Five Diet Myths – BUSTED

Five Diet Myths – BUSTED

Let me make this clear…I don’t believe in diets. I see food as fuel to help us live the life we desire. But over and over I hear the same “rules” for how to accomplish this mythical standard of beauty and health that is plastered all over our media. F that!

Here are a few things I’ve learned. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

1. Fat will make you fat

Fat itself will not make you fat!  Fat is soooo important to our body.  It makes up our brain and reproductive tissues and it is used to protect every cell in our body.  That being said, you should focus on healthy fats from sources such as wild fish like salmon and cod, as well as coconut oil, avocados, seeds and nuts, which react much differently in our bodies opposed to heavy saturated fats from other animal products.

2.  A calorie is a calorie

How many times have we heard “to lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume”? In the basic sense…yes, this may be technically correct, but one important factor is missing and that is that not all calories are created equal. If you eat 1,500 calories of junk food, you will not be getting the sufficient nutrients you need which will most likely lead to decreased energy and additional health problems.  In addition, because you’re not feeding your body what it needs, you will most likely still be starving and it won’t be sustainable for the long-term. It’s important to consider the quality of your calories and focus on nutrient-dense foods.

3. Carbs are the devil

Carbohydrates sure have gotten a bad rap lately.  While a low-carb, high protein diet may work for some, what’s important to remember is that not every body is the same.  All of our ancestors are from different places and our bodies have evolved to handle food differently.  White flour and processed food products definitely don’t do us any favors, but starchy veggies like potatoes and whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and oats may not only be good for some of us, it may be necessary for our bodies to function optimally.  Some people’s body’s are more equipped to burn more efficiently with more carbohydrates and some people’s are better with more proteins and if you are a “carb type” and try to cut them out, you may not only be miserable, you may actually damage your metabolism.

4. You need to lose weight to be healthy

Actually, the opposite is true, you should become healthy to lose weight. A healthy body with a healthy metabolism will naturally burn calories efficiently, have balanced blood sugar and digest food properly, all key elements in maintaining a healthy weight. Focusing on being healthy is a sustainable long-term goal and you’ll never have to feel like you are “dieting.”

Inner-beauty-diet-myths

5. Skinny is healthy

This is a plague that is plastering media all over our country and it can be so damaging! I’m not promoting obesity as being healthy, but the idea that you have to weigh under a certain amount, fit into a certain size, or look “skinny” to be healthy is bulls***.  I have seen plenty of people who are thin, but feel terrible inside. And I have seen plenty of healthy and active people who our society wouldn’t classify as “skinny.” Every body is different and it’s important to set goals for yourself based on what is best for your body. Our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful, whether that’s a size 0 or a size 10.

Being healthy means having the energy to accomplish everything you want to accomplish (mentally and physically) and waking up every day feeling great. We need to let go of that magic number on the scale and stop chasing the idea of being “skinny” or “ripped.” Instead, let’s focus on creating the healthiest body we can for ourselves so our minds can thrive and our radiant self can shine through.

If you need help improving your metabolism, balancing your hormones and overcoming fatigue and bloating, check out my health coaching. I always start with a free consultation and would love to help you.

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