I Don’t Love Vegetables.
True statement.
Sort of.
If you offered me a choice between what I would rather have:
- Meat or Vegetables
- Starchy carbs or vegetables
- Fruit or vegetables
- Dessert or vegetables
I would choose option A every time.
But – I eat them – and most of the time I do enjoy them, but not more than the other parts of the meal.
When most people, myself included, think of vegetables, we think of boring, plain, raw, steamed, or boiled vegetables. Not very enticing – but still getting them in.
But, when prepared in a slightly different way, or with some extra seasonings or flavors added – they aren’t that bad, and actually enjoyable.
Roasting, air frying, or grilling are my go-to options. Add in some fresh garlic, lemon juice, or a little seasoning blend and they can be game-changing.
The texture is an often forgotten component of food. It can make food much more enjoyable when there are contrasting textures within a meal. Instead of having mushy steamed vegetables, try a roasting method to make them crisp!
We KNOW what we need to do…
When it comes to nutrition, fitness, and health – we KNOW what we need to be doing, eating, not eating, and not doing to optimize our health. The disconnect comes from actually taking action and doing it, especially if it isn’t the most enjoyable.
Take traditional cardio for example.
I know that having cardiovascular health is important. I know that cardio is great for heart health, conditioning, and even muscle recovery.
But there are endless things I would rather do than jog on a treadmill, sit on a stationary bike, or plant my butt on a rowing machine.
So I make it more enjoyable and incorporate different forms of cardio in my training or add something that I want to do to my cardio (what I need to do).
If I am going to listen to a podcast or a new album release, I will do it during one of my recovery walks. 30 or 45 minutes of walking go by extra fast when listening to something enjoyable AND if done outside in nature.
If I don’t have a podcast to listen to, I will do more of a conditioning circuit workout for 20-30 minutes. Pick a couple of exercises that get the heart rate going, and repeat for a metabolic circuit. These can be things like dumbbell, kettlebell, or barbell complexes.
Or I will do strongman type workouts that involve pushing sleds, pulling sleds, carrying heavy things, and slamming ropes, medballs, or sledgehammers.
This is what we all must learn to do. It’s easy to sit around and tell people what they should be doing in the short term, to gain benefits in the long term…but many people still don’t actually do it!
Instead, we need to find strategic ways to take what we KNOW we should be doing, find a way to spice it up, and DO IT.
The human body is meant to thrive off of whole, nutritious foods.
The human body is meant to be active and strong.
We all only get one body – so you better find a way to make the most of it.
If you need help getting started, look no further than online coaching. Training and nutrition! Let me help you find the best plan for you – from anywhere in the world.
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