Dieting Myths and Misconceptions: 2

“If you burn more calories than you consume, you’ll loose weight.”

Before I dive into this too deeply today I want to talk a little bit about why I am writing this segment.

More than anything, I don’t really care what you look like. I don’t care how much weight you’re carrying on your body, and I don’t care what number comes up on the scale when you step on it.

What I do care about, is how much you love yourself, and even more than that, my desire for you is to have healthy, happy relationships, ESPECIALLY the relationship you have with yourself.

Generally speaking, it’s been my observation, that people who feel good about themselves, have healthier relationships. They are able to connect more deeply to others, they feel a greater sense of peace within themselves and they are able to resolve conflict faster than their insecure counterparts…(not to mention they just don’t have as many conflicts to begin with).

My desire is to give you the tools to feel more confident in your day to day life, and to feel a greater sense of harmony within yourself. I know it takes more than the physical, to achieve this within oneself, but we have to start somewhere.

When it comes to weight loss, I’m sure you’ve heard that if you burn more calories than you consume than you’ll loose weight.

Well it isn’t exactly so black and white, because not all calories are made the same, or processed the same by the body.

I honestly haven’t counted calories in at least a decade, and I don’t really recommend it either. If you’re eating quality food, and listening to your body to tell you when you’ve had enough, you don’t need it. If you ask me, it takes the fun out of eating, and it just isn’t necessary.

So in order to understand this more deeply, we need to understand more about hormones, and how they impact weight loss, specifically I’ll be focusing on insulin and cortisol.

Many of us have heard that insulin isn’t that great, but what is actually true, is that it’s the fat making hormone. Foods that often spike insulin are processed sugars, and simple carbs, such as breads and other sweets.

If you consume, 100 calories from a donut, compared to 100 calories from raw carrots, your body is going to create more insulin, leading to greater fat production, followed by a greater crash in energy afterwords.

Furthermore, depending on the levels of insulin, the body will also produce cortisol (the stress hormone), to level out the insulin spike faster.

So by eating these simple sugars you’re not only making it easier for your body to produce fat, compared to the complex carb counterpart, you’re also encouraging a greater dip in energy levels, and a spike in stress hormones, which, is most likely going to lead to more sugar cravings.

This is why we can’t say that all calories are created equally, and why it’s less about counting the number of calories you eat, and more about the quality of calories you eat.

I know it’s easier said than done. Most of us know we’re not suppose to be eating “healthier” but can’t really figure out why we can’t seem to stop. We judge ourselves as being weak, but I’m here to tell you that’s not exactly the case either. Knowledge is power, and it is possible to overcome these habits.

Some great alternatives to high processed sugar snacks are fruit, such as bananas or dried dates. The fibre takes longer to digest, so the insulin spike isn’t as high. Some of my other favourites are pineapple, melons, mangoes, and berries. Great on top of oatmeal, or in a smoothie.

Whats your favourite whole food snack or meal?

Much peace and love,

PS. If you’re looking to create a more loving relationship with yourself and your body, but can’t seem to do it on your own, I’ve got just the program for you. I use to beat myself up endlessly, because I couldn’t seem to overcome my cravings, and stop eating the foods I knew were making me sick, and then I realized the importance of having a supportive community.

I’ve got a group coaching program starting at the end of June, designed to help you regain your confidence and self esteem when it comes to your body. And the best part…it will lead to healthier relationships too.

This program is for anyone who wants to love their body, who has tried other programs, but didn’t see the results they wanted, and is ready to make a lasting change in their life, in a fun and playful way.

Reach out and send me a message, and we’ll talk about how this program can help you with your goals.

I look forward to connecting soon,

Julia