoods. The friend I stay with in Santa Cruz is a nutritionist so we talk about nutrition and what I should be eating a lot when I'm there.
Amen, Melanie. Couldn't have said it better myself. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete-Barb the French Bean
Oh, I know for a fact you COULD have said it better. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Barb!