We are blessed to live in an age when there is tons of information at our fingertips. One of the most important things you can read up on during your weight release journey is nutrition. Why? Because there are so many myths and misconceptions out there about healthy food.
What’s true and what’s not true? Will what worked for someone else on their journey work for you? Are there really bad food and good foods? Can you lose weight but still eat the treats you love?
These are common questions. The problem is that there are widely held “truths” and contested “truths”. For example;
- Widely Held: Most people agree that you shouldn’t eat a diet that is made up primarily of empty, sugar calories. If you ate all of your calories in powdered sugar and candy, at some point you would likely have health problems.
- Contested Truths: Red meat and processed is not good for you. There are a number of organizations (like this one and these) that recommend cutting back on red meat and processed meat to reduce cancer risk. However, many people fiercely reject the concept that eating these kinds of meat could negatively affect your health. The concept of giving up meat is a no-go for them.
I’ve heard that soy milk is great and I’ve heard that it’s terrible. I’ve been told that you should avoid processed sugar and I’ve been told that you can have it in moderation. I’ve been told that being Vegetarian is the original diet of mankind and I’ve been told that our ancestors were on a Paleo diet. I’m sure you’ve heard contradicting “truths” about all kinds of foods and eating styles as well.
So, what do we do?
We get back to basics and we do our own research. We stop trying to rush through this process and we take the time to read some books on nutrition. We look up articles and resources written by/or citing doctors, dietitians researchers, nutritionists and other experts to give us guidance.
Above all else, we listen to our bodies and strive to feed ourselves in the most healthy way possible. We are creating a healthy lifestyle. If you are having a baby, buying a home or moving to a new city, you would do your research to prepare yourself for the lifestyle change. Weight loss is no different.
Once we have the wisdom we seek, we will take action on it. What is the point of knowing all of this information on how to lose weight, but just ignoring it and eating tons on unhealthy food. What is the point of complaining about how we can’t lose weight when we know our eating habits are terrible? That’s insanity. We have no time for insanity. We want results.
Here are some links you can start with.
SELF Magazine’s Nutrition Database
EatRight.org – The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The Nutrition Source – Harvard University
World Health Organization on Red Meat and Processed Meat
New USDA ‘FoodKeeper’ App: Your New Tool for Smart Food Storage
Vegetarian Times and PETA – Great sources of information on vegetarian and vegan eating.
Bodybuilding.com – Great recipes and nutrition information specifically for weight training.
WebMD has a whole section dedicated to weight management.
Diabetes.org has great information on eating with diabetes, blood sugar management, etc.
Eat This, Not That – Gives information on food swaps and also has lots of great recipes.
Books – There are lots of books out there, so please do you research and check out the ones that speak to you and your unique taste in food/your health issues/lifestyle.
Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition – T. Colin Campbell, PhD.
Nutrition for Dummies – Carol Ann Rinzler
American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, Revised and Updated 4th Edition
Food Over Medicine – Pamela A. Popper, PhD, ND, and Glen Merzer
The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health – T. Colin Campbell, PhD.
Comment Via Facebook