2021 is the year to focus on you, and we’re here to support you on your journey to health and help you reach your goals! We interviewed Bobbi Giudicelli, one of the founders of Read The Ingredients, to get the backstory on her inspiring health journey as well as chat more about her favorite tips for anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle and rebuild their relationship with food!
Q: When did you decide to start paying more attention to your health?
A: From my late teens until my mid-30s, I struggled with a long history of eating disorders. Society has, for a long time now, had an unrealistic expectation of how women should look. As a result, I, as well as so many other women, based my worth on how I looked and how much I weighed. This toxic mindset led to a variety of health issues, one of them being insane levels of fatigue. I reached a point where walking around to do normal chores would leave me feeling absolutely exhausted.
It wasn’t until the birth of my last child that I finally decided I needed to make a major lifestyle change and rebuild my relationship with food. I learned everything there was to learn about nutrition and how to use food as medicine. When you’re stuck in a toxic relationship with food, it’s difficult to understand how hard you are on yourself, but when you finally decide to take control of your life, it’s amazing how much you can change. Today, I have more energy at 65 than I did at 35.
Q: What did you love most about transitioning to a healthier lifestyle?
A: I was amazed at how quickly I felt a difference in my energy. The effects were almost immediate. For the first couple of weeks it was definitely a challenge to cut out some strong cravings, like sweets and diet soda, but it’s all worth how amazing I feel today. I no longer am focused on how much I weigh, and yes, I “naturally” lost some weight, but I am now focused on how I feel. I was no longer waking up in the morning and calculating how many calories I will allow myself to eat that day. Branching out of what I was used to in order to start my health journey was liberating. I finally felt like I was much more comfortable in my own skin, and I am much more available for others.
Q: What are your top tips for someone just starting to transition into living a healthier life?
A: Choosing what you eat is habitual. Make a promise to yourself that you will cut out one unhealthy element from your diet, whether it’s sugar, gluten, dairy, or something else for 4-6 weeks. See if you feel any difference. What I found is that both the cravings and the “habits” of grabbing convenient, unhealthy foods will change pretty quickly. You want to create good habits to replace the habits that don’t serve you. The one substance I’ve cut out that I absolutely swear by is sugar. You will find it’s incredibly addictive and dulls your taste buds for the good foods. If you need something sweet, opt for the taste and nutrients of fruit.
Q: 2021 is a time for new beginnings. What are your own health goals for this year?
A: To be completely honest, I’m really satisfied with my health and nutrition right now. If I had to set one, it would be a long-term goal to stay healthy enough to continue doing what I love as I age, like being able to take care of and ride my horses. It’s what drives me to go to the gym everyday whether I am challenging myself for a strenuous workout, or just getting into motion to take on the day. If I can accomplish that, I’ll know I’ve succeeded.
Feeling inspired? The perfect time to kickstart your journey to becoming the best you yet is now! Take control of your health and share your highs, lows, and everything in-between with us on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We’re here to support you!