You Don’t Know How Good You Feel Until You Don’t
Living at the beach means we get to see a lot of friends and family members we probably wouldn’t see otherwise. It’s always a lot of fun and I enjoy having cookouts at our house and feeding everyone. It brings me a lot of joy to see them laughing, sharing a meal and having a good time.
There’s just one challenge. How can I be a good hostess, accommodate everyone’s taste in food and stay true to my own eating habits that I’ve worked to develop over the years. Well, I didn’t. ☹ When the family rolls in, especially the kids, all my good habits go by the wayside and I’m the first person in line at the Boulineau’s Bakery to grab a dozen chocolate covered Bavarian crème filled doughnuts. And I use the kids as an excuse.
Honestly, I wasn’t surprised I ate differently. Knowing something isn’t good for me doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy it, especially if I can justify my reasoning. But what really surprised me is how quickly my body reacted to it. My body was screaming, “What did you do to me?!” My stomach felt like I had swallowed a cannon ball. I was sluggish and tired, my energy was low and I was foggy. And I knew why. In the past, I would have assumed I was tired from overdoing it. I would have assumed that was simply what getting older felt like. Today I realized it wasn’t. I don’t know whether the foods affected me more this time or whether I simply notice the difference now. What I do know is that I have something to compare to that I missed in the past.
This is why I believe so strongly in building a solid foundation first that includes healthy food, restful sleep and exercise. One of the biggest surprises wasn’t how quickly I felt sluggish after a few days of eating differently. It was how quickly I felt like myself again once I returned to the habits my body had come to expect. It occurred to me that my body wasn’t punishing me. It was communicating with me, and after many years, I’ve finally learned to listen.
Oddly enough, that may have been the healthiest thing I learned all weekend. Healthy habits don’t change how we feel today. Over time, they become our body’s new normal. And maybe that’s one of the greatest rewards of building a strong foundation.
If you would like to understand why I think so much of health begins with a solid foundation, you may enjoy reading Before You Chase the Next Big Thing. This is where I explain the three levels that have helped me make sense of the overwhelming world of longevity.
— Jamie Harrington
Curious explorer of living well in the second half of life
