Unfortunately, just having the right foods won't help you if you eat the wrong amounts or at the wrong times. What would it be like to operate your car without a fuel gauge? You would always be guessing how much fuel to put in and when to do it. You would only have to guess too high a few times before you would be conditioned to always put in too little. Most of my new clients are in this condition at our first meeting. They know the consequence of too much gains weight so they become good at always guessing too low. Nine out of every ten overweight individuals I meet are under eaters not overeaters. To properly fuel the body, it is vital to know how much food, what is the best time to eat and which are the best foods. Each meal should contain protein to provide amino acids to repair and maintain muscle. High fiber, low glycemic carbohydrates provide glucose for cellular energy and to stabilize blood sugar levels. Fats provide fatty acids, which are essential to maintain hormonal balance in the body. Meals should be 3.5 to 4.5 hours apart for proper digestion, absorption and assimilation. The amount of food is different for each individual based on their amount of muscle and length and intensity of their activities. The key to successful weight management is to allow the muscle to operate on a full tank, with no spill over into the fat cells.
Law # 9 - Freedom Brings Responsibility
Someone in prison does not need a job, money or a place to stay, but they are in prison. After rehabilitation, comes freedom and freedom brings responsibility. They now need work, money and a place to stay, their freedom comes with a cost, they must be responsible. The same is true with the self imprisonment of being overweight. When you are overweight you don't need to portion food, can eat whatever you want, whenever you want, but you are imprisoned in an overweight body, sentenced to poor health and poor quality of life. After being reeducated you learn to be at an ideal weight, you must eat foods in the right portion, right time and right type. Being free of the unwanted body requires the responsibility of not going back to old eating habits. When exposed to temptation of poor quality foods, ask yourself the following questions. Does this food provide the protein I need to repair my hard-working muscles? Will this food provide the quality carbohydrates I need for energy and keep me from becoming hungry over the next three to four hours? Will this food bring me closer to my goal, or push me from it? If temptation wins, it must teach us it is not how far we fall, but how high we bounce when making a mistake. Train yourself to see, that you are always four hours away from doing it right.
Law # 10 - Live for Today
The two days that have delayed and disrupted new eating habits from forming are yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday tries to condemn us and tomorrow attempts to frighten us. See the mistakes of yesterday as learning experiences, which taught you what does not work and has prepared you to receive what does. Living for today is a narrow path of behavior, managed by two simple, but powerful words, yes and no. Say "yes," to foods (low glycemic) that control your blood sugar. Say "yes" to proper portions of foods that allow you to lose fat, without losing muscle or being hungry. Say "no" to foods that store fat and you no longer believe in. Say "no" that's what I used to desire, I now desire something better. If your thoughts are on yesterday, it will blur your vision of what you should do today and steal your joy for what still lies ahead.
In closing, these laws are not meant to imprison you with the rules about proper eating, but empower you to change. As you apply their principles old behavior's are stripped away as new behavior's take roots and become a healthy new way of life. I was once asked years ago, "Give me a tip that will work now matter what my situation." My response still holds true today, "Focus on what you believe, do what's right and it will turn out right."
Laws 1, 2, & 3 | Laws 4, 5, 6, & 7 | Laws 8, 9, & 10
About this Contributor: Charles Remington, AKA the Fat Loss Coach is a nutritionist, herbalist, and healing minister. www.thefatlosscoach.com
- ~Contributor Article Dateline: Feb 24 2006
