I don’t know about you, but summer is here and I have not achieved my summer bod goals “yet”.
Despite countless hours spent here at Cornerstone! I am working out like crazy, taking classes, training hard with my girl, Lisa, eating healthy, and limiting alcohol (ah hem). Like so many others, I start stressing… Holy cow, I have to wear a swimsuit, in public, in X amount of time!!! In full panic mode, I start researching… what can I do in the next couple of weeks? Then I regroup, because deep down I know that fad diets, yo-yo dieting, and so called “miracle” pills DO NOT WORK – at least not in the long term!
In fact, research shows that 95% of the population will regain the weight they lost after choosing these diet methods, while two thirds of those people actually gain more than they originally had intended to lose. And if you’re like me, at some point you feel like you have tried them all!! Atkins. South Beach. The Zone. I’ll try one of these thinking it will give me a jump start, maybe help me lose these last stubborn 10 pounds. This time, maybe this one will REALLY work!!
To be honest, they all have been proven to yield some weight loss BUT they can be harmful and are most likely not providing my body with the essential nutrients I need. Moreover, they often lead to weight cycling (lose weight, gain weight, repeat) which is more harmful to our bodies than actually being at a heavier weight. Most of us are more likely to return to an unhealthy eating pattern as a result because we did not learn how to eat healthy while following these diet plans.
Recently, we are hearing more and more about the Paleo diet which is focused on eating lean meat, fruit, vegetables and nuts, but will the lack of grains and dairy have a negative impact? Where will my body get necessary calcium? The Ketogenic diet, which encourages high fat consumption to put our body into ketosis thus mobilizing fat for energy, is also currently very popular. Can our bodies sustain eating like this long term? How will these diets affect our hearts, our kidneys, (our wallets, too!)? Deep down, I know I have to consider plain old cutting back. But remember, overly restrictive diets can take all the pleasure out of eating! Food is to nourish our bodies and that is something we all tend to forget. Food is not the enemy. I need to remember to enjoy what tastes good to me and not deprive myself – the goal is to think about portion control and moderation. I know I need to keep in mind that skipping meals or starving myself is never a good idea!!
I guess the take home message is this: create a healthy eating plan for YOU!! This plan will become your lifelong program for everyday good health. A good rule of thumb in the weight- lose game is to eat healthy and exercise more!
~ Kristen Fredericks, Wellness Coach, Cornerstone Doylestown
*As a member of Cornerstone, you are entitled to a COMPLIMENTARY Wellness visit!! This includes our new InBody body composition analysis, a functional assessment and a comprehensive individualized Wellness plan for your journey in health here at Cornerstone. Schedule your appointment by stopping by or calling member services at any location.
Kristen and her husband Josh showing how it’s done!