why I changed the title of my blog

Bye bye Weights, Dates, and Shakes!

Yes, I'm letting going of my previous "brand" name and have changed the name of my blog to.....

it's just food.

Why?

When I came up with "Weights, Dates, and Shakes", I was at a very different point in my life. Health and fitness were an interest, but I didn't know what I really wanted to do with it. The idea of a blog that incorporated weight lifting, lifestyle, and protein shake recipes, which was very similar to what my current way of living was at the time, seemed fun! I had a lot to say and share, and thus started a blog while attending Cal State Fullerton as a musical theater major.

However, a lot has changed in three years. I no longer solely weight lift, my lifestyle is very different, and I like to create recipes that have other ingredients besides protein powder. Plus I have a new major: nutrition. Health and fitness isn't just an interest anymore!

While I've known for a while that the blog needed a name change, I wasn't really sure what to change it to until about a week ago.

You see, while I love being a nutrition major and all things foods stand for, I have had my own struggles with food in the form of a mild binge eating disorder, stemmed from a previous lifestyle of restriction and labeling foods as "bad" and "good". Part of my healing process has been a mantra I came up with to use anytime I'm feeling guilty or afraid of eating.....

it's just food!

While food is awesome, it does not control you. .

But wait...I can't have pasta! It has carbs and I haven't worked out today so I don't need carbs!

It's just food.

I can't have that small piece of candy! I had ice cream yesterday, and you're not supposed to eat dessert everyday!

It's just food.

The body is biologically programmed to binge after restriction.

And while not everyone may have a "binge disorder", most all of us have a distorted way of eating that has lead to

- weight issues
- stress over food
- health problems
- unhappiness

The mind plays a bigger role than we think in determining our diet and that's why food psychology has become an interest of mine, and a topic I'll blog about frequently in the future.

However, I'll be blogging about all things nutrition and food related, as there are so many aspects of nutrition that interest me.

So, welcome! I can't wait to take you along the journey!

Because at the end of the day......

it's just food.