Millions of people struggle with their weight. It is crazy to think that obesity could be a problem in this modern age. We have access to more information and resources than ever before, yet many people are suffering from self inflicted obesity related diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. It is a common problem in our society that people don’t know what to eat or are addicted to “bad foods”. We are constantly marketed to about what tastes good or what experience we should have in dining “for pleasure”.
One of the biggest and best keys to losing fat is to eat better. But somehow most people can’t. The ones I survey confess that think that they know how to eat. Their ideas include cutting carbs, stopping consumption of red meat, counting calories or even counting points.
Many people know they should not indulge in fast food or sugar and high fat. But somehow restaurants draw them in as if they were a magnet. Chemical addiction keeps them loyal. “Drive through junkies” mean well but just can’t help themselves when ordering take out. Millions of dollars are spent on meals that could be made at home and in proper ways. The marketing is clever, and they know how to get those dollars out of our pockets. The result might be spending additional money on healthcare as a consequence of aging quicker. Obesity related illnesses are on the rise, and it is time we took control of our own situation.
The question becomes “How does one eat better?” The keys to eating better are simple:
1) set a goal and desired results from eating better
2) hire a professional that can offer you true information and can help you navigate tough times
3) stay committed
4) jump back on when you fall off
5) be accountable
6) stop looking for an easy fix.
Let’s look deeper into motivations for eating better while simultaneously setting a goal. As a master level certified trainer, I help busy ladies get results in minimal time at home. We use the scale only as a baseline tool. Our day one looks like stepping on the scale once a month. In some cases I have my ladies check scale weight once every 3 months. It all depends on their emotional state, as some become severely depressed for no reason.
I have a client that lost 40 pounds doing my progressive fitness program. She has several injuries and even an autoimmune disorder that improved with a step by step at home routine. After correcting some of her issues and being consistent on my plan, this amazing woman stepped on the scale. She announced her weight to her spouse, who decided to write down and track her numbers. This cut deep into her self esteem and she went from losing 40 pounds to gaining it all back because they recorded her daily weight. I learned of this and immediately told her to trash the scale (and I meant it!). Today she is not obsessed and is doing the actions that will get her results again: regular exercise and eating better. Last time we connected she reported no more self torture by “watching her weight”.
To learn how to eat better you must learn skills and scientific information. Many people rely on Google to educate them on what to eat and when to eat. Because the internet is a hub of information, many diets conflict. Furthermore, there are many schools of thought on how to get results. Where some programs bait you in with promises, it’s always tricky to mix and match info. Eating right is a customizable process that only a seasoned professional can assist with. The ultimate say so must be given by a doctor or physician.
Because nutrition impacts the body in many ways, underlying health conditions can either improve or worsen. You know you ate the wrong thing when you suffer from severe constipation, inflamed joints, or even low energy. Subsequently, eating the right foods will assist in energy building and fat loss. How do you know if the right professional for nutrition education is sitting in front of you?
First off, ask them where they got their certification and what it was in. Request testimonials, research their client feedback online and even ask to speak with one of the people they have helped. Seek to know their delivery style of the information and level of adaptability. Helping people navigate the uncharted territory of eating better requires patience and humility.
I once hired a coach that started my session by scratching down a foods list on a paper towel. He stood at his register and told me the “black and white rules” of how to end up on a bodybuilding stage through nutrition. He didn’t ask me my thoughts or my struggles. This coach wanted me to send him my progress photos to his cell phone and never checked up on me after that session. Needless to say I didn’t follow his “plan”, nor did I send him weekly progress photos. I felt he was unprofessional because he could have used paper to write on. Furthermore, it was a “one way communication” feeling because he never engaged me in knowing more how to customize to my needs. I was embarrassed to send him photos of me weekly as I had never done that before. I don’t think he write knew how to progress a “newbie” fitness competitor who was intimidated by high level nutrition (competition foods tend to be repetitive and some meals might appear bland). I would have appreciated a progressive plan that phased me away from bad eating towards a clean lifestyle nutrition wise.
How do you find a way to eat better for the long haul? You learn to stay committed. Think about it, if you start and stop, start and stop you will only be like a gerbil on a wheel going no where. You need to get started eating better, be patient when your energy shifts, and decide that no one and nothing will get you off track. Commit to writing out your eating plan and following it.
If you fall off, get right back on. “I don’t have the discipline” you say. Make sure to watch your words, because what you confess is what your outcome will profess. Simple words turn into actions which turn into results. Say something new like “I will commit to staying on my clean eating plan” and “If I fall off my clean eating plan, I will get immediately back on”. This creates a new pathway for your success.
I’ve spent time being an extreme thinker. At times I have created an all or nothing thinking pattern around eating better. There is no perfect person and there is no reason to throw in the towel once you eat something you aren’t supposed to. I start fresh and create opportunities to surprise myself. That’s how I went from a size 22/24 to a size 2 in less than two years. I went from a frumpy schoolteacher to a svelte fitness model published in magazines and featured on weightloss commercials.
Be accountable to someone other than yourself. Take and keep measurements and progress photos. The magic is in the journey. Once you are committed and you inch your way forward, the momentum will spark more success. Sharing documentation of your body will impress them and you. Don’t shy away from one of the biggest tools you have: measurements and photos. You don’t need to focus on them, just use them as mile markers in your journey. Within time you will appreciate this important information that helped you in your path to a higher level of fitness.
Finally, in learning how to eat healthier stop looking for an easy fix. Recognize ways that you have been programmed to crave fast food. Not only have you been conditioned to want it fast, but you come to depend on a certain flavor. If you don’t actually go through a drive through or have a delivery service bring it to your door you might save some money and also shrink your backside. Imagine creating fresh meals from your kitchen that are prepared in simple ways. Learn to bake your foods in large amounts called batches. Save them in containers and be willing to have your prepared meals become your “fast food”. Get in the groove of mindset shift by swapping overpriced and unhealthy options for meals that get you results.
Each and every one of us is required to take care of ourselves. The question is “do we really want to take care of ourselves?” It seems that the gauge
for health comes from social media, where hot before and after bodies are seen. Know that all you see is smoke and mirrors and might not be a true representation of weight loss. We need to get back to the basics of realistic goal setting, hiring a qualified professional, starting and staying committed, jumping back on our plan, being accountable, all while avoiding an easy fix for meals. I believe in you and I want to read your success story about getting results with better eating. Make sure to email me at nissasalasfitness@gmail.com so I can cheer you on.