Just tell me what to do...
Updated: Feb 24, 2022
Some of the questions I have heard at the end of health histories are...
Well, what's wrong with me?
What should I eat?
What should I be doing differently?
You're not going to like my answer....but there is no magic answer out there that's a one-size-fits-all. I wish it was that easy where I could just give a list of foods that will magically transform you into the body you are working towards, but I think we all know if that was true, we wouldn't have such an epidemic of obesity in this country.
Should you count calories or track points? Well, how has that worked out for you in the past? If you don't like tracking those things, then don't do it! Simple as that. It can be tedious, time consuming, and give a bit too much control to our foods, so it doesn't have to be this way. For some, it keeps them accountable and they need a bit more structure.
Do I need to exclude things like gluten, sugar, dairy, carbs? This is something I would need to go a bit deeper into, as it varies so much. How do you feel when you do eat these things? Have you ever noticed a change in your body when you had them? Sometimes we don't know if we have a food sensitivity until we take a break from these foods for a while- such as an elimination diet. I can get into elimination diets another day, but if you feel one of those foods causes you to have skin breakouts, bloat, brain fog, or lack of energy- might be worthwhile to take a food sensitivity test or try an elimination diet.
Is journaling necessary when trying to lose weight? It might be, but it can also cause some people to get obsessive over their every bite. When you're a busy mom, the last thing you have time for is writing something down. Personally, I know that when I get a pen out, my daughter takes off with it. Journaling might only happen at night, but it doesn't have to be a full blown diary entry- it can be just a jot of all the foods you had in the day, a rating of your cravings and energy levels, or just a note when something felt kind of off after a meal. You need to personalize this- make it something you actually look forward to doing or something at least realistic for your busy lifestyle.
Is there a time of day to eat? This one is easy...when you're hungry. Now, knowing your hunger cues is something to dig a bit deeper into, but for now let's just say we eat when an apple or broccoli sounds good to us, and we stop eating before the idea of going for a walk sounds tedious. You shouldn't feel like you need sweatpants after dinner, but you also shouldn't feel you could eat an entire sandwich after lunch. There's a happy medium, and that's something I can help you find.
My easy to follow guidelines for losing weight are-
Eat the whole foods that fuel you and feel good
Eat when you're physically hungry
Move your body in a way that makes you smile after the activity
Treat your body with the utmost respect {spend the time and effort now preventively so you don't have to later treating disease}
It's that simple! It's really a lot of common sense, that we sadly look over because we are so pushed towards one diet after another. We make it more complex than it really has to be.
If you're burnt out of what to cook for the family and not sure where to turn next, try my 5- Day Meal Plan that includes recipes for REAL food and a grocery list to get you to the store right away. These are quick and easy recipes- if you have any food sensitivities, you can make swaps easily. I change up the recipes all the time to meet the needs of my family. Hope this helps!