Fruits, Sugars, Diets, and Weight Loss can be so confusing!
Why is weight loss so difficult? Why are ‘diets’ challenging? Why is ‘sugar’ so confusing? I have a link below that explains sugars, refined and in whole foods, for easier understanding of how all these sugars affect our bodies.
There are specific ‘diets’ out there that are tailored for weight loss. And some of them actually work. In a controlled environment—i.e., your kitchen. Yes, you can eat on your ‘diet’ when eating out, however it can be challenging. It can be done when you are highly motivated. You must stick to the parameters of the ‘diet’ and you will surely lose the weight. I have seen it. There are so many ways of eating out there, and the common bond they often share is they promise ‘weight loss.’ As I said, some of them work, for a while, and as long as you stay on them. Great if you stay highly motivated. What happens when you lose the motivation? 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 behind. The body was ‘shocked’ too fast, and it simply does not like to be shocked. You will 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. Then you think there is something wrong with you, or you just don’t have the will power. Remember you are fighting you body’s cravings. Your body craves the long-time food. 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. Therefore, our bodies always crave the same foods. So, how do you change this? Seems like an impossibility, right? Wrong. Here is what you need to make this work: desire, persistence, knowledge, and a huge dose of patience. Yes, take your time making changes. When you make changes slowly, your body does not go into ‘shock’ at the change. It is gradually getting used to the new foods, new ways, new habits. There is no magic pill, no magic time, no magic food. It is truly desire, persistence, knowledge and patience. We have an abundance of foods from which we get all the nutrients our bodies need. We cannot 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), that we might not want to do that again for a bit. When I eat ‘unhealthy’ foods, it is almost always with someone else. It is when I eat out, or share food, or go to an event. I stay pretty regimented when I eat at home, however, I am 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? Yes, because I have 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.) And, btw, 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 speaking of sugar, people often throw anything with ‘sugar’ in the mix, such as grains and fruit. 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 drink (although these can be satisfying in other ways).
Here is the link to the article on how this happens. Yes, you can stuff up on a plate of brown rice, or a huge piece of cake, or or even a huge bowl of iceberg lettuce, but 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, the brown rice alone won’t give you the vitamins and minerals you get from fruits and veggies, and for the next few hours, you might not feel so good if you ate a lot of sugar. And sugar drains your energy. Even the next day you can feel your body reacting to the sugar you ate the day before (dull, sagging energy). You can eat too much fruit, too many vegetables, too much protein, too many complex carbs, and too much healthy fat. So, in order to achieve that which you wish (getting healthier and feeling more fit, and 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. And if you are looking for more support with your weight loss and fitness goals, check out our next Tabata Healthy Weight Loss and Fitness Workshop FREE and coming up Saturday!
Laters! Clara E MinorMaster Trainer-InstructorMinorsan Self-Defense & Fitness
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