There is a motor-oil commercial that states, "Premium fuel for optimal performance." If I treat my car with premium fuel it seems I should do the same for my own engine, my body. And yet so often I exchange premium fuel for cheap alternatives. Clogged fuel lines in your body can have disastrous consequences.
With the holidays approaching I must share a recurring theme from friends and clients over the past few weeks. This theme is significant and more than coincidence. Our diet affects our moods. Our diet affects our stress levels. Our diet affects the size of our waist lines. Our diet affects our relationships. Our diet affects our physical performance. Our diet affects our children. What you ingest reveals itself in some manner whether it is sallow skin, a cranky mood, an irritable bowel, insomnia, a muffin top, or lethargy. Conversely, your diet can reveal itself quite positively as well.
At the gym this morning, one of my favorite instructors was commenting to a friend on her efforts to decrease her intake of carbohydrates, processed foods and sugar. Reducing grains, wheats, flour, and sugars in exchange for more fresh fruits, veges, and lean meats, she has noted a significant improvement in her energy level, moods, and less joint pain. Similarly, a client shared how sensitive her body feels in response to poor nutrition characterizing lethargy, abdominal distention, and the dreaded feeling of bloat. On more than one occassion I have missed workouts or had clients cancel workouts because our digestive systems were deemed "untrustworthy" within a public setting! (shhhh, don't tell anyone!)
Speaking to a variety of clients has confirmed to me that my personal experiences are not unusual. The snap decision choices that we make with regards to the foods we eat can contribute to missed workouts, less endurance for exercise, and a lack of attention and mental focus. Our diet significantly affects how we feel. Personally, I habitually reach for a bagel, cereal, or granola bar when I felt stressed. In addition, I believe there are times in our life when we are more sensitive to the chemicals and preservatives within these processed foods. If they last in our food pantry for months, how long do they last in our bodies?
I confess, it reached a peak of embarassment on Sunday as my husband brought home 6 bagels for the family. On Monday morning this conversation ensued:
Ron: "Where are the bagels?
Me: "There aren't many left."
Ron+Kids: "WHAT!!! There were 6 yesterday."
Me: Shamefaced..."I ate 3 and Auburn had 1."
Then my defense..."it wasn't potato chips or ice cream....I did run 8 miles...and finally the accusatory...if you really cared you would bring me sushi instead of bagels!"
But the reality is, my name is Tiffany and I am a carboholic. Essentially I was carb loading to fold the laundry, watch television, and deal with relationship stressors. Naturally, my method to deal with the stress was ineffective.
Dr. Oz has recently been addressing the addictive nature of carbs on his website. Working with the well-respected holistic medical doctor, Dr Weil, they have developed a 28-day plan to kick my carb addiction. Dr. Oz states: "It takes 28 days to detox from most addictive substances and refined carbohydrates, such as white flour and white rice, are no exception. If it seems like you can never get enough bread, pizza, cake, or pasta this plan will help you kick your carb addiction. Ever wonder why white carbs are so addictive? It has to do with chemicals that travel from the stomach to the part of the brain where you produce dopamine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that affects the brain's pleasure and reward centers. Once the areas of the brain are stimulated, you'll keep on wanting more of the addictive substance, whether it's alcohol, drugs, or carbs. Too many refined carbs--baked goods, French fries, or processed snack foods like chips and pretzels--are simply toxic for your body. They're often responsible for visceral or omentum fat, the dangerous fat you can carry around your middle that actually inhibits your body's ability to make insulin, which makes you more prone to diabetes. White carbs increase your risk for cardiovascualr disease and even cancer." Dr. Oz recommends booting all carbs off your kitchen shelves. Next, in order to withstand withdrawal symptoms the first week, fill up on healthy fats. Healthy fats consist of olive oil, nuts, avocados, fatty fish like salmon, whole eggs and flax seeds. Fats are satieting which help diminish hunger pains and keep you from overeating. In addition, for this first week of kicking the habit, none of your food servings should have more than 4 grams of sugar.
A close friend, physical therapist and health guru, Anne, shared recently during Pilates that as a general rule she only purchases foods with less than 4 ingredients. Read your lables. A can of Campbells Chicken Noodle soup has more than 30 ingredients most with names I cannot pronounce. You won't believe what is listed on the back of a Pop Tart box! If monosodium glutamate, xantham gum, or polydextrose glycerine means nothing to you then chances are it means nothing to your body either. Be wary of ingesting foods that contain unfamiliar, complicated, multi-syllabic ingredients.
Keep the 80%/20% rule in mind. Nutritionists and exercise experts frequently cite that weight loss results are 80% derived from diet and 20% from exercise. Don't self-sabotauge your kick-butt workouts with poor food choices. Partner your diet with your exercise so it is a win-win...extra energy, lean muscle, sharp thinking skills, and a positive attitude.
Finally, be willing to develop new traditions this holiday. If Thanksgiving is characterized by green bean casserole with Durkee fried onions, could it be possible that there might be a better expression of "thanks-giving" and thankful living? If you are in a deeper relationship with Tom the Turkey than your spouse, perhaps you could relax the grip on your fork in exchange for conversation. Consider your expression of Thanksgiving. Is it stuck in tradition and ritual or is it a joyous celebration of life's blessings? Hopefully the expressions of Thanksgiving in your home will be consistent with your body's engine, your heart. Think clean, energetic, healthy fuel lines for optimal performance.
