Designing a Diet to Fuel Your Ideal Life and Optimal Health
In the first two blogs of this series, I shared how I created my healthy lifestyle looking at three components of health including exercise, diet and sleep. By visualizing my ideal exercise experience and then bringing it to life, my health has been transformed. This process has helped me set clear intentions and stay motivated. I shared how I incorporated new exercises to target specific areas, such as my glutes, and how my commitment to fitness not only benefits me but also sets a positive example for my team.
Today, we delve into another critical component of health: diet. My process around food and diet is very similar to exercise including visualization, assessing my body and thinking about how my diet plays a key role in my health all leading to a better ability to manage, lead and develop high performance teams.
Cooking and enjoying healthy meals have become a cornerstone of my routine. I love to cook! In fact, I remember as a child watching both grandmothers and my own mother come to life in their kitchens. I knew then that I wanted what they had. By cooking delicious meals and the most amazing treats, these powerful, high performing women inspired and led their families by providing nourishment and connection around the kitchen and kitchen table.
I cook most every night and recently, I incorporated a meal delivery service into my cooking to keep things interesting. I started visualizing that I wanted a new and exciting way to prepare meals and add a bit of interest in the kitchen. These meals are not only delicious but also provide the nutrients my body needs to stay strong and energized. The act of cooking itself has become a form of mindfulness for me, a way to unwind after a busy day and connect with the food I’m eating. Visualizing the joy of preparing and savoring these meals has made healthy eating an enjoyable part of my life. Just like my family matriarchy, I too provide delicious, healthy food for myself, and I find that my kitchen attracts friends and my beautiful partner who keep coming back to join me in communion over food.
In addition to these wholesome dinners, I make it a point to choose fruits as my go-to snacks. Blueberries and cherries have become my favorites, offering a sweet and satisfying alternative to candy or other unhealthy options. This time of year, I’m particularly excited about Rainier cherries. They are precious, and their rich flavor and high antioxidant content make them a worthy indulgence. For the few weeks they’re available each year, I treat myself to this natural delight, knowing that I’m nourishing my body with something truly special.
Let me be clear, I have had struggles around snacking. I have gone to war with sugar. The choice between a handful of cherries and a bag of Skittles was at times very difficult. Both options provide a quick burst of energy, but the long-term effects are vastly different. Cherries offer antioxidants, vitamins, and natural sugars, fueling my body in a sustainable way. Skittles, on the other hand, offer empty calories and a sugar crash. I spent a LOT of time using visualizations and affirmations for health and to assist me in DESIRING a fruit snack over a sugar snack. Personal affirmations were an important tool for me to shift my preferences and habits.
This choice mirrors the decisions we make daily in our professional lives: opting for quick fixes versus long-term benefits. By choosing cherries, I’m committing to nourishing my body, maintaining steady energy levels, and setting a precedent for making mindful, health-conscious decisions. Again, just like the added push-ups that I’ve included in my fitness routine, the cherry choice brings a lot of satisfaction over time.
Visualization has also played a key role in my approach to meal planning. I imagine the satisfaction of cooking a healthy breakfast, preparing my lunches, and packing nutritious snacks. This mental rehearsal ensures that I’m ready for the day and not tempted by fast food when hunger strikes. By picturing the vibrant colors of my meals and the energy they will give me, I stay motivated to make healthy choices consistently. This practice has helped me build a routine that supports my health goals, even during the busiest times.
Reflecting on my leadership experiences, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to set a positive example when it comes to diet. While leading my sales team at a top media and event company, we hosted 60,000 people in Las Vegas twice a year. During these intense periods, it was tempting to skip meals in favor of closing deals. However, I made a conscious effort to prioritize eating breakfast and taking lunch breaks. By doing so, I demonstrated to my team the importance of fueling our bodies, even when time was tight. In fact, I would pull my top sales team with me for lunch to show the entire team that everyone can take a moment for lunch. I wanted to show that their health came first.
This approach paid off. By ensuring we all took the time to eat well, we were more energized and effective in the afternoons, just when we needed to be at our best to negotiate and secure commitments from suppliers. My team noticed the difference that good nutrition made, not just in their physical energy levels, but also in their mental clarity and overall performance. Leading by example in this way reinforced the value of a balanced diet and the importance of taking breaks to refuel.
In summary, diet is a crucial element of achieving and maintaining optimal health. By integrating healthy eating habits into my daily routine, I’ve found joy in cooking, discovered delicious and nutritious snacks, and visualized a lifestyle that supports my goals. This commitment to good nutrition has not only benefited me personally but also strengthened my leadership and inspired those around me.
I have created a TAKE 5 Affirmation and Relaxation experience to help you on your journey with eating well and healthful choices. You can listen to it here.
As we continue this journey towards better health, remember that the food we choose to fuel our bodies is just as important as the exercises we perform and the goals we visualize. I look forward to sharing more on prioritizing rest in our last blog in this series on health. Like this blog and our content? Please consider becoming a member and sharing it with others. www.greenerthumbs.org. Here’s to Growing Greatness.
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