Listen to Your Body for a Tailor-made Diet

Get in my belly!

Diet fads come and go, but as we all know, weight loss comes down to eating less and/or exercising more so that your daily net calorie intake (calories consumed less calories burned) is less than zero. However, is depriving yourself of food, especially certain foods, the healthiest way to live?

I certainly don’t think so. If you are a mentally healthy person (big IF), I believe that the best and healthiest way to take care of one’s body is to listen to it. Every body is built differently, and each body adjusts to maintain itself at optimal condition.

Depending on what I am doing, what environment I am in, and even who I am with, my body adjusts accordingly (think temperature control).  In order to do this, the body takes various foods as fuel to do different things — replenish energy, rebuild cells, or fight off sicknesses.

So, when I crave a certain type of food, I believe it’s because my body is looking for certain nutrients in it.  Whether it’s spaghetti, steak, or just a glass of orange juice, I stick to this rationale and try to feed it!  (And yes, there’s a part of this where it’s my excuse to eat random stuff, but still!)

And no, I’m not referring to the fact I just saw a hamburger ad and I’m craving it now.  Think of it like how pregnant ladies “crave” certain foods — they and their respective fetuses (feti? fetium?) need it. I think the signals are inherit in all of us.

But the real trick goes beyond what we eat, but when and how. I can’t just stuff myself silly because I had an inkling for pancakes. Basically, eat when you’re hungry, not always when it’s time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner…or if you’re bored, happy, or sad. Then stop eating when you feel full.  Seriously, put that fork down and pack away those leftovers.

Your body is awesome. It’s communicating with you. If you listened more closely, it’s giving you the map to hotness.