Cutting calories

In a previous blog, I mentioned the conversation that a few friends and I had in regard to diets, fads, cutting calories, etc.  I have been thinking about something that came up in conversation—drastically cutting calories to lose weight.

I feel that many people, when embarking on a weight loss journey, go about it in the wrong fashion.  Calories are slashed too dramatically or the person overexercises, which in the short term creates a rapid weight loss, but in the long term, sets one up for failure and possibly do damage to one’s metabolism.

My friend (with whom I had the conversation) has lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time, but there are days when he is not eating very much.  For example, one day looked like this:

Breakfast: banana

Lunch: Power Bar

Dinner: Subway 12 inch sub

This is not a lot of food for a man who is close to 6’6 in his early 30’s.  And no, I am not one to play mother or personal trainer and tell him he shouldn’t be eating this way (that’s a quick way to lose friends!).

However, he could be eating a lot more food if he just planned out his day a bit more appropriately.  His current diet may support his weight loss, but I don’t think it contains the necessary vitamins and minerals that he needs on a given day.  No vegetables, low in protein, low in fruits.  Not a good plan!

You can eat much, much more by filling up on high volume foods—vegetables first, lean proteins, whole grains, and low glycemic fruits.  I feel it’s much more work for most to prepare a salad than to order take out, which is why we take the “easy” way out and either drastically cut back on food consumption or go on a fad diet such at Atkins or The Cookie Diet.

Diets will only set you up for failure! They do not promote long term healthful eating habits!!!

Again, diets will set you up for failure!

Since high school, I have always prepared my food ahead of time, from home.  I know you don’t think you have time to do this, but you do.  It takes 10-15 minutes to pack food for the following day (if you are taking your food to work).  Believe me, I’ve been doing it for years.

Foods you can take with you?  Salads, healthful sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, yogurt, string cheese, peeled eggs, nuts, beef or turkey jerky, peanut butter and whole grain crackers—the list can go on and on, but I think you get the point.

Nowadays, there’s no excuse to visit a fast food joint for lunch every day.  Your claiming you don’t have time is  just an excuse for you to eat fast food.  It’s very easy to prep your food at home.

Don’t “diet”—eat well-rounded, nutritionally sound foods and your body and metabolism will benefit!

*Jeannette