I’ve had a couple interesting conversations with people trying so hard to improve their health lately and I thought I’d share my thoughts and professional opinion about weight loss. I hope you are inspired by this read!
During a checkin call, a client shared with me how ecstatic and shocked she was that increasing how much she ate actually helped her to lose stubborn weight. We had changed up her food choices, increased food intake, and made specific meal timing goals based on her circadian rhythm and busy, working mom lifestyle.
“I chose really clean foods and avoided gluten with almost perfect consistency. I am eating more than I ever have before and somehow I’m losing weight and experience almost no cravings. I don’t think about McDonald’s fries or having a couple cookies for dinner. It’s like my body knows how I can feel if I eat clean and it wants that now.”
I was in HEAVEN when I heard this! THAT’S what I’m talkin’ about!
One of the most common concepts that is hard to grasp is that in most cases, it’s actually helpful to eat more food, despite that caloric math not making sense. But there is one stipulation – it has to be clean foods. Whenever we think of dieting, we automatically assume it means decreasing caloric intake to therefore have less calories to burn. Caloric deficits have their place in taking care of your body, but that role is far more rare than people know.
Often times it’s quite the opposite. The body’s metabolism has been slowed down over years of decreasing caloric intake and crash dieting in efforts to lose weight. The metabolism has to be recovered and rebuilt. My heart goes out to those that are trying so hard to feel better and consistently feel like they aren’t. The media teaches caloric deficit is the path to success. However, that is big pharma and weight-loss product companies talking and pushing their agenda. The more desperation and disease they can cause, the more money will end up in their pockets.
Without the right nourishment, the metabolism begins to shut down and hold on to weight to self-preserve. Many people are spiraling the wrong direction and feel a lot of frustration as they go day after day feeling hungry and irritable while their body defies them and stubbornly holds on to unnecessary weight.
Back in my bodybuilding days (see Jac in 2017…), I would have coached you that yes, you need to eat more. But, it would only be if you were weight training with great intensity AND that you should only increase your protein and carbohydrates. I would have recommended a low fat diet to shred and find your muscle.
…and if you want to look thin and develop anxiety, tremors, hives, and nervousness, then by all means! That’s a good strategy for weight loss.
But, it’s not lasting. It’s not healing. and It’s not whole living.
The right kind of nourishing of nourishing weight loss is about increasing the right types of foods and making sure the body has ample amounts of nourishing protein and fat.
My lovely friend and client has been feeling these awesome effects for the past month and has more energy, strength, and resolve than ever. The goal should be to eat to feel nourished, energized, and symptom-free. Weight loss comes as the inflammation goes away.
Weight loss is such a good thing to decrease disease and increase energy and longevity. But, it needs to be the right kind of weight loss. If you are looking to lose some weight in order to heal and have more energy, remember to fill your day with plenty of nourishing, whole foods. Sweet potatoes, eggs, fish, olives, coconut oil, spinach, kale, and avocado to name a few. These have proven medicinal effects that impact healing far greater than any medicine you could be prescribed.
I truly believe everyone deserves to feel this way, even when it seems impossible. It is possible and you deserve to feel that way, too!
Ask for help.
Let me know if you have any questions, just want to chat about your health journey, or would like professional guidance.