| Ask anyone to tell you the first thing that comes to | | | | and until we are satisfied to simply give our engines |
| their mind when you say the word food. You will get | | | | (bodies) fuel that it needs. We eat until we stuff |
| many different responses such as delicious, yummy, | | | | ourselves, feeding our taste buds instead of fueling the |
| chocolate, steak, hungry, fattening, etc. My response | | | | engine. We fill our stomachs up to the very top until |
| when asked that question was "Food is Fuel". When | | | | we are uncomfortable or miserable in our gluttony. This |
| you look at all of these responses, they typically | | | | results in actually slowing the engine down and |
| indicate a mindset toward food that the individual who | | | | preventing it from working to its maximum potential. |
| gave the response has. In order to lose weight, or | | | | Doing these things on a continual basis causes us to |
| even maintain a healthy weight, it is important that the | | | | gain weight, sometimes excessively, in the form of fat. |
| right mindset is held. Having a "food is fuel mindset" is | | | | The way we should fuel our bodies can be related |
| one that will help you on your way to creating healthy | | | | somewhat to fueling a vehicle you drive. You put gas |
| eating habits. | | | | in it to run, oil to lubricate engine parts and other |
| If you go back to caveman times, the reason for | | | | additives for optimal performance. You don't overfill the |
| those people to go out and get food was always | | | | tank or use harmful substances. Now consider your |
| because they were hungry. Cavemen ate in order to | | | | body, and all of the systems or parts within it, |
| survive. The people of these times were never obese | | | | cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular, and respiratory. |
| and always physically active. Eating happened in this | | | | What fuel do these systems need to run efficiently |
| manner most likely for two reasons. One was that | | | | and effectively? Is how you are fueling, and the fuel |
| they didn't have all of the great recipes, spices and | | | | you're using, in your body's engine allowing for the |
| cooking techniques to really give their food great | | | | same optimal performance? |
| flavor. The other I'm sure is because; hunting could | | | | If you are looking to lose weight, the number one |
| have meant certain death especially in the instance | | | | factor is controlling your eating habits. Start looking at |
| where the hunter becomes the hunted. | | | | why you eat, what you eat. Determine your reason for |
| Now-a-days though in many cultures, man sits on top | | | | the meals you choose and when you are eating. Food |
| of the food chain and somewhere along the way we | | | | should be enjoyed. Great tasting food is one of the |
| found out that adding seasoning like salt and pepper to | | | | blessings in life. However, food was meant to be fuel |
| our meat really makes it taste good. And people who | | | | for the body. Not something to be eaten solely based |
| know how to add certain ingredients together can | | | | on taste or due to boredom. As the old adage goes, |
| really make one great tasting meal. Plus, there is no | | | | "everything in moderation." When you start applying the |
| way you can forget about the heaven sent taste of | | | | "food is fuel mindset" you'll find that your eating habits |
| chocolate. | | | | will change. You won't eat as much and you won't eat |
| There is nothing wrong with having a delicious tasting | | | | the same kinds of food. You'll also find that when you |
| meal or snack. It is one of the many benefits of living in | | | | improve on the fuel you consume your body's |
| a society that is filled with some very talented chefs. | | | | performance, including your health, stamina and energy |
| However, something has changed in the way that we | | | | level will improve as well. Begin applying the "food as |
| eat. Instead of remembering the main purpose of food | | | | fuel mindset and watch as healthy eating habits |
| in our lives, we've turned eating into somewhat of an | | | | become your new way of life. |
| art. No longer do we eat only when we are hungry | | | | |