Have you ever heard of the Paradox of Choice?  The idea is that, the more choices we have, the less happy we are.  It was popularized by Barry Schwartz in his 2004 book, The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less.  Often, honing in on the most effective foods and health habits can feel restrictive, but what if we saw it a different way?  What if those restrictions can serve to rest our minds and nail our goals at the same time? 

Aren’t more choices better?

In his book, Schwartz is talking about consumerism.  He puts forth that having fewer choices can help eliminate anxiety for shoppers.  He believes that when the number of choices increases, so does the difficulty of knowing what is best.

How does this translate to our health?

The food culture in our country has never been more varied and the marketing never more aggressive.  Think of one single category of food and the number of variations that are available at the store.  Want rice?  Which one is the best?  Black, brown, wild, or sprouted?  Been to the cereal aisle?  It is so long and packed, you have to shop it in sections.  

Not to mention, food is everywhere we turn.  You can’t go shopping at non-food stores like Home Depot or Old Navy without being assaulted by protein bars and packages of M&M’s at checkout.  Because we see food constantly, we are constantly faced with a decision, to eat, or not to eat?  Then, what to eat? 

How can fewer choices help me in peri/menopause?

In peri/menopause our hormones change the way we digest and process food.  This means we need to change the way we eat.  For instance, simple carbohydrates and alcohol are more likely to be stored as fat than used for energy  (Read here for more info).  We also need more protein and vegetables.  

Because this cuts out certain types of food, it limits our choices toward the healthier foods in a different way than it did when we were in our 20’s and 30’s.  This can be seen as a real bummer.  OR it can be seen as a relief.  It just depends how you look at things. Let’s look at the example of two party experiences:

Party 1, feeling out of control.

Imagine going to a party.  You have been trying to “be good” and feel like you have had a successful week.  Now you see the buffet.  It is piled with delicious choices.  You go down the line, wrestling with a decision on each dish.  Should I load up on the Mac and cheese?  I love it, but I know it will make me feel bloated.  Should I have just one cookie?  What about a glass of wine?  If I have had one glass, should I stop, or should I have another one?  Just today?  I will be extra good next week.

In this scenario, you end up with a bloated stomach, inflamed joints, and a poor night of sleep.  You skip your workout the next day because you don’t feel well.  You are disappointed in yourself, feeling like you have no control in social situations. 

Party 2, feeling in control.

What if you went to the same party, but saw things differently?  Before walking in the door, you already know for certain you are not having any alcohol, knowing it will cause a headache and open the door to other poor food choices.  Anything containing wheat or cheese will cause you to bloat up.  You know it is important to eat protein and veggies and that you feel better when you do.  You step up to the buffet and scan for the dishes that will fit into what works well for your body and your goals.  Maybe you have even brought a dish you know will work.  You focus on the three or four options that will fit, knowing that they are good choices.  You don’t have to think about the other options as you decided before coming to the party that you weren’t going to eat them.

In this scenario, you enjoy the party.  You have meaningful conversations, laugh a lot, and catch up with friends.  You enjoy the food that you do eat, but don’t waste any time obsessing over choices or feeling bad about your poor self-control.  That night you sleep well, and the next day you wake up feeling good enough to do your workout and be productive. 

Decision Fatigue

Like party #1, our lives revolve around food.  Our bodies are evolutionarily programmed to rev up our stomachs when we see or smell food and food is every where we turn.  Having to chose over and over whether to eat something or not will lead to decision fatigue and eventually we give in.

If we can live our lives like the approach in party #2, we avoid that fatigue. We are less likely to cave to decision fatigue If we have:

• Stocked up on foods we enjoy and work for our bodies. 
• Eat healthy foods throughout the day.
• Know exactly which foods cause us problems.

How do I find out what foods are causing problems for my body?

A simple elimination diet is the most fool-proof way to discover what is working for or against your body right now.  A program like Powerup and Reset will guide you through eliminating the most common inflammation-causing foods and then carefully bringing them back in to discover which foods are problematic.

What if I don’t think I can handle eliminating certain foods?

It is never successful to think about what you CAN’T eat.  Instead, focus on the delicious foods you CAN eat.  The Reset leaves you with a huge array of the absolute best foods.  This allows you to shake up old habits, and discover new healthier options.  It is only for a short period of time, and so old favorites will be back soon enough.

It has been the experience of many peri/menopausal women I have coached through the years that limiting choices can make us happier and more successful right now.  As in Schwartz’s Paradox of Choice, limiting our food choices can make us happier by removing distractions and streamlining our decisions.

What is special about Powerup and Reset?

Powerup and Reset, is made specifically for a peri/menopausal woman.  Many approaches to health can be destructive to women over forty and end up adding flame to the fire, increasing fat gain and accelerating bone loss.  

This Reset is designed to:

• Teach you about your peri/menopausal body
• Guide you to the best health choices
• Uncover new understanding about yourself and your behaviors
• Detox your body from Inflammation
• Discover what foods cause problems for your unique physiology

Take me to Powerup and Reset!