The Thrill is Gone

You can’t always get what you want

But if you try sometime, you just might find

You get what you need.

Song by the Rolling Stones

Hello again! It’s been awhile, but I’m happy to report that my “Dry January Challenge” game is still strong! Today marks 24 days without even a taste of alcohol, and no I haven’t killed anyone or questioned my own survival. But I have to honestly say the energy and excitement I had about all of this in the beginning has basically lost it’s luster. As the final weekend of this challenge has arrived, here is my current insight & attitude.

First of all, shout out to me for not caving in and for sticking to my goal! Yeah me! Second, sorry about that, but sometimes we need to self-praise, especially when we start to feel the doubt. This past week, I couldn’t help but to compare the idea of this challenge with the many typical fad “diets” that many people subject themselves to for whatever reason. As I mentioned in my debut blog post https://kellyjobrownfit.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/dry-january-hit-the-road-jack/ I typically eat healthy, balanced meals mostly prepared by me, and I have always been quite active throughout my life. Therefore, I’ve never found a need to “diet” or otherwise completely eliminate certain foods that I actually enjoy (unless they don’t agree with my digestive system). Oh, and I also mentioned that I really like beer… and wine… and margaritas.

For some people with certain medical conditions or food intolerances, certain dietary restrictions are vital to their wellbeing. Unfortunately, due to all the hoopla about things like gluten and carbs, not to mention total daily calories in general, many people feel they have to eliminate or drastically reduce so many foods or food groups simply because they’ve been duped into thinking that by doing so they will achieve their weight loss goals and be a happier person. Such drastic measures can affect your overall wellbeing in so many ways (including physical, emotional, social, & spiritual). I’ve sadly seen this often enough in the past 16 years as a personal trainer. I’ve had clients ask me about certain fad diets & my answer has always been the same – Stick to what nourishes you, slow down & enjoy what you like to eat or drink in moderation while staying as active as possible. Although it’s very important to be “mindful” about what you eat, your relationship with food shouldn’t suck. Guilt and sadness that could result from such heavy restrictions and deprivations will eventually do more harm than good, no matter what the scale tells you. A healthy mindset mixed with realistic dietary “guidelines” (including the foods you love, at least in moderation) that you can actually follow and enjoy for the long term is what I would consider a “healthy diet”.

So what does all that have to do with my Dry January Challenge? It feels like a crappy diet!

Tune in next week to hopefully find me in better “spirits”! Cheers to another weekend!