Nutrition and Weight Loss

It’s probably not surprising that there is a direct correlation between nutrition and an individual’s weight. Reality TV has created several shows around this, from “My 600 lb Life” to “The Biggest Loser.” As a society, we are fascinated by each person’s unique story, the struggles that brought them to this point in their life, and their ultimate transformations. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a majority of Americans are overweight and eating far less than the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. While good nutrition and weight loss go hand in hand, there is still quite a bit confusion as to the best means to obtain the weight loss we desire.

If we could compare our stomach to that of a gas tank in an automobile, we would know there is a maximum volume. We know our gas tank is full because of the automatic shutoff. While our stomach may not have an automatic shutoff, we do have cues that tell us we’ve reached capacity. Do we listen to the gentle pressure that is your cue to stop eating?

Being mindful of not only the food you eat, but also the quality of the calories makes a difference. Many times the various diets and specialty “diet” foods are not the quality of calories our body needs, nor do many contain the necessary nutrients either. Do not make assumptions that just because an advertisement says something is true, that it is. Don’t make assumptions that your body will respond the same way as another’s as you work towards your goal weight. It might take longer, and you just might need to recalibrate your goals, but don’t give up. Advocate for yourself and learn as much as you can about your most treasured asset – your body. We also know that if the calories going in exceed the number of calories going out, weight gain will be the result. Exercise certainly helps with this, but not if the amount of calories going in exceeds what the exercise can burn.

The bottom-line is using our common sense when it comes to nutrition and weight loss. Paying attention to things like:

• What do we eat? Keep a journal to remind yourself.
• When do we eat? Is it late at night? Do we skip meals?
• How do we eat? Is it on the go? Is it for convenience?
• How do we feel after we eat? Are we uncomfortable or bloated?
• How much physical exercise we do actually do each day? Keep a journal to track yourself.
• What does the scale say? What should we weigh based on our height?
• How does our body look and feel? Do we like what we see in the mirror? Could we look better?

Even the smallest of changes can end up with a big impact in the end. Imagine if you made many small, positive changes to your daily nutrition and lifestyle. Imagine the big difference it could make in your life if you give yourself the opportunity.