Awareness. It makes sense to start with this point because if we aren’t actually aware of catching ourselves self-sabotaging, we can’t make the steps to change.

Simply start to be aware of thoughts and feelings that crop up with your food. Write them down.

Take a step back from labelling yourself as a ‘good or bad’ person for eating foods. Each food has different nutritional value and information which holds no merit on who we are as a person. Removing the labelling removes our attachment to our food.

The same applies to labelling food. Labelling “this food is good, bad, ugly, clean” ignites a state of self-abnegation (self-denying) which only promotes insidious (harmful) outcomes. Practice looking at food as food and not as something you need to justify.

Notice body sensations. The body is incredibly smart and can drop us a DM (direct message) at any time to tell us how we’re doing. “Josh, I feel brain foggy after that meal.” “Josh, that meal was just the right amount for me, nice one!”

Listen to your internal cues to learn how YOU feel with certain foods.

Remember you are a human, not a robot. We have days where we are more voracious (could eat everything) and that’s cool. One day of indulgence doesn’t make an unhealthy life. Remove the stigma of a ‘bad’ day and tomorrow will look brighter.

“No road is too long in the company of a friend.” Humans are social beings and grow with each other’s support. Do I have support around me? If not, who could I support and who could support me on my nutrition journey?

Best caption on this picture wins a free month to purvidaPLUS.

What is one thing you can focus on for the next four weeks?

Maybe it’s alcohol intake?

Maybe it’s topping up the veggies?

Remember: health is a factor of the long-term dietary choices we incrementally make over time. Not all at once.

Enjoy food for taste and not merely as fuel and survival. We constrain foods as ‘fuel for growth’ and ‘I must eat dinner’ but a pleasure of life is to sit and enjoy the taste, texture and feeling that food provides. Life is hard enough; don’t miss out on one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Practice all of the above consistently.

Me pretending to be like Marcus Aurelius:

“Memento Mori. Go about your day deeply aware of this phrase; which means ‘remember death.’ Nothing fatalistic or upsetting - but to remember time on this planet is a fleeting moment. Don’t delay. Be all in. No regrets.”

- A note I wrote to myself on 25/11/22

Thanks for your time today. Part 2 next week.