“Just Chill” Isn’t Exactly an Option
When it comes to health, well-meaning people often tell us to “just chill and let things go.” I notice this especially when we talk about healthy eating.
Healthy eating means different things to different people. There are general guidelines designed to simplify things, but each of us brings our own preferences, needs, tolerances, health history, and relationship with food. What works well for one person may not work the same way for another.
I have insulin resistance. Many factors can be involved, and genetics can be one of them. I’m not here to explain the condition or tell anyone how to manage it. I’m not a doctor, and this isn’t a discussion about disease.
I’m using myself as a simple example of something else: I have information about my body that affects the choices I make around food.
So “just chill” isn’t exactly an option for me.
I love a good French baguette. I’d love to eat a fresh one straight out of the oven every morning with a bit of butter. But for me, that simply isn’t realistic right now.
I need to pay attention to how my meals are balanced, including making sure I get enough protein, because I know that what and how much I eat affects how my body responds and how I feel. A baguette is also relatively calorie-dense, so the amount I eat matters to me over time.
Does that mean I’ll never eat baguette again? Not necessarily. But I do need to think about where it fits into my day, whether it fits that day, and how much I want. A small piece alongside protein may work very differently for me than sitting down and eating half a baguette with butter.
Over time, I’ve learned to adapt, and I’m okay with that.
My health issue is real. The considerations that come with it are real. And I still have choices to make. I can make choices based on what helps me feel good and supports my health, or I can “chill and let go” simply because being intentional around food can look restrictive from the outside.
This isn’t about convincing myself that I don’t love baguette. I do. Knowing what I know about my body simply changes what I choose to eat for breakfast.
Right now, I’ve found a compromise with myself: one slice of 647 bread with 2/3 cup of cottage cheese, plus half a slice with a little butter. That lets me have a small taste of what I enjoy while also considering my health.
Sometimes, even when guidelines are useful, we still need to adapt them to our own physiology and circumstances. Guidelines are there to guide. Medical and nutrition professionals can help us understand what our bodies need. And health coaching can help with a different question: How do I take what I know and make it work in the life I actually have?
Sometimes that doesn’t look like “letting go.” Sometimes it looks like paying attention, making choices, experimenting, and finding the compromise you can actually live with.
For me, right now, sometimes that compromise is half a slice of bread with butter.
And yes, I’d still rather have the baguette.
Art Prompt
Paint or draw a compromise you’ve made to support your health while still making room for something you value or enjoy. Then look at what you created. How do you feel about the compromise you’ve made? What do you notice?