Thank you for reading! Happy Thanksgiving.
With the holidays approaching I must share a recurring theme from friends and clients over the past few weeks. This theme is significant and more than coincidence. Our diet affects our moods. Our diet affects our stress levels. Our diet affects the size of our waist lines. Our diet affects our relationships. Our diet affects our physical performance. Our diet affects our children. What you ingest reveals itself in some manner whether it is sallow skin, a cranky mood, an irritable bowel, insomnia, a muffin top, or lethargy. Conversely, your diet can reveal itself quite positively as well.
At the gym this morning, one of my favorite instructors was commenting to a friend on her efforts to decrease her intake of carbohydrates, processed foods and sugar. Reducing grains, wheats, flour, and sugars in exchange for more fresh fruits, veges, and lean meats, she has noted a significant improvement in her energy level, moods, and less joint pain. Similarly, a client shared how sensitive her body feels in response to poor nutrition characterizing lethargy, abdominal distention, and the dreaded feeling of bloat. On more than one occassion I have missed workouts or had clients cancel workouts because our digestive systems were deemed "untrustworthy" within a public setting! (shhhh, don't tell anyone!)
Speaking to a variety of clients has confirmed to me that my personal experiences are not unusual. The snap decision choices that we make with regards to the foods we eat can contribute to missed workouts, less endurance for exercise, and a lack of attention and mental focus. Our diet significantly affects how we feel. Personally, I habitually reach for a bagel, cereal, or granola bar when I felt stressed. In addition, I believe there are times in our life when we are more sensitive to the chemicals and preservatives within these processed foods. If they last in our food pantry for months, how long do they last in our bodies?
I confess, it reached a peak of embarassment on Sunday as my husband brought home 6 bagels for the family. On Monday morning this conversation ensued:
Ron: "Where are the bagels?
Me: "There aren't many left."
Ron+Kids: "WHAT!!! There were 6 yesterday."
Me: Shamefaced..."I ate 3 and Auburn had 1."
Then my defense..."it wasn't potato chips or ice cream....I did run 8 miles...and finally the accusatory...if you really cared you would bring me sushi instead of bagels!"
But the reality is, my name is Tiffany and I am a carboholic. Essentially I was carb loading to fold the laundry, watch television, and deal with relationship stressors. Naturally, my method to deal with the stress was ineffective.
Dr. Oz has recently been addressing the addictive nature of carbs on his website. Working with the well-respected holistic medical doctor, Dr Weil, they have developed a 28-day plan to kick my carb addiction. Dr. Oz states: "It takes 28 days to detox from most addictive substances and refined carbohydrates, such as white flour and white rice, are no exception. If it seems like you can never get enough bread, pizza, cake, or pasta this plan will help you kick your carb addiction. Ever wonder why white carbs are so addictive? It has to do with chemicals that travel from the stomach to the part of the brain where you produce dopamine, a hormone and neurotransmitter that affects the brain's pleasure and reward centers. Once the areas of the brain are stimulated, you'll keep on wanting more of the addictive substance, whether it's alcohol, drugs, or carbs. Too many refined carbs--baked goods, French fries, or processed snack foods like chips and pretzels--are simply toxic for your body. They're often responsible for visceral or omentum fat, the dangerous fat you can carry around your middle that actually inhibits your body's ability to make insulin, which makes you more prone to diabetes. White carbs increase your risk for cardiovascualr disease and even cancer." Dr. Oz recommends booting all carbs off your kitchen shelves. Next, in order to withstand withdrawal symptoms the first week, fill up on healthy fats. Healthy fats consist of olive oil, nuts, avocados, fatty fish like salmon, whole eggs and flax seeds. Fats are satieting which help diminish hunger pains and keep you from overeating. In addition, for this first week of kicking the habit, none of your food servings should have more than 4 grams of sugar.
A close friend, physical therapist and health guru, Anne, shared recently during Pilates that as a general rule she only purchases foods with less than 4 ingredients. Read your lables. A can of Campbells Chicken Noodle soup has more than 30 ingredients most with names I cannot pronounce. You won't believe what is listed on the back of a Pop Tart box! If monosodium glutamate, xantham gum, or polydextrose glycerine means nothing to you then chances are it means nothing to your body either. Be wary of ingesting foods that contain unfamiliar, complicated, multi-syllabic ingredients.
Keep the 80%/20% rule in mind. Nutritionists and exercise experts frequently cite that weight loss results are 80% derived from diet and 20% from exercise. Don't self-sabotauge your kick-butt workouts with poor food choices. Partner your diet with your exercise so it is a win-win...extra energy, lean muscle, sharp thinking skills, and a positive attitude.
Finally, be willing to develop new traditions this holiday. If Thanksgiving is characterized by green bean casserole with Durkee fried onions, could it be possible that there might be a better expression of "thanks-giving" and thankful living? If you are in a deeper relationship with Tom the Turkey than your spouse, perhaps you could relax the grip on your fork in exchange for conversation. Consider your expression of Thanksgiving. Is it stuck in tradition and ritual or is it a joyous celebration of life's blessings? Hopefully the expressions of Thanksgiving in your home will be consistent with your body's engine, your heart. Think clean, energetic, healthy fuel lines for optimal performance.
Thank you for reading! Happy Thanksgiving.
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