Morgan:
Many people want quick answers to how to feel good, manage their weight, their energy levels, and live well overall. Trainer Joe mentions that many of his clients come in wanting to lose weight for an event like a wedding or reunion and are looking to make life changes in the short term. There are several types of diets that people are committed to for a little while but aren’t sustainable.
You are given one body in your lifetime, so it makes sense to commit to treating it well for the entirety of your life.
One of the easiest and most sustainable ways to change your body is to focus on your blood sugar. A really good way to understand this when looking at a nutritional label is to look at net carbs (carbs minus fiber). Foods that are higher in net carbs spike your blood sugar faster than foods higher in fiber. Focusing on eating whole, unprocessed carbohydrates like vegetables and fiber-rich starchier vegetables like sweet potatoes will help you maintain better blood sugar levels.
The next component to this would be to cut out gluten, which today is easier than ever because of the increased awareness of what gluten is. It is important to note that not all carbs are created equally, and you should still shy away from “healthy” carb alternatives like gluten-free pastas or crackers. Instead it will help you to focus on these four things:
- Protein helps you build and maintain muscle.
- Fat keeps your cells and hormones healthy and functioning properly.
- Fiber feeds your gut bacteria, which in turn keep your gut working properly.
- Protein provides necessary vitamins and antioxidants important for fighting inflammation and infections.
Eating within these categories will help you stay full and satisfied without causing blood sugar spikes. This will help diminish your cravings and brain fogs that can come from having erratic blood sugar levels.
Protein
Lean meat, fish, chicken, protein powder (pea protein or collagen powder); for plant-based diets, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, and pea protein are good sources.
Fat
Coconut oil, olive oil, nut butters; MCT oil, ghee, or avocado are great for friends who need to avoid nuts.
Fiber
Ground flaxseed, chia seed, cauliflower.
Greens
Spinach, kale, super greens.
Let’s keep it real. Life happens, and you may eat a processed carb or sweet treat on occasion. However, our hope is to help you become more aware of what you are putting in your body, so that you can make conscious decisions. What you put in is what you get out.