There is a lot of confusion about the best way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight long-term. Many think of weight status through the flawed traditional calories-in, calories-out framework. However, I’ve found that learning to interpret and properly respond to our internal hunger and satiety cues is a far more successful and maintainable approach.
Minimalism Game
I’m a minimalist, but in the scope of my life, that’s a relatively new development. I’ve always had a less is more mindset, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2014 that I deliberately began minimizing — clearing physical and mental space for the priorities that I’d rededicated myself to: positive relationships, vibrant health, and continual growth. After several months of decluttering, I decided to play The Minimalist’s 30-Day Minimalism Game. The game was fun and it forced me to critically evaluate what material possessions Ella and I had, and what we truly needed.
Sugar Cravings
Over the years I’ve been asked countless times how to reduce carbohydrate or sugar cravings. The simple answer is: Eat. Fewer. Carbs.
I’m not being flip or dismissive, but eating fewer carbs the only way to drastically reduce or eliminate sugar cravings. Of course there are other issues that can effect cravings for sweets, but changing the composition of your diet is the central action required.
Batch Cooking
Have you ever wondered how restaurants prepare elaborate meals so quickly? It’s because to one degree or another they all implement a technique called batch cooking and the concept translates well to home cooking, saving you time and effort. Batch cooking is preparing a quantity of food ahead of the time you intend to use it — perhaps on a Sunday afternoon for the coming week. You can batch cook entire meals, meal components, and snacks.
Six Months
Minimal Wellness is six months old! Over the past half-year I’ve published 34 original recipes and 27 blog posts, provided nutrition coaching to some awesome folks, and the site has been visited nearly 200,000 times. Thank you for being part of Minimal Wellness, I appreciate each and every person who comes to the site, makes the recipes, connects with the words, and utilizes the services — my gratitude for being able to cultivate and share my passion with all of you cannot be measured or adequately expressed.
Food Blog
Minimal Wellness is not a food blog. Yes, I post recipes and relevant photos, but the purpose of this site is not to publish as many drool-inducing recipes as I can create. In fact, it’s the opposite.
Black Coffee
Coffee has always been one of my favorite things. For years I bought organic, fair trade, fresh, dark roasted beans from local purveyors and I used a French press for brewing. I drank my coffee with milk. Lots of milk. In fact, I joked that I took some coffee with my milk. Without it I didn’t like the flavor of the coffee I chose — it was too deeply roasted, too bitter, too thick. It sat on my tongue like a dirty sock. But it tasted good with milk, so that’s how I drank it. I tried alternative roasts from time to time, but with the milk, I preferred it dark and viscous.
Growth
Have you ever watched a young child learn a new task or physical movement? At the beginning, their attempts can seem entirely futile — they’re nowhere near their intended outcome. They stare at books, “reading” for hours before comprehending the alphabet. They fail repeatedly. Their results are suboptimal. Much of their effort appears to get them nothing. But unless they get too frustrated, they’ll generally continue trying. With every attempt, they learn something new. They stumble their way through mental, physical, and emotional trial and error — discovering what doesn’t work and what gets them closer to their objective. They sit with what they’ve learned, take time away, then return and adjust subsequent attempts. Eventually they have a breakthrough. Something clicks and they leap forward. Maybe they master the task or get so much closer that they now understand concretely they’re making progress.
Minimalist Kitchen Tour
We have a joke between my siblings that all four of us love to eavesdrop on conversations and to people-watch in busy public spaces. Maybe we are just weird in this regard (generally, we are a little quirky), but given the popularity of social media and reality television — it seems like my siblings and I are not the only ones fascinated by how other people live their lives.
Give Health
Buying that thing won’t demonstrate the value of your love, affection, or friendship. Your presence and attention are what those close to you desire most.