Diet, Weight-loss and Minimalism

Minimalism

Getting rid of life’s excess so you can focus on what’s important.

I’ve come to realize that my journey into minimalism is having a diverse affect on my home and my clutter, but the side affect that I didn’t see coming was that of a healthier lifestyle.  I’ve made more time in the kitchen because I’m spending less time shopping and trying to manage all the stuff I used to buy.  the extra time has helped me cook healthier meals and given me more time to actually sit down to eat them.  This in turn is having a huge affect on my health!  I’ve had more energy, my moods are better (I feel happier), and I’ve dropped a few lbs.  I’ve found some statistics around what an overly scheduled family would eat in an average week of hectic living, as opposed to a minimal lifestyle, and the numbers are crazy.

These are some eye opening stats

• 57% of 18-29 year olds eat fast food weekly.
• 53% of men eat fast food weekly.
• 42% of women eat fast food weekly
• 8 out of 10 americans eat fast food weekly.
• The average american spends 43% of their annual income on fast food.
• 550 million big macs are sold each year that equals 1 every 17 seconds.

Fast food and it’s toll on our health…

I started watching the drive thru lines as I was out and about running errands and they are always packed!  This really disturbs me because not only are we on a path to self destruction with our diets, but the toll this lifestyle is taking on our health is astounding.

• Women who eat fast food twice or more per week have a 70% chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Heart disease is increased by 80% for those who eat fast food 4 or more times a week.
• Obesity is responsible for 360,000 deaths a year.

This can all be prevented by just minimalising our lives.  The time we used to delegate to our stuff we now can delegate to our health.  I realize we’re all too busy to spend excessive time at the grocery store, but there are ways to combat that too.  Many stores now offer curb side pick up, this is a great service.  You can meal plan (I use Pinterest.com) for this.  I cook a meal 4 times a week and we have left overs to eat on the run or take to lunch.

The future I see is one of obesity in all areas, obese houses, obese debt, obese bodies, obese stress, and obese commitments.  It is time to take hold of all this by thinking and doing minimal.  Start minimal in one area of your life and it will spread into all areas, making you happier AND healthier.