Food Is Fuel
“We don’t live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means, and that is what life is for.”
I’ve had a difficult relationship with food my entire life.
Like many, food has always been there for me — through good times and bad.
Unfortunately (or fortunately*), it led me to becoming a plumplishy unhappy boy during school.
This is not another post about how great my transformation has been. I lost that fat years ago. You can read that here.
Nope. In fact, I made the mistake of believing that losing all that fat would make me happy. That losing fat would garner me respect for individuals and peers alike. It did. But, like any drug, it was short-lived. And only years later have I seen the effects.
It’s far easier to lose fat than build muscle. I’m sure anyone in the fitness industry would agree. And while I’m not here to lecture you on the biomechanics of fat-loss and muscle gain (because I have no clue anyway), there is a lesson in fat-loss vs. muscle gain. Fat-loss is 5 meter sprint. Whereas muscle building is a marathon. And like any marathon, you have to train for months, if not years, before you can cross the finish line.
The problem is: I never learnt how to eat sustainably. How to eat to run the marathon of life. How to eat in order to fuel my love for CrossFit and all the other fun shit I love doing (running, festivalling and so fourth). I relied on the fat that was on my body for fuel. This came at a cost when there wasn’t much fat to work with (Google adrenal fatigue and/or burnout).
I certainly have a long way to go with regards to overcoming my difficult relationship with food (it’s not the food itself but rather the emotions that come with it). But a statement which has guided me recently has been enormously beneficial: FOOD IS FUEL.
Thats it. Think about it. Food is Fuel. It’s become entertainment — and that’s a problem. But reframing it as just fuel changes everything.
Your body is an engine. A fucking beautiful, harmonious one at that, may I add. Although the corn-derived high fructose syrupy bullshit will fuel your car just fine — I highly doubt it’s optimal.
When you think of food as fuel, it frees you up to enjoy life's simple pleasures: sunsets, friends, books, coffee and a trip to the beach (kudos De Mello). When your brain is running on the right fuel — whether that's veggies, meat or whatever your dietary preference —your senses sharpen and you are no longer attached to food.
It’s just fuel.
Thanks for lending me your eyeballs and time. If there are any mistakes or concerns or whatever, please reach out to me via email (hello@joshsnyman.com).
Josh.
*fortunately because Amor Fati. Everything that happens must happen and happens as it is, in it’s place.
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