I eat whatever I want. I don't follow any diet. The reason I

"I eat whatever I want. I don't follow any diet. The reason I workout is so that I can eat. If it's a bikini shoot, of course you should not eat a pizza a day before. Otherwise I am not a dieting kind of a person. If I am hungry, I make sure I eat." These words, spoken by Amyra Dastur, speak to the profound simplicity and wisdom of embracing balance in one’s approach to food, exercise, and life. In an age where dieting often becomes a restrictive force, Dastur's perspective challenges us to embrace freedom, moderation, and self-awareness when it comes to how we nourish and move our bodies. She acknowledges the necessity of taking care of oneself through exercise, but rejects the notion that food should be a source of guilt, shame, or deprivation. Instead, she champions the importance of listening to one's body and honoring its true needs.

The ancients were not strangers to the idea of balance in their approach to food and exercise. Hippocrates, often considered the father of modern medicine, famously declared, "Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food." He understood that a nourishing diet was essential to maintaining vitality, but he also recognized that one could not live a healthy life without considering the whole—mind, body, and spirit. Similarly, the ancient Greeks believed in the importance of not just nourishing the body, but in maintaining a harmonious balance between activity and rest, indulgence and restraint. Dastur’s words mirror this ancient wisdom. She does not subscribe to extreme dietary rules, but instead practices the art of listening to her body’s needs, while balancing exercise and enjoyment.

Consider the great Roman gladiators of ancient times. These warriors were renowned not only for their combat skills but also for their physical conditioning. Their training was grueling, and their diets were carefully controlled—yet they were not forbidden to indulge in the pleasures of food after battle. In fact, the Romans often celebrated with grand feasts, eating in abundance to replenish their strength and honor their victories. They knew that strength came from not just the right amount of physical exercise, but from enjoying life and honoring the body's needs. The ancient warriors understood that a healthy lifestyle is not about rigid restriction but about nourishing the body when it calls for sustenance, much as Dastur suggests in her own approach to food.

Dastur’s approach to exercise and eating offers a reflection of this philosophy—one rooted in the idea that moderation, not deprivation, is the key to sustainable health. Her words echo the teachings of Aristotle, who believed in the golden mean: a life lived in moderation, avoiding both excess and deficiency. In the realm of dieting, this means not succumbing to the temptation of the extremes—either indulging in overindulgence or obsessing over restrictive diets. Instead, it is about finding a middle path, where eating what you enjoy is harmonized with maintaining the strength to thrive. Like the ancient philosophers, Dastur embraces the freedom to choose what feels right for her body, while acknowledging the importance of balance in all things.

The lesson here is not just about the right to enjoy food, but about the power of self-awareness. Dastur’s approach encourages us to pay attention to what our bodies truly need, and to recognize when our bodies are telling us to indulge or to restrict. Just as Marcus Aurelius reflected on the importance of living with purpose and intention, we must make mindful choices about what we consume, recognizing that we do not need to follow the dictates of fad diets or societal pressures. We must learn to trust our own instincts and needs, and honor the body’s call for nourishment—whether that means a pizza or a salad.

Dastur’s insight also brings to the forefront the role of exercise in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Movement, as the ancients understood, is vital to ensuring that the body remains strong and free of illness. The Spartans, known for their intense physical training, understood that to be ready for battle, one had to be prepared both physically and mentally. Exercise, as Dastur points out, is not just about maintaining an ideal body for appearances, but about the freedom it provides—freedom to eat, to enjoy, and to live fully. The act of working out enables us to balance the pleasures of food with the needs of the body, just as the ancient athletes did in their rigorous preparations for the Olympic Games.

In practical terms, Dastur’s words offer us a roadmap for health that does not rely on extreme measures or obsessive control. To live well, we must learn to listen to our bodies, acknowledging when they are hungry and when they need movement. We must honor the freedom to enjoy life, but also embrace the discipline of regular exercise. This balance is the foundation for a sustainable, vibrant life—one where we can enjoy the pleasures of food and the rewards of physical strength. By living with awareness and moderation, we will find true well-being, just as the ancients sought to achieve through their dedication to balance and self-care.

Thus, let us take Amyra Dastur’s words to heart, embracing a lifestyle that honors both the body and the spirit. Let us reject the extremes of dieting and indulgence, and instead live with the wisdom of moderation, choosing foods that nourish us, and engaging in movement that strengthens us. In this way, we shall cultivate a life of health, joy, and freedom, and pass on this legacy of balanced living to future generations.