Live To Eat or Eat To Live?

I'm pretty sure since the very first time the word "food" was spoken, life has revolved around it.  Food, as well as alcohol, has been the main focus of socialization for as long as any one can remember and we have habitually adapted to that social standard.  Now this wasn't a horrible thing back in the times where we were doing hard labor i.e. working our lands by hand, but these days there's alot less movement going on.  I don't know what the statistics are but I'm going to bet the majority, as well as myself, are currently working seditary jobs.

The above thought came after I read that southern food queen Paula Deen has officially been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. To be honest it's no surprise. I've watched her show and coined her the queen of "food porn" because she is not afraid of using traditional ingredients.  Since her diagnosis she has teamed up with a drug used to manage diabetes stating:

"I was determined to share my positive approach and not let diabetes stand in the way of enjoying my life. I'm excited to team up with Novo Nordisk on this initiative to show others that managing diabetes does not have to stop you from enjoying the things you love"

Now I'm not a doctor but I'm pretty sure a change in diet is recommended by doctors in order to reverse your diagnosis of diabetes.  People think they have to live with the disease but I have seen proper nutrition and exercise reverse diabetes. I'm definitely interested to see how she does with this new drug she's endorsing. She obviously has no plans to reverse the diagnosis.

Through my whole clean eating journey I have come to learn that there is more to life than eating food.  I know that sounds contradictive as I'm right in the middle of my contest prep and I count down the hours until my next feeding time however I have heard so many comments from people in the same position as me talking about how upset their loved ones get when they refuse to over indulge with them.  Refusal of food has now become the ultimate insult in some circles and it's unnecessary.  Calculating how well you live your life by how much you have eaten is a sad sad slope that too many people are sliding and I for one won't follow.