“The Kitchen and ME”
I don’t know about you but the kitchen and me, we’ve been in a love/hate relationship for a long time now. Way back in 1997 when I first met my husband, Lynn Lingenfelter, I was of the mindset that I could live my life without using the kitchen. In fact the only things I had in my frig when we started to date were beer and oreos. No ketchup, no mustard, mayo, salad dressings or ANYTHING else! I did not EVER cook or use the kitchen. In fact I don’t think I even had pots and pans. If I did they were NEVER used.
This aversion to the kitchen ocurred, I believe, because I was brought up to understand that when you wanted to be thin you just stopped eating too much and basically just ate one meal a day. And that meal could be just potato chips and dip, just yogurt, oreos or any other small low calorie food item. That’s how my mom did it. That’s how my aunts, my friends, my cousins…well pretty much everyone else I knew during childhood did it. When dieting just starve and get thin…that’s the way! Not much interest in nutrition. In fact I don’t think I realized that what I actually put in my mouth regularly really impacted my WHOLE life and HEALTH till my thirties. And I know for a fact that there are many, many folks out there just like me. I know this because I have met them/you often in our personal training business, over and over again. So are you like I used to be, thinking that you can live a healthy and vibrant life without using your kitchen? That you can be better than just thin but healthy, fit, energetic and alive? Not going to happen eating junk. And guess what consitutes junk? All fast food, many things on regular restaurant menus, and well pretty much anything that has no nutritional value like most breads, crackers, all pastry items and true junk food items …and the list goes on. “You are what you eat.” and don’t forget it!
So how did I go from being someone that never used her kitchen, unable to cook, (I was able to warm stuff up – ie soups, any canned stuff and any premade meals, although I can’t say I did much of that either) bake or make a meal to someone who cooks all the time (OK maybe just three days a week) and insists on having healthy food in the house at all times? Great question! All I have to say about that is it’s all my husband’s fault…. OK and Bill Phillips too! “Body for Life” and all Bill’s numerous articles on a healthy lifestyle were so well written and simplified that even I could follow along and learn.
So I meet my husband and one of the first things I noticed about him besides how incredibly fit he was, was that he appeared to eat ALL THE TIME. This was astonishing to me. I just could NOT believe that he could look so FIT and still eat all the time! How does he do it? That is what I wanted to know… So I asked him. That’s when he told me he had been fat before and it’s all about eating healthy, nutritious food through-out the day. And then he said the magic words….he said “YOU CAN DO IT TOO!” So then I’m thinking like in a ahha moment….”I can eat healthy food through out the day and look as fit as you? You mean to say that to be incredibly fit and healthy requires FOOD?” Well this set me back on my heels for a bit. Who would have thought? Not me! Definitely not how I was taught…. I am in!!!
So I realized with his help that I could NOW learn how to feed my body. That, of course, required me to learn what to do in the kitchen. I have to say here that I still am not Rachel Ray or Martha Stewart and I can tell you with extreme conviction that I will never be like them. Why you might asK? Just not that into cooking in the kitchen BUT I will cook a few times a week lots and lots of different proteins and do some prep work with the fresh vegetables and fruits but NOT everyday. So yes I now go to the grocery store quite regularly like in twice a week. Which was also a culture shock to me and did take some getting use to….but anything is possible.
If you are someone unlike me who really enjoys the kitchen well how awesome is that. Good for you. Then I am to assume that you are spending lots of time making sure that you and your family are eating healthy and nutritious meals that will make you all stronger, healthier and vibrant to live life…. If not remember this story…You to can LEARN how to prepare foods, how to grocery shop, how to put foods together to make nuritious meals. In fact you can learn as much as you set you mind to. Remember that!
Always interested in your feedback!
God Bless You,
Evey
