It seems like everyone is always talking about diet. We are a culture obsessed with the way we look. Yet, we are a nation of fat people! This is quite a paradox. Sometimes, I think I have spent my entire adult life thinking and worrying about my weight and body image. I’m practically a charter member of the international diet program, Weight Watchers – not to mention the number of times I have joined and quit.

Diet Nirvana

Over the years, I have tried myriad diets, including the varieties that require injections. Like millions of other Americans, I’ve been searching for the Holy Grail of diets. only to discover that no such thing exists! No diet will lead me to the Nirvana of Perfect Body Weight. And by the way, I diet not just because of how much I weigh. The ratio of body fat to body muscle matters much more than the number on the scale. So, what’s the answer? The truth is that changing my body requires a change in lifestyle. What matters is the type and quantity of food I eat, exercise I do, and amount of sleep I get.

Diet Dreams

Lack of quality sleep leads to weight gain. Also important is the way I think as well as the words I think and tell myself. Man, oh man, reality can be difficult! If I want to change my lifestyle, where should I start?

• The latest research points to the fact that the healthiest way to eat is a plant-based diet. What does that mean? Must I become a vegetarian (does not eat meat, fish or poultry, but does eat eggs, and/or milk and cheese) or a vegan (does not eat meat, fish, or poultry or animal products, including milk and eggs)?
• Research states that a healthy diet includes lots of leafy green vegetables. And not just salad greens, but kale, collard greens and spinach. We also need to eat cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. We also need to eat fresh fruits and vegetables with lots of color, like carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, low glycemic fruits like berries.

What else should my diet include?

I also need whole grains (no white flour or white rice) and beans (also known as legumes), as well as lentils, peas, and peanuts. And every diet around warns you to stay away from sugary stuff and fried foods. (Gosh, but I really like In-N-Out French fries).

Sounds a lot like a vegetarian diet to me.

Then, looking a little further, I discovered the Mediterranean Diet.Research suggests people who follow a Mediterranean diet lose 52% more weight than the standard low-fat diet because it isn’t just a fad or limited list of foods. This way of eating begins with the foundation of vegetables and whole grains, but also includes small quantities of lean meats and fish, a few times a week. This seems like something I can ease into. Fortunately, great recipes and resources on the internet can help me change the way I cook. If you’re interested in this type of eating plan, check out Forks Over Knives. It has lots of fantastic vegetarian recipes or Food Revolution, which offers inspiration for changing what you eat.

Supplemental Assistance in Diet

The lifestyle line I carry, Modere, also offers safe and effective products designed to help you achieve your body’s goals and continue living a healthy lifestyle. If you’re interested in upping the ante in your journey toward optimal health, give me a call. Using Modere as well as EEG Neurofeedback, I can offer you a jumpstart on body, brain health!