Healthy Habits According to Bethenny

Can I just say that I have formed a new girl crush and her name is Bethenny Frankel. I went to the Dupont Theatre in Wilmington last Saturday to see her speak about her new books, healthy eating, and having a balanced lifestyle. I left feeling so inspired and ready to take on the world! I started reading her book, Naturally Thin, and I have already started making changes in the way that I eat. Before I get into all that, for those of you who don’t know, Bethenny was first on Martha Stewart: Apprentice, then The Real Housewives of New York City. I’ve never been a huge fan of The Real Housewives, but she left that show and created a new one called, Bethenny Getting Married. I’ve always loved her hilarious, yet sarcastic sense of humor and I was grateful that I got to see her in person because she had me in stitches. This woman can talk a mile a minute and she barely stopped talking the whole hour and a half she was onstage. She is truly entertaining! I also admire her healthy lifestyle and her outlook on eating habits. Up until this point I had no idea she was a chef too (she does it all!), so it makes sense that she would write a book about healthy eating. This leads me into the topic of how this relates to dancing.

A dancers’ instrument is their body, so it is very important that we take great care of it. This sounds simple enough, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. Why do you think there are so many obese people in America? Obviously we have the wrong mindset about food and how to eat it. Bethenny talks about emotional attachment and why this can lead to overeating. When you eat something that you think is "bad", you automatically feel remorseful and guilty. Then you think, "Well, I already ruined today. Why not keep eating junk until tomorrow, then I can be good again." The key is to not obsess over food no matter what. If you have one too many cookies, you realize that it’s already over and done with and you can make healthier choices next time. Don’t think of food as something to be feared or loved, just think of it as food. It’s simply fuel for your body. As a dancer, I know that when I am performing or in class doing strenuous physical activity, my body needs the most high quality fuel to reach its highest potential. It only makes sense that if you feed yourself filling, nutritional meals and snacks, your body will perform at its best.

I’ve only reached chapter 6 in the book so far, but each chapter contains a different rule about how to change your lifestyle for good. I’ve already started practicing some of them in my own life. For example, the first rule is to balance your diet like a bank account. Let me point out that by "diet" she means what you eat. Bethenny doesn’t believe in dieting plans because they have never worked in the long run and you always end up feeling deprived. Achieving balance is the first step in reaching a healthier lifestyle. You can have all the foods you enjoy, but just have a little at a time and counteract the more unhealthy choices with nutritious investments throughout the day. Now that I know this, it seems so easy, but I had to switch off of autopilot to get to that point. It’s just a matter of being aware of what you are putting into your body and not obsessing over every little calorie.

I like the way I feel when I eat something nutritious and delicious (corny much?) and I notice that I have a lot more energy and a positive attitude. My goal is to feel this way everyday. This requires a lifestyle change, not a temporary one. When you have more energy, your dancing will become radiant and exhilarating; something that everyone will want to watch. When you have a positive attitude, you are less likely to judge yourself and more likely to enjoy what your are doing. So, what will you do to make a change in your eating habits and how will that affect your life?

Here is her book that I'm reading. The new book, A Place of Yes, comes out on March 23rd!