Chef Chris Valdes shot to fame as a finalist on Season 14 of Food Network Star and is a nutritious ingredients such as beans, vegetables, lean proteins, seafood, avocado, fresh herbs, citrus and spices. “But at the same time, some of the comfort foods that I grew up loving can be fried, heavy in carbohydrates, or served in very large portions. I’ve now learned that I don’t have to stop eating the foods that connect me to my culture. Instead, I can change the cooking method, adjust the portions, and make smarter ingredient choices while keeping the flavors that make those dishes special.”
Of course, the foods that we crave are often tied to our emotions. “Since I was a kid, food was love, comfort, family, and celebration,” says Valdes. “My dad would treat me to chicken nuggets almost daily. “I grew up in our family restaurant, where food was around us 24/7. And, growing up Latino, it felt like everything provided a reason to gather and culinary school would make its mark. “There still isn’t really an ‘OFF’ switch,” he says of his appetite. “I even daydream about food.”
At 23 years old, Valdes was told that his cholesterol was “far too high,” noting that this was a “wake up call.” But his initial efforts were simply not sustainable. He hired a trainer and threw himself into the gym, but when he scaled back the sessions, much of the weight came back. “At 25, I even underwent liposuction,” shares Valdes. “At the time, part of me believed that if I could physically change my body, maybe everything else would fall into place, but it didn’t. What I learned was that changing my body didn’t automatically change my habits, my mindset, or my relationship with food. Liposuction could change what I saw in the mirror, but it couldn’t teach me discipline or consistency… I had to do that for myself.”
The chef, who often wows audiences on Good Morning America, knew that his identity and his livelihood revolved around food so abstaining was not an option, but changing his relationship with eating would become key. So, to stay active, Valdes tried, and then discovered a lasting love for CrossFit, and these sessions also served to improve his mental outlook.
“I didn’t have to think about everything I was carrying or what tomorrow looked like. I just need to get through the next rep,” explains the chef, noting that he built up healthier rituals by committing to the 21/90 rule, which theorizes that it takes 21 days to build a new habit, and then an additional 90 days to make it stick.
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