Throughout the years trying to help my clients achieve a healthy weight, I’ve noticed 3 common issues that often hinder their success. These issues often lead people to turn to unnecessary and harmful dietary restrictions that can lead to a lifetime of weight struggles. If you’re tired of dieting and want to achieve a healthy weight consider these three points…
1. You Probably Don’t Have a Rare Metabolic Condition. Clients have often come to me and said, “I can’t lose weight, I must have something seriously wrong with me.” People often hope there is a medical condition beyond their control that will explain why they can’t lose weight. While it’s true that years of dieting and consumption of highly processed foods can reek havoc on your metabolism, odds are you don’t have a rare condition that can’t be remedied by taking a closer look at what you’re really eating and how active you are. Sitting down with a professional such as a dietitian can help identify hidden sources of calories or certian dietary and lifestyle habits that could be significantly hindering your weight loss efforts.
2. Yes, You’re Eating More Calories than You Think. There has been a lot of talk about how counting calories is a thing of the past. Although, I am not an advocate of counting calories on a daily basis, if you are having trouble losing weight, you are simply eating more calories than your body needs. Although calories DO matter, where they come from matters even more. Oversized portions and processed high calorie foods (fat, salt and sugar) are impossible to escape in the food environment that exists in America today. Our brains have been rewired and the result is an addiction to more sugary, salty and fatty foods which ultimately leads to more calories consumed. The only way to avoid this is to GROW ( i.e. become more knowledgable about food). Adapting a whole foods diet that consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, grains and 100% organically raised, grass fed meats, poultry and fish have not only been shown to promote weight loss and maintenance but also promote optimal health.
3. You May be a “Picky Eater”. While it’s common that many parents will use the term “picky eater” to describe their child’s eating habits, it seems that even adults can grow up and continue to have those very same discriminatory food preferences that can inhibit them from eating a more diverse diet. Eating the same foods day in and day out can lead to nutrient deficiencies, increase your risk for certain cancers and even slow down your metabolic rate. Just as a child may take up to 15 tries to accept a new food, this may also be true for adults. It may take time, effort and patience to adapt to a healthier, more varied diet but it is time and energy well spent. Experiment with different recipes, temperatures and textures. For example, if you despise cooked spinach, don’t automatically exclude it from your diet. Instead, add it raw to a salad, or try blending it into a smoothie. This is the perfect time of year to explore fresh, seasonal produce. Get outside and visit farmers markets where you can stroll around and explore new foods and gather recipes from those who actually grow and know the food best!