As a trainer, I have to talk to clients and potential clients a lot about food. I never really gave much thought to food, except that I like to eat as often and as much as I can, until knowing about food became part of my job. I guess I should say nutrition, not food, but I'm not trying to be too PC here so I'm just gonna stick with 'food'. I love food and eating and I think everyone should love their food.
I think that you can eat all the delicious foods that you love and still reach your health and fitness goals. And, guess what, it doesn't take starving, or taking weird diet pills or suffering through weird juice cleanses or any other diet fads that tend to spread like wildfire.
All it takes is a little patience. Making permanent lifestyle changes takes some getting used to. You can't cut out any particular food group all together, that's not healthy. You can't eat the way cavemen did, that's not realistic in this era in history. You can't starve yourself, unless you have a death wish and if that's the case, then I'm very sorry I can't help you but I can refer you to a good psychotherapist. You can't substitute a healthy, well balanced diet with supplements, that's pretty much the same as starving yourself. What I'm saying is, don't get sucked into the latest diet fads because none of them are healthy.
So, when talking about food and weight loss or food and healthy living the conversation is the exactly the same. Eat well balanced meals that include all the things we know are good for our bodies. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fresh fish, drink milk if you're not lactose intolerant. Avoid excess sugar and overly processed foods. And drink enough water. It sounds simple, and it really is. There's no tricks or secrets or miracle pills. There's just choices. The choices that you make every day. You will lose weight if you choose to eat oatmeal for breakfast, and not pancakes dripping with butter and maple syrup or bacon and sausage along with your scrambled eggs. You will feel better if you choose to drink water with your meals instead of sugary sodas or alcohol. You will look better if you choose to put some fresh vegetables on your dinner plate.
Just choices. Food and eating should be a joy and it should be just as joyous when we choose the healthier options that we have at our disposal.
Here's what I did. About 10 or 12 years ago, I chose to stop drinking sodas and eating candy bars for dinner. Once, I noticed that I really didn't need my daily coke or pepsi or rootbeer I stopped wanting them. Then, a few years after that, I decided to cut down on the amount of cheese I was eating, and again when I noticed that my food tasted just as good without cheese on it, why add it on? Fast forward another few years, I switched from eating lots of pasta to eating more fresh veggies and more fruits in my days and I noticed that my energy levels changed. I stopped feeling starved and tired at 4 in the afternoon, I stopped craving sweets and carbs and my go-to snacks became apples and pears instead of bagels and cookies. It all took time and I didn't try to do it all at once. That was important for me and I think it's important for all of us. Try to change one unhealthy choice for one healthy choice at a time and those choices will add up and more likely stick with you over your lifetime.
So, let's eat! Just eat healthy!
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