It’s not about being skinny.

I’ve read a few different articles recently about how life and health isn’t about being skinny.  And they’re right it isn’t.

I spent most of my years between childhood and early adulthood believing that if I was skinny, I’d be healthy-I’d be happy-I’d feel better-I’d have more energy-I’d…but it isn’t about being skinny at all.

It’s about being well.  Consequently (and hallelujah!), the side effect of being well (eating whole foods, drinking lots of water, getting enough sleep, exercise and fresh air) is…wait for it…getting skinny.  Whoa!  Amazing isn’t it, that you can feel better, be better, be happier, healthier and Skinnier just by choosing to live well and eat well?

We’ve had it backwards and wrong all along here–we’ve been sold a big bill of goods about what being healthy actually means and how to actually attain it.  Being skinny isn’t the goal-it’s a side effect of giving your body what it needs.  So go ahead, feel free to stop counting calories, fat grams and carbs.  Feel free to adopt a whole food lifestyle and eat whatever you want in moderation.  Feel free.  Because it isn’t about being skinny.
~Adopting more whole foods doesn’t have to be hard–look for recipes that include less processed ingredients, avoid those recipes that are filled with highly processed items, substitute processed items for whole food items wherever you can (like real whipped cream for Cool Whip)…whole is ALWAYS better, regardless of the fat content. Period.

Here’s an afternoon pick me up, when you need a little filler…

Peanut Butter Protein Balls (recipe adapted from the Diva Dish)
1/2 cup each walnuts and almonds
1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey or a combo
1/3 cup Peanut butter or Almond Butter
1/2 cup medium unsweetened shredded coconut (plus more for rolling)
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
2-3 tbsp chocolate chips

In your food processor chop nuts until they are chunky crumbs.  Add dates and process until combined.  Add peanut butter, maple syrup and chocolate chips and process until combined–stop and stir if you need to.  Then add oats and coconut and pulse until well combined.  Using the extra coconut, roll tablespoon sizes of mixture into the shape you like (balls or rolls or cats or trees…whatever :).  Freeze or refridgerate.  That’s it!