What does it mean to have a balanced life, a balanced diet, or to seek balance?

I talk a lot about seeking balance. It has become my go-to word in many situations, but what the heck does ‘balance’ mean?

How do you find balance in your diet or life?

Balance is like swinging on a swingset

Think of balance like a swing. You go back and forth, up and down. There is motion. Just like in life; there are going to be ups and downs. And life keeps moving.

Sometimes, though, life (or your own actions) pulls you to the side. A little bit of that can be fun; it keeps things interesting. Too much can be dangerous. You might crash into someone else or the legs of the swing set. Then someone gets hurt.

Just like in life. Sometimes things happen or you make a decision that doesn’t work out the way you want it to. You go “off the rails” a little bit. What you do next determines whether you come back to balance (the normal back and forth motion) or keep going off to the sides.

Moderation sucks

I am a registered dietitian and I do not support eating in moderation. Let me explain 😎

I have realized that moderation is just another tool of diet culture. It’s the voice that says that you need to look a certain way and the way to get there is to eat perfectly and workout perfectly. It’s the voice that says you won’t be happy, won’t be good enough, unless you look a certain way.

You add on top of diet culture a chronic illness, fatigue, and joint pain and it’s is just a recipe for misery.

Most of us mean well when we suggest eating in moderation. I certainly did. But I’ve come to realize that it was never about moderation.

Balance is better than moderation

It’s about knowing what you body needs to feel good. To feel nourished, strong, and energized.

The balance point will shift day to day, week to week, and throughout your life. But in seeking balance, we can reconnect with ourselves and our inner signals, knowledge, and wisdom.

Bottom Line

Seek balance. Balance feels good. It’s sustainable. The most effective way to seek balance is through mindful eating. I’ve got a whole in-depth article walking you though how to get started with mindful eating.

And if you want more thoughts like this, be sure that you join the Weekly Letters!