unedited for 100 days. Day 38

I'm tired of the phrase 'Everything in moderation'. Admittedly I've said it a lot myself, but I've decided to put it bed. It's on the same level as the classic and overused phrase, 'It's all about balance'. Talking like this makes it seem as though every decision is quantified to equal an exact balance at the end of the day. Like 5 celery sticks equals one cookie. Or one glass of water equals one glass of wine. And what is moderation? It's all subjective and a waste of talk. I think statements like this are used with the intention to liberate our decisions, or grant us permission to 'have a treat' or enjoy 'just one more glass of wine'. Instead this attitude implies that those choices are wrong choices, which is where I fundamentally disagree. Today, when I eat a piece of cake I'm not thinking that it's a bad choice. I literally just think it tastes good and it makes me happy that I can enjoy it without thinking about a transaction of right and wrongs. I wont say that I've always had this freedom around food, because I remember the opposite feeling well. It could have been a simple bowl of M&M's at a friends house and I remember being preoccupied by their presence, bouncing back and forth with the decision to have some or not. I think the disturbance came more from the belief that I shouldn't have them, rather then really wanting some or not. I don't know how or what exactly clicked for me but I can say it wasn't by adopting the phrase "Everything in moderation!".  Perhaps it started about 7 years ago, when I met a woman who taught fengshui methods. While having dinner with her and a group of other yoga teachers, I noticed she took a moment before her first sip of wine, with her hand over the glass and her eyes closed. I was intrigued. I had to ask. She explained to me that she was simply acknowledging the wine and asking that it bless her body. With an attitude of enjoyment and delight, she enjoyed her wine without any worry or guilt. While I don't necessarily pray over my glass of wine at the table, I must say that I often think of her and the importance of acknowledging these pleasures in life as nothing more than simply a pleasure. It's not wrong. It's not bad. It's not a cheat. For me, healthy eating isn't about balance. It's about truly enjoying all of my food (and beverage) choices. If you don't know my story, it's important that you at least know that I struggled with an extra 15-20 pounds on my body at the peak of my personal training career. During that time I was lost in the checks and balances of health right and wrongs. I don't feel called to coach people on how or what to eat, but I am passionate about supporting people in discovering freedom within this very overwhelming health and fitness bubble. On some level, I'm sure we can all relate.