You are what you eat!

        Last week I wrote a post about making kale chips(<---). Before a couple years ago, I had never heard of kale and I certainly hadn't tried it. I didn't eat salad or vegetables...ever. Starting from a young age I was a candy, soda and all-things-processed, kind of gal. I refused all things green and healthy. Because I'm skinny, people have always insinuated that I don't need to eat healthy or exercise. I, too, might have believed this to be true, seeing as I rarely did either for my first 1/4 century of life. 
        I've been told that I'm "lucky" because I can eat as much junk as I want without gaining weight. However, it didn't feel very lucky when I learned that my unhealthy habits were affecting something far more important than the way I looked: my overall health, the way I felt physically and my body's ability to fight off the bad stuff. (Side note: the grass always looks greener on the other side, but it's not. I made a conscious effort to gain weight a couple times in my life because, unlike most girls, I've always wanted more curves. I eventually learned to ignore the remarks and I accepted that I am the way I am for a reason. Wanting a different body is futile.) 
        I'm not sure if it's a defense mechanism or an attempt at a compliment, but saying "eat a burger" to a petite girl is comparable to saying "stop eating" to a curvy girl. I have heard this "joke" countless times. It makes it harder to love ourselves with each side-handed comment other people make about our bodies(or, in my case, lack thereof). If it isn't helpful, it probably isn't necessary. In case you weren't sure, I'll drop some knowledge on you...thin people have just as many feelings and insecurities as the next person. Thin people do not love everything about themselves and, while I understand where these perceptions stem from, eating a burger is not the answer. Skinny people can not eat whatever they want without consequences; unhealthy habits will likely catch up to you no matter what size you are. I am living proof of that.

        I learned the hard way that skinny doesn't mean healthy. My body didn't like the garbage I was feeding it(the sugar & booze diet), so I ended up having some complications with my health. I did a lot of research and I decided to take it upon myself to try making the changes I knew I needed to make in order to heal my body from the inside out after 25 years of junk food abuse. My college years were long gone and it was time to start acting like an adult anyway. I motivated myself to try to become the best possible version of myself and I became stronger than I ever thought possible, in both body and mind.  A beautiful disaster...a terrifying sign...a blessing in disguise. I had to choose between my health or my habits. In walked all things fresh, raw and green. 
        During that struggle I got very serious about eating healthy; my friends poked fun at me because I brought a lunch box full of fruits, nuts and veggies with me everywhere I went. I stopped eating meat(for more reasons than one), I stopped binge drinking and I cut out sugar. My eating habits then were fear-driven, but I've since settled into a more balanced diet where I don't feel guilty about occasionally indulging. After all, anything is better than when I actually considered a Reese's and a soda "a meal". I eat to sustain my health now, rather than for fear of illness. Power to those of you out there who eat strictly raw and/or vegan. If and when I experience sickness, I will help the healing along by going back to juicing daily, eating only raw meals and saying no to sugar. For now, eating cake once in a while makes me happy and I don't want to deny myself the simple joys of life. 

Life is short. Eat the cake. 

...just remember to balance it out with some fresh greens. :)