Over the past few years my diet has changed. It wasn't about losing weight or being healthy, it was about energy. I chose to eat food that provided me the highest energy value which seemed to always be a meat, lots of fruits & vegetables and some carbs.
Spaghetti with meat sauce eventually left my diet even though it was a staple while I was raising my children. What happened?
My approach to food has been the same for over decade now. Eat it then pay attention to how my body feels. As I've grown older and continued to abuse my body in various sundry ways, including playing soccer, I've had to pay attention to what makes my joints aches. It soon became apparent that sugar and large amounts of gluten would make my hands and feet swell and make my joints feel like I had arthritis. Ergo, spaghetti & meat sauce left my diet.
But sometimes pasta is worth the pain. Sometimes it's worth feeling achy to eat a wonderfully rich dish of sweet pea ravioli in cream sauce. Paying the price always seems like a good idea while I'm doing it. When it's time to pay, I sometimes have regrets.
Like this morning. Last night I ate two big servings of spaghetti with meat sauce. I ate too much and felt too full. My feet didn't swell. I don't feel achy and I didn't get indigestion. I just had weird, crazy dreams all through the night and woke up at least twice.
So yes, I'm paying the price for the pasta, probably for over-eating pasta more than the pasta itself. And, I'd like to tell you that I'll never do it again but I know it would just be a lie. Somewhere down the road in a few months or maybe a year, something else will come along when I'm willing to pay the price!
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