Fruits, Sugars, Diets, & Weight Loss can be so confusing!
Fruits, sugars, diets and weight loss can be so confusing and challening for most people to understand. Why is weight loss so difficult, ‘diets’ so confusing, and what’s wrong with ‘sugar’ anyway? Sugars affect our bodies in unhealthy ways when we eat them too much and too often.
There are specific ‘diets’ that are tailored for weight loss, and in reality, some of them actually work in a controlled environment, ie, your kitchen.
You can eat on your ‘diet’ when eating out, however it can be challenging, as you have to be highly motivated to adjust your options in restaurants. When you stick to the parameters of the ‘diet’ and get proper exercise, you can lose the weight, as I’ve seen it. However, this doesn’t always work as you get older. Hormones come into play, and that presents another challenge. Getting your hormones balanced is another topic, and not for this article. There are so many ways of eating to lose weight. If you’re concerned about what might work for you, check with your Dietician or Nutritionist.
Beware of promises
The promise of ‘weight loss’ is the common bond that draws people to go on specific ‘diets.’ Different focus is placed on fruits, veggies, protein, fats and carbs, which can make it very confusing. Your experience isn’t necessarily what was promised. (Yes, marketers can get ‘tricky’ in their messaging, so just be aware of any disclaimers.
Some of these secific ‘diets’ work for a while, and others work for as long as you stay on them. This works great if you stay highly motivated. What happens when you lose the motivation? Yiu then stop the ‘diet,’ The problem is that if you make a sudden and drastic change to your eating habits, most people will get a response from their bodies that is so powerful, that they must go back to the foods, and the ways, they left previosuly.
The body was ‘shocked’ too fast, and it simply doesn’t like to be shocked. You’ll be craving those foods you are used to eating, and those which you’ve been eating for a long time. It is easy to go back to how and what you used to eat.
Because diets & weight loss can be so confusing, it’s hard
On top of that, fruits & sugars are so tasty and addictive. For many years we were told we needed ‘will power’ to lose weight, and some people might still hear this. Remember that you’re fighting your cravings. Your body craves the long-time foods you’ve been eating forever. Our bodies are brilliant, and they love security too. They want to stay the same. Each of us has a set point (metabolism), and each of us has eaten in a specific way for a long time.
Whether it’s in a haphazard way at attempts at weight loss, or it’s always the same-o same-o, we always buy the same foods. It’s a habit. Therefore, our bodies always crave the same foods.
How do you change this?
Seems like an impossibility, right? Surprisingly, it’s very possible. Here’s what you need to make this work: desire, persistence, knowledge, and a huge dose of patience. Why the patience? You need patience so you can take your time making changes because when you make changes slowly, your body doesn’t go into ‘shock’ at the change. It’s gradually getting used to the new foods, new ways, and new habits, as you’ll allowing it to adapt. Truly, you must give it time.
There is no magic pill, no magic time, and no magic food. Desire, persistence, knowledge and patience are needed. Foods have an abundance of nutrients, and we can get all we need from all the foods that grow on this Earth. We can’t get everything we need from just fruits and vegetables, even though they are ‘healthy’ for us. We need protein too, and we most certainly need healthy fats. Even ‘unhealthy foods’ have their place. If nothing else, they remind us (after we have consumed them and feel like crap), that we might not want to do that again for a bit.
My quest to avoid sugar
In my search to avoid (remember, I said ‘avoid,’ not eliminate entirely) sugar, I found some organic unsweetened dark chocolate chips. I am discovering different ways to make them palatable (i.e., sweet) without adding refined sugars, and how to use them to make my fave chocolate goodies.
When I eat ‘unhealthy’ foods, it’s almost always with someone else, as when I eat out, or share food, or go to an event. I stay pretty regimented when I eat at home, however, I’m not strict! And this regimentation is because I have eaten this way for so long. Remember, above I said that your body craves what you eat the most? Because I’ve been eating this way for so long, my body craves healthy foods. (I know somewhere out there that dark chocolate is in this mix..lol…yes, that is my go-to fun food.)
Fruits & sugars aren’t exctly the same, thus the confusion
When speaking of sugars, people often throw anything into the mix, such as grains and fruits. Yes, these have natural sugars in them, and research shows they react in an entirely different way when they go through the digestive process and are used by our bodies. Eating whole foods in their natural state gives us a feeling of satisfaction (even from the beauty of the food and all the colors in fruits and vegetables), and satisfaction that you just can’t get from refined sugar and sugary foods and drinks (although I get that these can be satisfying in other ways). Natural fruits also contan nutrients our bodies need.
Eating too much of anything can be detrimental
You can stuff up on a plate of brown rice, eat an entire 16 oz steak, get in a huge piece of cake, or big bowl of fruit—and maybe even a huge bowl of iceberg lettuce. Just remember that eating too much of anything is not a good thing. The lettuce will leave you feeling full for just a bit, and then that ’empty’ feeling sets in quickly. The brown rice alone won’t give you the vitamins and minerals you get from fruits and veggies.
If you eat a lot of sugar, it’ll most likely drain your energy within 20-30 minutes. Even the next day you can feel your body reacting to the sugar you ate the day before (dull, sagging energy). The steak will give you lots of protein and no vitamins. You can eat too much of everything
Yes you can overdo it
An overabundance of vegetables, protein, complex carbs, and even healthy fats puts your body off balance. In order to achieve a healthier, lean body, and feeling more fit, (even if weight loss is not a part of your intention), do it s-l-o-w-l-y. Your body will be happily surprised without the shock. If you’re looking for more support with your weight loss and fitness goals, connect with me HERE.
Clara E Minor
Master Trainer-InstructorMinorsan Self-Defense & Fitness