If you've been around for a little bit (or watched my last youtube video), you'd know that I don't count calories or go on diets. However, this is 100% what I did when I started getting healthy. Here's what changed and why these don't work. (Remember to consult your doctor before changing your eating and fitness habits). Fad Diets
If there's a diet program out there, I've probably tried it (except for 1 Keto...I'm definitely not in support of that one). As we begin the new year, a lot of companies will be pushing products and programs that are supposed to help you reach your goals--and often in a short amount of time. While there are people who can vouch for these programs, the main problem with them is that they're not sustainable--and they're not meant to be. Take the Whole30 or Paleo for example. (I've done it 1.5 times). Whole30 is literally marketed as a 30-day reset. As a result of my 30-day challenge, I ended up lactose-intolerant and (with paleo as well) incredibly sick because my body wasn't used to processing normal foods (like whole wheat bread). It's 2 years later and I'm still having to pay extra for dairy-free milk (and I LOVE milk.) Another problem with these programs is the limitations. All of them have crazy rules and regulations you must abide by on day 1. That means a "cold-turkey" drop of most things you eat on a regular basis. While I'm all for being conscious of what you put in your body, it makes it extra difficult for the human body and brain to maintain these food plans long-term because of the withdrawal. If someone is told by their doctor that they need to limit sugar, they only have that 1 thing they need to focus on. If someone goes on one of these diets that says to eliminate caffeine, alcohol, carbohydrates, and sugars, that's 4 things to focus on! As a result, when it gets difficult to go cold-turkey on everything at once, there's a greater chance the person will drop the diet and will see this as a "failure." It's not. It's your body trying to tell you something. Supplements When I started to get really heavily into weightlifting again and did Crossfit, I used supplements like BCAAs, protein powder, fish oil, and L-carnitine. I did all this on my own without talking to a doctor first--and ended up wasting a lot of money. Over the last few years, protein has been a major fad. While it is supposed to help you gain muscle and I definitely have a protein-based snack before or after I work out, we've been going a little overboard on the protein. Only about 2 12-20% of your diet needs to be composed of protein, which is a lot less than people seem to be consuming. Also, it's much healthier to get your protein from natural sources (meats, beans, nuts, etc.) rather than processed powders. The BCAAs, fish oil, and L-Carnitine were meant to help my recovery time between workouts. While they were supposed to help decrease soreness, increase energy, and help with my weight loss, I was just kinda shoving stuff into my body that I heard other people used. Did I feel less sore? Nope. Did I have more energy? Yeah! Because I was working at a desk job and wasn't on my feet until my workout. In the end, if it's not doctor-recommended--specifically for you--don't ingest it. Just ride out the soreness and the sleepiness naturally. It's better to listen to your body than take things that are supposed to help it push through. Calorie Counting I love numbers. I love seeing 10,000 steps on my FitBit, the weight on the scale go down, and the weight I'm lifting go up. It can so easily become an obsession. I was never put on a meal program by my doctor where I had to count my calories. I saw other people doing it and I decided I needed to do it. What matters the most is not how many calories you consume but what you're consuming. 2 peanut butter cups have just about the same amount of calories as a small apple--which do you think your body is going to love a bit more? That being said--if it's done right, it can help keep track of the amount of food you're consuming and can help with portion control. However, if you're hungry you need to listen to your body and eat something, even if it's above your calorie limit for the day. At this point in my personal health and fitness journey, I don't calorie count. I used it as a basis to get a feel for how much I need to eat in a day, then dropped it and stuck with portions of whole grains, fruits, veggies, proteins, and fats. ---- All this being said, if you are wanting to get fit and healthy in the new year, I highly recommend you go into your doctor for a physical exam and to address any questions you may have. Tacking on seeing a registered dietician and a good personal trainer (I'll have a video out about this very soon) may be helpful as well! I hope you have a happy and healthy week, and I hope to see you a lot during the new year! ~E 1 Harvard Health Publishing: Ketogenic diet: Is the Ultimate Low-Carb Diet Good for You? (Campos) 2 Kaiser Permanente: Balancing carbs, protein, and fat (Cotton)
2 Comments
Jorge
1/2/2020 10:35:16 am
Hey, Elena! Great blog post! I would love to discuss more about this topic with you! How you and Dylan are doing well! Happy New Year to you both! I wish you a happy, healthy, loving, and grateful New Year!
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Elena
1/2/2020 10:59:24 pm
Hey Jorge! Thanks for reading!
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