I’ve had an epiphany about healthy living. It’s not new but it’s new to me. And as my good friend B always says of me: “If you haven’t heard of it, it doesn’t exist.” Well. Anyway.
My realization is this: It is ridiculously easy to follow a healthy lifestyle from the comfort of your own home. All you have to do is keep temptation out of your way by banishing it from a 20-mile radius of your house. In my temptation-less temple – my wheat, dairy, alcohol, salt, sugar, yeast-free temple – I never struggle with cravings or niggling obsessions about certain foods (peanut butter and syrup anyone?). My fridge is stocked with only that which brings health and harmony to my body and mind. Out of sight, out of mind as they say. It is a happy co (poly?)-existence, my vegetables, five fruits, proteins, monounsaturated fats and I.
The trouble begins when you step out your front door. Or at least engage with other people. They don’t like to see you doing what they wish they could, and will do anything to bring you down.
My advice? As you have to leave home at some point, you just have to learn to exercise restraint, which, I have come to discover, is like a muscle. The more you practise it, the stronger it gets.
Allow me to illustrate. I went to a party the other night. It was my first adult (read, alcohol on offer) party since starting my cleanse. It was tough initially: declining a glass of wine; the snacks tray; the breadbasket, the dessert page… But, as with any craving, the urge passes in a matter of seconds. It really does. (It’s just habit that usually propels you to succumb).
As I venture out more, the resistance muscle is becoming more toned and sculpted.
Moral of the story is: You can have a social life and live a healthy lifestyle.
Practice makes perfect.
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