The sun is shining which can only mean one thing…….it’s time to start our annual crash diet in the hope we can get a body like J-Lo by August!
We’re still holding on to the remnants of Christmas indulgences, which, thanks to heavy knit, we have managed to get away with but now that the sun is here a quiet panic ensues!
Many of us will look for quick fixes, which are likely to make us miserable, are unlikely to meet our nutritional requirements and will not be sustainable. It’s as though we are caught in this perpetual cycle of over indulgence v crash dieting. The side affects of this constant state of flux is not only detrimental to our physical health but our mental health. It’s really no wonder that over 95% of dieters fail to maintain their desired results.
It is time for a fresh approach and spring is the ideal time to get started. The key to sustainable weight loss and increased mental well-being is to consider food as fuel. If you put diesel in a petrol car, it breaks and it’s no different for our bodies.
We are fortunate enough that we have all the food we could possibly need or want at our fingertips. But if we want our bodies and brains to be “performance vehicles” we must fuel them with highly nutritional foods.
I promise that you can still enjoy the taste of all the things you enjoy, what you’ll find is that as you start experiencing the benefits of a highly nutritious diet, on both body and brain, the foods you crave will change.
Mindful eating and visualisation are great tools to get you started. When you plan your meals, and yes planning is important, think of eating the rainbow 🌈. For example, spinach, rocket and watercress salad, with roasted goats cheese, beetroot and sunflower seeds is a colourful, nutritious and delicious meal. beige foods offer little nutritional value.
Don’t get sucked into the trap of reduced fat, reduced sugar foods. They are full of additives that leave your body and your brain under nourished. In fact anything processed is unlikely to leave you feeling satisfied and you’ll be tempted to fall back into old habits.
Take great care to prepare appealing balanced meals. Make sure you eat without distraction and consider the taste and sensation of every bite. Visualise the benefits of these foods to your body and your brain. Be thankful that we are fortunate to be able to enjoy a varied diet. Keep desserts are as they are intended, a small sweet treat and avoid emotional eating. Tuning into your bodies’ needs will guide you to make better choices. Before you know it you’ll be looking and feeling great.
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