Still Not Losing Weight? Here’s News You Can Use!

Let’s say (or pretend, if necessary) you eat healthy 90 percent of the time, exercise most days and drink enough water to bathe an Orca. Now let’s say that on the days you don’t eat healthy you swear you can instantly feel the damage to your body. As if those french fries and soda have declared permanent residency on your stomach and hips. You feel sluggish and gross for a day or two and wonder how just a little treat could leave you feeling so bad, especially when you harbor such a healthy body. You’re not alone! Many people complain of having to take antacids, heartburn medication, or anti-gas relievers. They are bloated, uncomfortable, and tired. The culprit? Eating the wrong kinds of foods (but you probably knew I was going to say that). More specifically: Eating foods that cause inflammation in the body.

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet – Why You Should Care

You’ve likely heard about the anti-inflammatory diet (cue Dr. Oz and Dr. Weil) and may have written it off as another fad. The truth is it’s not actually a diet, but rather an eating plan for life. Here’s a crash course: When we think of inflammation we typically think of a sports injury or a twisted ankle. Those are injury inflammations. Another form of inflammation occurs in the gastrointestinal tract when the wrong foods are ingested. Ever notice how in the beginning of a healthy eating regimen you lose water weight? That’s because the fluids caused by inflammatory foods are the first thing to be flushed out when you correct your eating habits. Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism our bodies have for repairing damage. In a nutshell, if we eat the wrong kinds of foods, the body senses that something is wrong and it will send fluid to try and repair the area. This leaves us feeling miserable, bloated, and...I’ll just say it: fat! When we process high-inflammatory foods such as bagels for breakfast, microwaved pre-made sandwiches for lunch and frozen dinners days after day, we develop chronic inflammation in our digestive systems. The biggest offenders? Refined foods, high amounts of sugar (this includes sugar alcohols), and high amounts of sodium.

Now for the reasons why this should matter to you. Not only does junk food and other processed foods make you gain weight and leave you feeling bloated, chronic inflammation has also been linked to diseases such as heart disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. I know you hear news like this every day, but have you ever considered that the way we eat has contributed to the increase in health problems? According to the American Diabetes Association, if we don’t change our eating habits, in the next few years one out of three children under the age of ten will develop diabetes. That’s definitely no laughing matter.

What to Do About It

Since a high concentration of Omega 6 vegetable oils, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, sweeteners, and sodium are major culprits of inflammation, you’ll want to start cutting those out and replacing them with something that looks like it would be on the Mediterranean menu. Eat more Omega 3 fatty oils such as cold-water fish, fish-oil supplements, flaxseed and walnuts. In addition, aim for more of the following foods and nutrients. Remember that the anti-inflammatory diet doesn’t boast that you’ll lose weight, but most often weight reduction does occur because of those fluids I mentioned earlier. The fact that this healthy way of eating doesn’t market itself as a weight-loss fad is exactly what I love about it! It’s realistic, easy to transition into, and it’s full of great-tasting food and even treats that won’t leave your body feeling like a hot dog cart (by that I mean slow, weighed-down and full of questionable things)!

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
  
• Minimize saturated and trans fats.
  
• Eat a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish or fish oil supplements and walnuts.
  
• Try substituting breads made with rice, millet, amaranth, quinoa, or soy and oat; crackers made with rice or potatoes; pasta made with rice, quinoa, or buckwheat; and cookies made with rice, oat or millet flour.
  
• Drink at least 3 cups of green tea daily.
  
• Watch your intake of refined carbohydrates such as pasta and white rice.
  
• Eat plenty of whole grains such as brown rice and bulgurwheat.
  
• Eat lean protein sources such as chicken; cut back on red meat and full-fat dairy foods.
  
• Avoid refined foods and processed foods.
  
• Sprinkle ground flaxseed on your food (cereal, yogurt and oatmeal taste great with it).
  
• Spice it up. Ginger, curry, and other spices can have an anti-inflammatory effect.

For more information on the Anti-Inflammatory Diet visit Dr. Weil’s web site: www.drweil.com/. (This isn’t a promo-plug and I’m not getting paid for supplying this info – I just find it incredibly helpful and effective and want to share the love!)

Meet the Trainer

Crystal is a certified personal trainer through the National Sports and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
She has a passion for helping others live a healthy lifestyle and coaching them to push their limits beyond what
they think they are capable of.