The Nutrition Minefield
Every time I pick up a magazine (which is generally when I go to the dentist or doctors) it seems there is a new wonder diet emblazoned across the front cover. They all promise you will achieve your goal bikini body in next to no time if you follow the eating plan provided. Some advocate cutting out carbs, some say cut out fats, some encourage you to eat according to your blood type then others want you to only have juice for a week. They all seem to be backed up by “scientific” research and offer people struggling with their weight a lifeline to cling on to.
Over the past 20yrs of working in the fitness Industry, I have seen countless “fad” diets come and go. Everyone I speak to seems to have a different idea of what works and what doesn’t, and the information coming out in the mass media is constantly changing and contradicting itself. People pay a fortune for powder’s, pills and detox kits that they think will help them finally manage to control their weight. Any wonder I have so many confused clients coming to me asking me to help them work their way through this nutrition minefield.
My advice is the same now as it was when I first started working in the Industry. DO NOT DIET. It’s simple, stay away from the fad’s and don’t be enticed by the lure of quick fix products, they don’t work. Getting caught up on the “diet’ treadmill can be demoralizing.
Before I go any further, let me make it very clear that this is my opinion only, and I respect anyone that feels differently.
The best results I have had is when my clients have learnt to understand the relationship food has with their body, and to set up an eating plan that they can sustain for the rest of their lives.
Our food today has become so processed and modified that it bears little resemblance to what it started out as and has lost a lot of the nutritional value along the way. A good example of this is Rolled Oats. In their original form, they are full of fiber and goodness. A bowl of porridge is a satisfying, healthy way to start your day. However to fit in with our busy lifestyle, you can now get oats in the quick cook form. They have been refined so they only take 1min in the microwave. To make life even easier you can also get them in little packets with different flavour’s added (artificial sweeteners). Now they taste better, take less time to prepare but have lost a lot of the goodness they started with.
What I advocate is to eat as many unprocessed, whole foods as possible. Try to sit down to a meal that hasn’t come out of a packet or a tin. Simple meals full of fresh fruit and vegetables along with some protein are not only delicious but also good for you. While it might take a bit more time to prepare, the results for your body will be worth it. Eat bread that is full of grains and fiber. Brown rice is better than white, snack on fruit and nuts, not biscuits and cakes. Drink lots of water and stay away from soft drinks and processed juices. It doesn’t have to be confusing or difficult.
Don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad eating day, just put it behind you and get back on track the next day.
If you incorporate consistent exercise and healthy eating into your lifestyle you can get off the “diet” treadmill and achieve your goals.
Remember, “We are what we eat”.