Healthy Chicks

It seems as though doctors, and society in general, continuously change their minds about what is “good” and “bad” for you. One week soy milk is the miracle milk, another week it causes cancer and makes you gain weight. Everyone has their opinions, and everyone’s opinions are always 100% different. Some say coffee is a terrible toxin that stunts your growth, and some people (like me) think it’s a daily necessity and without it many people would be Oscar the Grouches. Anyway, today on my morning run I got to thinking – when am I not thinking? – about all these little “bad” things I do that are actually 100% OK, and healthy too. Hopefully you can find comfort, or at least a chuckle, in knowing all those little, weird “unhealthy” things you do are completely OK in my book! [Side Note: I’ve been reading Melissa Nibbles blog for a while now, and every Friday she posts a similar “It’s OK” series (kinda like a spin off on Glamour’s). Anywho, it cracks me up every week and you should totally check it out! I definitely don’t have her humor nor her wit, however!]

1. To be Utterly Addicted to coffee: “It stunts your growth!” “It stains your teeth!” “It’s filled with toxins!” Blah Blah Blah. I don’t care. I need my cup (or three) of morning java to make my day run smoothly, and if you do too DON’T you dare feel bad about it. In fact, recent studies have found that coffee – in moderation – can help protect against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and even liver cancer. Oh, not to mention its boat load of antioxidants! So as long as you’re not drowning your morning cup of joe in loads of cream, sugar and whipped cream it’s totally OK. Drink on, my friends.

2. To think about cheese as much as you think about sex: OK, whatever I’m addicted to cheese. I’ll admit it. I simply love it. But you know what? Everyone has their obsessions and mine is cheese. I don’t go crazy with it; I just simply love it and fantasize about it from time to time. Especially paired with a nice glass of red wine and some delicious whole grain crackers. And you know what? I’m totally OK with it. Cheese is loaded with calcium and can help promote bone strength due to its richness in vitamin B, and the health benefits don’t end there.

3. To read food blogs more than you read novels: Some days I spend hours perusing the internet looking at glorious food blogs. I simply adore the pictures, the descriptions, the recipes, the writers behind the scene. Lately, I’m obsessed with Can You Stay For Dinner? and How Sweet It is. These ladies recipes make me want to jump through the screen and eat whatever it is they’ve cooked up that day. If you are a food blog freak like me, give yourself a pat on the back. It lets you broaden your cooking horizons…for free. Can it really get better than that?

4. To Not Be able to Stop Watching Californication: At first my boyfriend told me I could watch an episode of Californication but that I probably wouldn’t enjoy it because it’s a “guy show.” Well, I haven’t been able to stop since episode 1. I’m already on season 4 in the matter of a couple of weeks. Yes, it may be a guy show, but I find it 100% healthy to watch. It lets me inside the mind of a dude, and gives me a nice break from reality TV and my addiction to Sex and the City. It offers a new perspective if you will.

5. To Eat When You’re Hungry: It’s TOTALLY OK to forget all that “you must eat 6 small meals a day” crap. If that’s what works for you, so be it! But if you are like me, sometimes eating every 3 hours with measured out portions just doesn’t cut it. Lately, I’ve been eating when I’m hungry and have never felt better. Since I’m on vacation in Miami, I’m not looking at a computer or clock all day so it makes it easier to listen to my body. Listen to YOUR body. If you are not hungry at 12 on the dot for lunch, wait an hour. If you don’t want your “mid afternoon snack,” hold out for a more savory dinner. Listening to your body works wonders, and helps you stay in tune with what you really want and crave.

6. To Be One of “Those Girls”: I’m totally one of those girls who is obsessed with their crackberry. I just can’t help it. What can I say? I like to stay on top of things, and I’m addicted to Twitter. Sometimes, I tweet more than I eat. It’s bad. But really, it’s good because I feel like I learn a lot from fellow tweeters and bloggers. Today I went as far as going for a run with my crackberry. But to justify, I needed it because my iPod died and I had to keep track of my time. I won’t lie. I may have tweeted during my run a couple of times and took a few “notes” when ideas came to me in my notepad section. But whatever. There are a lot worse addictions out there. And when I almost tripped on an ugly, creepy cat, I just had to tweet it to the world. It was freakin’ weird!

What are some of your “weird” supposedly “unhealthy” obsessions that some may look down upon? Share them here! I’d love to have a good chuckle!

XoXo,