It's THAT time of year: people starting fresh, making resolutions and starting over.
Here's a few resolutions I've heard...
Time to hit the gym "Biggest Loser" style.
From now on, I'm only going to eat what a caveman would have eaten.
I know it's not good for me, but I am going for the quick fix and order some HCG- I hear you can drop a ton of weight because you're never hungry!
And here is what I have to say about crazy stuff like that:
First, in regards to exercise, it is wonderful and an essential lifelong healthy habit. BUT, hear me on this: it is not an effective tool for weight loss because the amount of calories needed to burn a single pound of fat is the equivalent to running a marathon. "Biggest Loser" contestants are successful in losing weight because their lifestyle is changed for them, forcibly. They have an "external motivator" telling them what to eat, when to eat, how to exercise and when to keep on going even when they don't want to any more. It is not a model of success for the average American simply because no one has access to or time for a Biggest Loser ranch trainer, gym, kitchen and the motivation of winning money to keep them going.
Nutritionally, depriving your body or adopting a short term diet mentality many times will backfire because 1) the new choices are made only until the goal weight is in sight and then many people go back to the lifestyle that caused the initial weight gain. 2) Simulating the eating choices of a different time or place often does not give the desired results because other variables that made that type of diet successful originally aren't present. In other words, if you are going to eat like a caveman, it's only going to help you lose weight if you output calories like a caveman, working very hard physically every single day to gather food, find shelter and stay alive.
Additionally, if something SEEMS a little crazy, like injecting/consuming pregnancy hormones to keep your hunger at bay and lose weight, listen to your common sense! There is no quick fix, surgery or pill that will give you the health you desire. What you need is a long term change of attitude, habits and lifestyle.
If you feel confused by all that is offered at every turn, please reach out. What I do as a health coach is develop relationships with those who have a motivation within themselves to change (meaning I don't make them or do it for them.) Together, we develop a plan for what they want their health to look like and then we make action steps to get there. I support my clients in making their own healthy decisions and then we walk together through the action steps to their desired outcome. It is such a joy and a privilege!
