There are things in my life that I was able to control and some that felt beyond my control. This was very evident in my struggles with obesity.
I come from a large family, and I do not mean the actual number of family members. At some THYME, I believed that I was destined to be overweight due to family traits (genetics), and that thought stopped there. Being healthy was not on my radar.
The image of my body that was in my mind was vastly different than what people actually saw. I perceived myself as being a cartoon character from a famous biscuit company. This controlled my actions, and I eventually fulfilled that perception.
(Keep reading, I will get to CILANTRO in a moment.)
Prior to the point in my life when people wanted to poke my belly for a giggle, I had already thought I was obese. I wasn’t, and there are pictures to prove it. Anne and I were cataloging pictures taken by our parents, and I came across a picture of us when we were dating in high school. We were at the beach, and I had my shirt off. I was shocked…I wish I had realized that the perception I had in my mind about my body image was so wrong.
Over THYME, in both pre-TOPS life and during my TOPS journey, I shied away from events where shorts and being shirtless were accepted. Even when I was with TOPS friends and knew it was a safe, non-judging environment, there I was in jeans and a button-down shirt.
Things we can control, things we cannot control. Here is where CILANTRO spices up this story. If you like CILANTRO, I am happy for you—I do not like it. It tastes like soap, and now I know why. It is in my genes (not the ones I wear at the beach). Genetics play a part in how I process certain compounds of this herb.
While this was certainly a PAPRIKA moment for CILANTRO, let me refract further on this concept of what I can or can not control.
Genetics obviously plays an especially important role in our lives. However, I want to offer some SAGE thoughts. About half of our tendencies toward our weight can be influenced by genetics. However, this does not mean that we are stuck in a double helix.
Genetics sets the thermostat, and our lifestyle controls the temperature. Diet, exercise, sleep, supportive/positive attitudes, accountability and acknowledgement of success all influence where that thermostat gets set. Many choices exist in all these aspects, and how we use them determines our fate.
I may not like CILANTRO, but there are other spices (choices) that I can make to help me on my journey to longevity. Which reminds me of a story about LAVENDER that I will refract on next THYME. Until then, keep focusing on your BASIL and PAPRIKA moments…take control.
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum): Cilantro is a leafy green herb of the coriander plant. It is widely used in Mexican, Latin American, Indian, Middle Eastern and Asian cuisines. It has a bright, fresh, citrus flavor that adds freshness to dishes such as salsa, tacos, curries, soups and salads. Cilantro is a good source of vitamins A, C and K and contains antioxidants that may help support overall health. While many enjoy its distinctive taste, some individuals taste a soapy flavor due to a genetic variation that affects how certain compounds in the herb are detected.
