First thing is first! Stop Counting Calories!
“You are real. Your body is a living-breathing organism. It does not know what the heck the man-made term “calorie” is. It only knows if it has the right raw materials to make healthy cells”
Makes sense, right? This first blog is for those of you who have a weight loss goal in mind. Having been there I know what its like to want change so desperately and agonize over every single morsel that you put in your mouth! But the truth is, if losing weight and getting healthy was as simple as “eat less and exercise more” we would all be fit and healthy! There is always going to be a new “fad diet” promising instant and rapid weight loss.
Many people may tell you that losing weight is a simple calculation of “eating less calories and exercising more, but in fact this is not entirely true. Not all calories are created equal! Eating nutrient dense food, which is how I refer to food that is packed with lots of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and disease fighting phytochemicals is absolutely key to weight loss and optimal health!
Although there are many reasons why, the one my clients find most interesting is how eating nutrient dense food actually curbs hunger!!! Our body makes millions of cells every single minute, but the only way to get the material for those cells is through the food you eat. If you eat meals that are processed, fried, microwaved or low in fruits and vegetables, your body will not have the materials it needs to make the cells it requires and therefore will send out a “craving” for yet more food! You read that right, not enough nutrients = HUNGER.
This is one of the fundamental reasons we have such a huge epidemic of obesity in North America. We are overfed and undernourished.
This does NOT give you a free ticket to go hog wild and “stuff” yourself. It means that you are going to eat REAL food and be “mindful” of how much you are eating. Enjoy your food, smile, eat with friends and family. Put your fork down occasionally and be thankful. Most of all, pay attention to how you FEEL! You don’t need to be “full” to feel satisfied. Practice eating until you are 80% full. Doing so will allow your body to digest more optimally because it is not overloaded at any one time.
Lastly, try keeping a food diary. But don’t just write down what you eat, focus on how you feel before, during and after a meal. Start becoming your own private investigator. There are reasons you do what you do and eat what you eat. Figuring out the “why” is where the magic is.
Check out my great Soaked Oatmeal recipe!
Ciara Foy is a registered Holistic Nutritionist, weight-loss expert and Toronto-based mom to two young girls who believes in “REAL food for REAL life.” What does that mean? In Ciara’s words:“If you start something you can’t do forever, you’ve already failed.” What’s her secret? Start small and choose those lifestyle changes you can stick to, over time. BOOK your consultation with Ciara now »
