Here’s a resolution you can keep: Stop dieting and start savoring your food instead.
That may seem like surprising advice, but there’s mounting scientific evidence to suggest that diets don’t work. Research shows that food restriction just makes you want to eat more. And over the long term, dieting can backfire, triggering your body’s survival defenses, slowing your metabolism and making it even harder to lose weight in the future.
DIET, the word strikes fear and remorse to many, and no wonder with DIE BEING THE ROOT OF THE WORD! To simplify my position on diets, I like the word "MINDFUL". It sounds easy, but it's really not. It's like any kind of new resolution, it requires creating a new mind set and habits. Food is an addiction for many people, so depending on your needs, there are 12 step programs designed specifically for food addiction. Back to "mindfulness", let's look at the definition and then a short video about the topic.
Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one's attention to the present-moment experience without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or other training. Mindfulness derives from sati, a significant element of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and is based on Zen, Vipassanā, and Tibetan meditation techniques. Though definitions and techniques of mindfulness are wide-ranging, Buddhist traditions explain what constitutes mindfulness such as how past, present and future moments arise and cease as momentary sense impressions and mental phenomena. Individuals who have contributed to the popularity of mindfulness in the modern Western context include Thích Nhất Hạnh, Herbert Benson, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Richard J. Davidson, and Sam Harris.
In addition to mindfulness, there are a number of steps to arriving at a healthier you. Breaking bad habits can be difficult, especially when it comes to your daily food consumption. The number one thing to stop doing is eating fast food. It's not only unhealthy...in fact deadly, but also expensive. I recall thinking some time ago while picking up a coffee at McDonalds, who can really afford this food? A young man and his son ahead of me in line ordered a Big Mac combo and a kids meal, the total with upgrades and additions, just over $23. I could cook and feed 6 people with less money, and it would be reasonable healthy food. The number two on my principle list, shopping. When you go shopping eliminate all packaged, processed foods. Number three on my list; start cooking!
Three simple things to move forward to a healthier, happier and financially secure you! Here at Dinner Thyme we are developing and releasing a nutritional coaching program to guide you through the change. 21 days, and you will be enjoying new habits, and a better life. Contact us today for a 50% discount on the program; macgillb2@gmail.com
Cheers, and have a healthy, joyous and rewarding week!