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Pick Your Vice

Lauren Grace Living

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Pick Your Vice

It’s been about 2 weeks since I finished my 21 day detox, and I am still slowly introducing foods that I had cut out. In fact I still haven’t had any dairy, soy, or gluten, and nor have I craved it. It’s interesting how a cleanse will reset your cravings. I barely have a sweet tooth anymore and have no desire to eat bread. The only thing I am really craving are lots of veggies, fresh fruit, and green juice. So my diet has remained relatively the same with 2 exceptions; I reintroduced coffee and chocolate ASAP!

Now during my detox I felt fine without coffee and chocolate, so you might be wondering why would I introduce it back in. I still had tons of energy without my daily caffeine boost and my sugar cravings diminished pretty quickly. So I didn’t miss the actual substance itself, but what I was missing was the ritual or experience that those substances gave me. I realized that having a cup of coffee in the mornings isn’t so much about the energy it might produce, but it’s the fact that I really enjoy the ritual of drinking it. I love the smell of coffee, and I love my leisurely breakfasts where I slowly drink from my favorite mug. I simply love my morning routine, it really helps me prepare for my day, and without the coffee it’s just not the same. My daily piece of dark chocolate at night isn’t about satisfying a sweet tooth, it’s about giving me a pleasurable experience. I love to buy really good chocolate so eating it feels like a luxury to me. It’s become my evening reward to myself. Simply stated coffee and chocolate make me happy.

Are they healthy? Eh, they’re certainly not the worst things you could consume, but I wouldn’t exactly label them as healthy either. But the fact that they put me in a happy state is healthy. I am all about eating clean and choosing healthy foods, but if your uber healthy diet is making you feel deprived and miserable then it’s actually not that healthy for you. Your level of happiness has a far more greater impact on your health then your diet ever will. 

Bold statement I know (pun intended). But it’s true. Science has proven that happy people live longer healthier lives. Now I am not saying that we should rely on food for our happiness. But we can’t deny that one gets a lot of pleasure from eating a good meal, or having a decadent dessert. Food plays a huge role in our life. I’ve been on the opposite end of the spectrum. In the past I had kept such a strict diet that I would turn down plans with friends to go out for dinner, be the only one at the party not noshing, pass on dessert when I wanted it so very badly. And let me tell you that it was a miserable way to live. The constant denial of pleasure leaked into every area of my life. The only satisfaction I got was from my own pride in being so disciplined and being able to fit into size 0 jeans. But I paid the price of missing out on what would have been a lot of great memories.

You might be reading this thinking Great, ice cream makes me happy, I’ll have it every night! Hold up a second! Please don’t think I am supporting overindulgence! The key to enjoying your vice is moderation. If you are really addicted to your vice then it’s not a healthy thing for you. Your vice of choice should be something that gives you pleasure, but one that you can live without if you had to. Maybe for you it’s a glass of red wine in the evening, or using heavy cream and real sugar in your coffee. If your vice is ice cream and pizza then let yourself indulge once a week, but I wouldn’t make that one a daily ritual. Keep your vice within reason. For example I have one cup of coffee and one piece of good dark chocolate (ok sometimes I have two pieces of chocolate). But I would never drink the whole pot or eat an entire candy bar. I also balance out these little indulgences with a really healthy diet. To help reduce the acidity of the coffee I make myself a green juice. And after eating a plate full of veggies that little piece of chocolate isn’t going to have much of an effect. A good rule of thumb is to have 90% of your diet consist of healthy foods, and leave 10% for your vice of choice. And if you happen to go out to eat once a week and enjoy a really rich meal don’t worry about it. As long as you enjoyed the meal and don’t make it a nightly ritual your body will balance it out.

Living a healthy lifestyle shouldn’t feel miserable or like constant deprivation. It is possible to design a healthy diet for yourself and still enjoy a little daily indulgence. So go ahead and pick your vice, enjoy it, keep it within reason, and relish in your healthier and  happier life.