Ahh. Christmas goodies. Cookie exchanges. Kids school parties. Work events. There are so many opportunities to eat sugary, low nutrient, yummy foods during the Christmas holiday. Suddenly, the bathroom scale is reading 10 extra pounds. Ugh. Now the logical decision is for your New Year’s resolution to be how you will lose the weight you just gained.
According to Forbes Magazine, 40% of us choose our New Year’s Resolution to get healthy. 92% of all resolutions FAIL. What?!? People don’t find success eating the Cabbage Diet? Or what about the Apple Cider Cleanse? Maybe the Breatharian Diet (Yeah...go look that one up. With aligned breathing, the theory is you don’t need any food or water to survive. Really. Let’s skip that one please).
You know, the word “diet” even brings a negative connotation. Let’s start there. Diet typically means decreasing intake, calories, and/or starving the body of required nutrients. It sets you up for failure. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make changes and shift towards better nutrition. Our nutrient deficient, high fat, fast food way of eating has worldwide been named the “Typical American Diet.” Our diets are so devoid of the proper nutrition, proper serving sizes, and proper timing of food and meals, that we have become the example for the world on how NOT to eat.
So now what? Instead of dieting, let’s consider making a lifestyle adjustment. Don’t starve yourself. Eat as much as your body requires, but eat using 3 measures:
By following the above guidelines, there is no need to count calories. There are no mathematical formulas to follow. No confusing ideas or order procedures to memorize. Remember KISS? Keep it simple, stupid. Yeah. In our PC world, calling someone stupid isn’t okay, but you get the idea. Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be. I also like to suggest to measure your inches instead of living and dying by the bathroom scale. If you find it necessary, use your scale once every 2 weeks, but no more. Inches give you a more exact idea of what is happening with your body anyhow.
So, raise your New Year’s Eve glasses and let’s make a toast to no dieting resolutions for 2017. Do you have more questions? Give us a call at 678-266-3300. We would love to talk over ideas on how you can meet your goals. We would love to assist you in beginning lifestyle changes. 2017 is a great time to get healthier! Happy New Year’s!
-Dr. Shelby Plante
According to Forbes Magazine, 40% of us choose our New Year’s Resolution to get healthy. 92% of all resolutions FAIL. What?!? People don’t find success eating the Cabbage Diet? Or what about the Apple Cider Cleanse? Maybe the Breatharian Diet (Yeah...go look that one up. With aligned breathing, the theory is you don’t need any food or water to survive. Really. Let’s skip that one please).
You know, the word “diet” even brings a negative connotation. Let’s start there. Diet typically means decreasing intake, calories, and/or starving the body of required nutrients. It sets you up for failure. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make changes and shift towards better nutrition. Our nutrient deficient, high fat, fast food way of eating has worldwide been named the “Typical American Diet.” Our diets are so devoid of the proper nutrition, proper serving sizes, and proper timing of food and meals, that we have become the example for the world on how NOT to eat.
So now what? Instead of dieting, let’s consider making a lifestyle adjustment. Don’t starve yourself. Eat as much as your body requires, but eat using 3 measures:
- Fuel the machine. Your body is your vessel, like your car. You must take your car for an oil change and tire rotation or it will not run as smoothly. That means you need to exercise to strengthen your body and see your Chiropractor to ensure your body is aligned and your nervous system is functioning properly (oh come on. You knew I’d get that necessary plug in there somewhere. But it really is essential to your health). Your car also needs clean gas or it sputters and acts crazy. Before you put any food in your mouth, ask yourself: what is my body (machine) getting from eating this? If it’s a banana, you are getting potassium. If it’s a candy bar, you get nothing but empty calories.
- Eat clean. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Step away from the box. Back away. You can do it. No processed foods. The more color you can put on a single plate, the better.
- Eat mini meals. Yep. Eat more, not less. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are important, but you should also eat a morning and afternoon snack. It will cause you to decrease the size of your meals naturally, because you won’t be as hungry. It will cause your metabolism to increase, which will increase your fat burning potential. Consider making lunch your largest meal. You will increase protein intake during the heart of your day, when you need the most energy and with dinner being a smaller meal, you have a better probability of digesting your final meal completely before going to bed.
By following the above guidelines, there is no need to count calories. There are no mathematical formulas to follow. No confusing ideas or order procedures to memorize. Remember KISS? Keep it simple, stupid. Yeah. In our PC world, calling someone stupid isn’t okay, but you get the idea. Don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be. I also like to suggest to measure your inches instead of living and dying by the bathroom scale. If you find it necessary, use your scale once every 2 weeks, but no more. Inches give you a more exact idea of what is happening with your body anyhow.
So, raise your New Year’s Eve glasses and let’s make a toast to no dieting resolutions for 2017. Do you have more questions? Give us a call at 678-266-3300. We would love to talk over ideas on how you can meet your goals. We would love to assist you in beginning lifestyle changes. 2017 is a great time to get healthier! Happy New Year’s!
-Dr. Shelby Plante
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