Weight Loss without Worry

     I spent some time with a friend this weekend who told me she was trying to eat more organically.  She had gone so far as to start raising her own chickens for eggs and planting a large garden for her vegetables. 

     I admire my friend for her conviction but it also got me thinking about how many different ways we have created to eat.  We can eat an organic or vegetarian diet; we can eat a low carb/low fat diet, low carb/high fat diet, high carb/low fat diet… the list is seemingly endless.

     Eating is the simplest of activities and we have made it so complicated!  And what this complexity has done is destroy our ability to trust ourselves when choosing foods.  We now look at foods and wonder if it is okay to eat.  Can I eat cheese?  Can I eat fruit?  If I eat a snack will I ruin my diet?

     We must regain our ability to trust our eating decisions by getting back to the basics:

• Eat in response to hunger not in response to depression, boredom, frustration, etc.
• If you are overweight, eat less and move more
• Eat foods in their most whole form; the less processed the better
• Limit refined carbohydrates
• Choose good/unsaturated fats (olive oil, fish oil, canola oil) over bad/saturated fats (trans fats, butter, fatty red meats)
• Balance protein, good fats and whole carbohydrate throughout your day

     And maybe the most important thing to remember, don’t get mad at yourself for how you eat.  You will not be perfect so lighten up on yourself to lighten up your body.