Picture this: It’s the holidays. Lots of family gatherings. Lots of good food. Lots of fun. AND lots of mac and cheese.
If you’re familiar with any Caribbean household, then you know that someone is bound to mac and cheese for a family gathering. I’m not talking about box mac and cheese. I’m talking about the mac and cheese casserole with the pasta, spices, red bell peppers, might even have some onions and real, gooey cheese…..I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
However, as much as I love mac and cheese, I have finally come to the conclusion that cheese doesn’t love me. Matter of fact, dairy doesn’t love me, it doesn’t even like me. It’s a lopsided relationship. When I consume dairy, I pay for it for days. Ask my husband. Ask my kids. I was in denial for a while. But I have finally come to terms with the fact that I am indeed lactose intolerant. When I eat dairy, I get bloated, gassy, crampy and it even changes my mood for a couple days (gut-brain axis). It’s not fun. I have finally decided that all that pain and discomfort is not worth it.
So during that family gathering, I looked at that delicious pan of mac and cheese and said “no”. I walked away. But by saying ‘no’, I was saying ‘yes’ to my gut health.
What do I mean? Whenever we say “no” to something, we are saying yes to something else. When you lose something, you gain something else. It’s quite the paradox but we see this everywhere. When we say no to one job or career, we are saying yes to something else. When we say no to picking up extra shifts/hours at work, we are saying yes to our family and no to burnout. So what if we were to apply this concept to our health?
Many times, when we are considering the foods, habits or behaviors that we have to change our health journey, we see it as deprivation or a huge loss. But what if we were to change our outlook to really examine what we would be gaining? When I wake up early to work out, I may be losing a few minutes of sleep, but I am gaining a stronger body and practicing discipline. When I say ‘no’ to staying out late and perhaps drinking with friends or co-workers, I am saying ‘yes’ to a restful night’s sleep and a headache free morning. When I say ‘no’ to processed foods and sugar, I am saying yes to good health and overall energized state (am I the only one that feels really sluggish after eating fast food?).
So now what? Now that I am saying yes to gut health, I may (read “will”) have to say “no” to other things…like fries…and coffee. I think I’ll save the coffee for last. Fries, you’re up next!
Easy? No.
Worth it? Definitely.
I like this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else”.
So…..how about you? What are you going to say “yes” to? What are you willing to lose in order to gain something better..for your health…for your family…for your peace of mind…for God…for your life?
– Coach BelJo
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