Today, nutrition and dieting can be so confusing. There’s Keto, Paleo, Intermittent Fasting, Plant-Based, and more. Each of these methods work in their own way for certain people. Many people have seen results with these fad diets (if you’re one of them, more power to you - keep up the good work!), but many have also tried and failed. If you’re one of these people, it’s OK - keep reading! I’m here to tell you that, if you can’t stick to a “diet plan,” it’s not your fault. The issue with most of these diets is they are not sustainable for longterm practice.
For example, in the Keto Diet, we are supposed to eliminate all carbohydrates, putting us in to a state of “ketosis” (a state where the body uses fat for energy instead of sugar). This sounds great in theory, hell, who doesn’t want to burn fat?! This may work well for some people; however, believe it or not, carbohydrates are NOT the devil. Yes, we are absolutely better off without processed foods and added sugars, but foods like sweet potatoes, and many fruits are extremely high in micronutrients, and might I add, DELICIOUS!
We, as humans are complicated creatures. When someone tells us we can’t have something or can’t do something, our natural reaction is to crave the very thing we aren’t allowed! Therefore, with extreme restriction diets, we often cannot adhere to the strict boundaries and rules given to us. Without compliance, there are no results, and thus, you continue round and round on the hamster wheel of dieting for 2-4 weeks, followed by an epic downfall of binging on everything you were told you could not have! Then, you are back to square one, sometimes even worse than where you began.
Diets vs. Lifestyle Changes
If you are stuck in this cycle, not to worry, you are not alone. Instead of restriction and calorie counting, what we really need to focus on are healthy habits and lifestyle changes. With these habits, we can form a strong foundation, which we can build upon for the rest of our lives. You will be able to enjoy a birthday party or Christmas gathering without being the “weirdo” who brings their own food or avoids food all together.
YIKES!
By establishing these simple eating habits, and a healthy relationship with food, we can regain control of our nutrition, our health, and our lives. Also, you will be able to be more consistent than ever, and as we all know, consistency and adherence yield RESULTS!
30 days of Whole Foods
The reason I LOVE the Whole30 approach is because it is a perfect and simple approach to learning how and what to eat in order to maintain a long, healthy lifestyle. Although the first 30 days do apply some restrictions, (like avoiding alcohol, added sugars, and processed foods) at its core, the Whole30 teaches us how to eat most of the time. By committing to eating this way for 30 days, you are breaking down old habits & cravings and learning to love WHOLE FOODS. Whole foods are foods in their natural state that have not been processed. For example, a mango is a whole food, but dried mango with added sugar is not. Spinach is a whole food, but creamed spinach and artichoke dip is not.
You get the point!
The following grocery list is a great cheat sheet for when at the supermarket. Save it, and refer to it as much as needed!
If we can adhere to these guidelines for 30 days, we can establish new habits. Then, going forward, you can eat this way 80-90% of the time, and still enjoy weekends or holidays with ZERO GUILT!
The benefits that come with eating a whole foods diet are ENORMOUS;
Increased energy levels
Better body composition
Better mental alertness
Better sleep
Better mood
The list goes on and on! If you feel like you’re stuck in a never ending cycle of eating healthy for a few days or weeks, and then succumbing to the thought of crushing an entire pizza followed by a sleeve of Oreos, chances are, you are being too restrictive. Allow yourself the freedom of ALL FRUITS, ALL VEGETABLES, ALL PROTEINS, and see how many options you have! The abundance of delicious ingredients is at your fingertips, and so is your newly found healthy relationship with nutrition.
A whole foods based diet with moderate indulgence here and there is the key to successfully navigating a long and healthy life. -Coach Reese
Are you ready to take on the Whole30 Challenge? Join the RFC community and start benefitting from a healthy, balanced lifestyle! Challenge starts June 1st.