Coffee Break

 
Happy September! As much as I love three-day weekends (thanks Labor Day and all of your BBQs!), the first day back sometimes feels like a bit of a struggle. Somehow, I often feel even less motivated to get back in the swing of everyday life than I do on regular Monday mornings…

I can’t be the only one, right??

So I decided to ease into the week with a Coffee Break post! Imagine you and I are sitting across from each other at a coffee shop, sipping iced coffee or tea (or maybe even pumpkin spice lattes — is it too soon for those?), and catching up on life.

And if you were sitting at the table with me, I’d open up my heart, be a little vulnerable, and share these thoughts I’ve rarely told anyone outside of my family.

They’ve been on my heart and mind a lot more recently. It almost feels as if these thoughts want to come out of hibernation… As if I’ve known them all along… Yet ended up shoving them aside into the deep corners of my mind as I learned more about nutrition, “whole” foods, “clean eating,” and other popular diets.

And somehow… I’m guessing that I’m not the only one who could use a reminder. A little something in my heart and soul whispered that maybe, just maybe, other people might appreciate a reminder too.
 

 
YOU ARE MORE THAN WHAT YOU EAT
Being in the “healthy” sphere, I hear this a lot. “You are what you eat.” Have you heard it too? I’m sure most people who say this mean it as encouragement to eat more nutrient-packed food.

And yet…

How often do we take it to heart? “You are what you eat.” If you eat dessert… If you eat candy… If you eat ‘junk’ food… If you eat cake, ice cream, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, anything with refined flour or sugar or butter or eggs…

How often do you feel guilty afterwards? Or like you have to burn it off? How often does your self worth become tied to this one little phrase, “You are what you eat?”

It’s not true. You are MORE THAN what you eat. You are MORE THAN the food you put in your body. You are MORE THAN the calories, macros, carbs, fats, proteins, sugars, and nutrients you consume. You are MORE THAN your body, your appearance, and what you see in the mirror.

Your worth isn’t tied to what you eat, regardless of whether those foods are healthy. Your worth isn’t tied to how you look, regardless of whether that’s strong and lean or soft and plump or anything in between.

You are a unique, beautiful, smart, funny, caring, lovable, undeniably worthy soul. You are SO much more than what you eat. And the world needs you, exactly as you are.
 

 
YOU’RE ALLOWED TO HAVE YOUR OWN DEFINITION OF HEALTHY.
People seem to argue about this all the time. What does it actually mean… To eat, live, and be healthy? What does “healthy” look like? Taste like? Feel like?

With a business called “Amy’s Healthy Baking,” I get lots of comments about my recipes… And some of them are angry, rude, or condescending.

Those people think my “healthy” ingredient choices are questionable at best… That my recipes are going to cause obesity and cancer… That I’m a total fraud for sharing treats that could kill them.

A little melodramatic? Probably.

But they’re still entitled to their opinion.

Because everybody is different. Every BODY is different. Therefore… “Healthy” is going to look, taste, and feel different to everybody and every body.

And that’s okay.

That’s normal.

To me, healthy looks, tastes, and feels like balance. Like wholeness. Not in the sense of whole foods… But in feeling whole and complete. Taking care of my mind, body, and soul.

To me, healthy foods will always include chocolate and cookies, along with carrots and celery. Pizza and pumpkin pie, along with pineapple and peaches. Muffins and scones, along with mixed greens and spinach.

Those foods all look, taste, and feel like balance to me. Like wholeness and completeness. Like I’m equally nourishing my body, mind, and soul.

You might have a different definition of healthy. And that’s okay. You are different than me. Your BODY is different than mine. And that’s amazing.

I hope you have your own definition of healthy. I hope you stick with it, even when other people try to convince you otherwise. I hope you always feel whole and complete, and I hope you love the healthy life you choose to live.
 

 
IF “HEALTHY” FEELS RESTRICTIVE, THEN YOU’RE PROBABLY DOING IT WRONG.
If eating healthy feels restrictive, then you’re probably doing it wrong.

Does that sound crazy to you? Did your mind and body just tense up, ready to argue?

Or did your mind and body just relax in a feeling of relief?

Here’s the thing…

‘Healthy’ actually comes from an Old English word, hælþ, which means wholeness. Not wholeness, as in whole foods… But wholeness, as in feeling whole. Complete. United. One.

How often do we feel torn in two, trying to eat what other people say is “healthy” but isn’t what our bodies actually crave? How often do we judge and berate ourselves for the food choices we make, feeling guilty about eating carrot cake instead of carrot sticks or sugar cookies instead of salads? How often do we emotionally tear ourselves apart, all in the name of eating “healthy?”

How often do we actually feel whole and complete?

I truly believe that everybody is allowed to have their own definition of healthy…

But I also think that, at the root of it, being healthy really consists of feeling whole. Feeling cared for. Feeling at peace.

To me, it means taking care of my body, mind, and soul… Not just putting “healthy” foods in my body.

And as soon as a “healthy” diet feels restrictive, it means I’m focusing only on the food… And ignoring my mind and soul. There might be lots of nutrients for my body in those “healthy” foods, but if I’m never giving my mind and soul the nutrients they need… Is that really healthy, to eat those “healthy” foods and nothing else?

In my eyes… No.

You’re allowed to have your own definition of healthy. You’re allowed to eat whatever foods feel best to your body.

But I also hope that you remember that some other foods nourish your mind and soul… And enjoying those foods will always be healthy, too.
 

 
YOUR WORTH ISN’T MEASURED IN POUNDS, INCHES, OR DRESS SIZES.
Do you like the person you see in the mirror? Or do you mentally criticize yourself whenever you see your reflection?

Do you smile at the face and body staring back at you? Or do you focus on its flaws, pointing out every one and tearing yourself apart?

How often do you think…

If I could lose 10 pounds, then I’d finally be beautiful?
If I could get rid of this acne, then I’d finally feel confident?
If I could fit into this dress, then I could finally love myself?

If… If… If…

So many of us, myself included, tend to beat ourselves up. Tear ourselves down. Rip ourselves to pieces. All because we don’t feel worthy or “enough.”

Our bodies and looks are often the biggest reasons… But we also judge ourselves for not being enough when it comes to our workouts, our diets, our careers, our incomes, our houses, our marriages, our families, our parenting… And more.

How often do you let your appearance dictate your worth? How often do you let other people’s perceptions of you determine how good enough you feel?

What will it take to finally feel worthy… To finally feel good enough?

Here’s the thing…

You’re already worthy. You’re already good enough.

Exactly as you are, right this very moment…

You. Are. Enough.

Your worth isn’t defined by the number on the scale, the number of inches around your waist, or your dress size.

None of those — not a single one — dictate whether you’re worthy or good enough.

Because…

You already are. You’re a beautiful, kind, loving, smart, successful, and absolutely amazing human being. Your worth radiates from the soul inside of you, and it burns as brightly as the sun.

Your worth isn’t determined by any outside factors… the way your body looks… or how other people see you.

Your worth — your true worth — comes from inside. It comes from your heart and soul. It always exists, even when you don’t feel it or see it. It’s always there, even when you’ve turned away or forgotten.

Even when you feel lost, afraid, ugly, or so alone…

You are still good enough.

You are incredible, beautiful, and unfathomably worthy. Exactly as you are. Right here. Right now.

And I hope you let yourself feel your true worth glowing so brightly inside of you.