The Whole 28 and a Half: Be Cool, Soda Pop.
A Touch of Something Serious
Hey, Homies. I want to take a quick moment to be uncharacteristically serious. I mean it, just a hot second here.
#CleanEating is not THE answer. I repeat: Clean. Eating. Is. Not. THE. Answer.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Rachel! Then what the hell are we doing here? 28.5 my butt!" Slow down. What I'm saying is that it's not the "Be all, end all, will fix your life and the world and polution" answer. We are not participating in this challenge to create even more fraught relationships with food. We are not staging our meals to look decadent and masterful so that people see how perfect our diets have become...if you haven't noticed, Scott and I eat primarily out of Tupperware. Like 90% of the time...Tupperware.
Also, we are not doing this in order to provide anyone with an unhealthy obsession. Counting calories, tracking macros, and having particular grocery needs is rhythmic and routine. Because of this, for some, these practices can become obsessive. And no, I don't mean it can become obsessive to "crazy people." I mean people like you and me. It happens. For some, the rabbit-hole of research and rules and Instagram photos of perfectly plated food can be dangerous. This detrimental focus has been coined recently as "Orthorexia..."
Share any questions, concerns, or stories to tell here as a comment here on the blog; or send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com
Brought into the common vernacular most recently by Instagram/Blogger sensation, Jordan Younger, of The Blonde Vegan (now, The Balanced Vegan), this is an overpowering belief that healthy foods are the almighty answer to health and the ultimate lifestyle.
*NOTE: this is not a clinically diagnosed eating disorder, and there is a good deal of hype about this label. Whether or not you believe in its validity, I completely respect the feeling and pain of sufferers and I hope that the attention provided via Social Media helps bring some of these issues to light for those that need help.
If it doesn't come off clearly here...this is just another destructive relationship with food. Fruits, Veggies, Lean Meats...they don't make you a superhero. The magical human that you are makes that happen. Your whole person. The Whole28.5 Challenge is about our relationship with food. Not about fitting into another box or proving yourself or MOST IMPORTANTLY: it's not about gaining love, attention, affection, or popularity from other people through your eating habits. No matter how witty your tweets are or how flattering your Instagram photos are.
The fact that this is a blog, that there are photos, that we can all follow along via Social Media, this is to create COMMUNITY.
Not competition. Not Judgement. Not Insecurity.
Check Your References
Now, obviously this is a poor excuse for detailed information about Orthorexia. Giving you a medical diagnosis is definitely not on my agenda. I just want all of us to be feeling good and happy and healthy -- positive and perky! But if you feel like this topic resonates with you, maybe The Whole28.5 isn't your jam! But I would be more than happy to discuss other options for you. Or really, even to offer an ear to tell your story. If you'd like to check out some savvy articles on Orthorexia, I suggest the following:
The fact of the matter here is this: The Whole28.5 Challenge is meant to be a positive boost that provides some guidelines to step into the direction of eating for fuel and feeling good. It's not about posting photos of the prettiest meal or juicing yourself to the tightest abs. I hope that we all know by now, I always prefer to celebrate the comedic flare over the model-midriff.
Guys, we are doing awesome.
Share any questions, concerns, or stories to tell here as a comment here on the blog; or send me a message on Facebook, or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com
No comments:
Post a Comment