A great body does not happen overnight. It takes time and dedication. Just working out or changing your nutritional habits is simply not enough to take you to your desired destination. You have to derive pleasure from the process....and I mean LOTS OF PLEASURE!
Forget awkward diets and radical regimes. They have time-clocks attached to them and dangerously deprive your body from essential nutrition, vitamins and minerals.
Being a wellness professional and travelling around the world sharing strategies that allow people to achieve their health and wellness goals, I have realized that to get the desired results one has to be willing to change not only the internal rules (like/dislike associations to foods we eat regularly) but also the strategies - or daily habits - that have been giving us the same undesirable results.
The Theory is Straight Forward
People need to eat to survive and also, they want to derive pleasure from their food. The solution is to replace unhealthy foods with healthier choices. This concept makes sense and it works so...why are people still engaging in new diets that will probably not work in the long run? What is the missing link?
My answer to this question is straightforward: start with the basics! What I mean is commit to applying some of the basics that I will share with you in the following lines and you will see a progressive change in your nutritional paradigms (what you like / dislike) and noticeable results within the next weeks.
The Basics
- Drink plenty of water and water-rich foods (such as fruit and vegetables). They will keep you hydrated and will reduce your hunger at any given time.
- Eat healthy and nutritious small portions regularly (4 to 6 meals per day) which will provide you with energy to keep you going throughout your day.
- Have light meals before bed time and...don’t skip meals!
- Have healthy snacks during the morning and afternoon periods - between major meals. As an example of healthy snacks, i suggest a combination of any of the following: Nuts and seeds (raw preferably), different types and variety of fruits, fruit juices and smoothies, crunchy vegetables (such as carrots, broccoli, celery....) with healthy sauces (such as home made hummus, made from chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic and a pinch of salt), flaxseed crackers, oats with fruit and nut milk (such as hemp, almond or sesame milk), among many other creative healthy combinations. The key is to experiment and learn to derive pleasure from your food.
- Avoid sugary foods. They provide few nutrients and are classed as empty calories. By eating too much of these foods will fill you up on the moments your body is craving for nutrients, vitamins and minerals. If your body is telling you “I’m Hungry” give it the real deal! Eat tasty and delicious foods that will not only satisfy your hunger but also provide your body with plenty of nutritional choices to keep you going until your next meal / snack
- Avoid eating foods that contain too much saturated fats. Keep fat to approximately 25% to 30% of your daily calories. Also, learn to welcome foods that contain essential fatty acids (such Omega 3 rich foods).
- Include foods rich in fibres. They will make you feel satisfied and will assist your body to cleanse itself.
- Learn to hear your body. Eat the right amount of healthy foods and stop when your body whispers “I’m happy, please stop now!” Healthy people eat to live not the other way around.
- Ensure you eat a variety of foods. Be creative, have plenty of fun when shopping and designing your meals and snacks for the day! Get foods that cover the full spectrum of the rainbow, from yellow pigmented foods to dark green leafy green vegetables - by doing this you are ensuring you are consuming a variety of vitamins and minerals and therefore minimize the risk of nutritional deficiency and dietary imbalances.
Like any vehicle, if you do not put in the right fuel, your body will not perform at its best. The food you eat will nourish your blood, your cells and every organ in your body. It will also nourish your thoughts, the state you are in at any given time and therefore your behaviour. Ultimately, the food you eat will nourish who and what you are.
So remember: Start applying the basics consistently and get ready to the new YOU!
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To your health and Fitness Success,
Pedro Eloy,
Founder of The Star Body
www.thestarbody.com
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