My Lessons from a Dietician

I recently attended a nutrition class that was offered for free at a local hospital.  It was an interesting class.  Many of the things discussed were things that we already know.  Don’t eat junk food.  Eat more fiber.  Eat more fruits and vegetables.  Reduce red meat consumption.  Don’t starve your body.  None of this was new material, but there were a few things covered in the class that I thought it would be helpful to share.

The first item is why we have such a difficult time losing weight and keeping it off.  The answer is simple but oh so difficult to overcome.  Our biggest obstacles are the ones in our minds.  Our society tells us that we are failures if we do not meet ideal body fat standards.  We beat ourselves up over the least little thing that we do to break our diet rules.  We admonish ourselves for not exercising enough.  We have been convinced that we are failures by society and we continue to believe it.  Re-inforced negative expectations lead to us being our own worst enemy. 

The second is to find your motivation. Consider varying ways to build motivation. There are many quotes, photos, and inspirational stories on the internet and in books and magazines.  Maybe a support group is what is right for you.  Perhaps reducing a dress size is a better motivator for you.  Find what works for you and stick with it. 

The third item was to weigh yourself only once every seven days.  Weighing oneself allows you to evaluate the method(s) you are using to lose weight.  If you have gained weight, review what you have been doing in the last week.  Was it a bad week at work?  Did you overeat at that office party? Did you experience an injury while exercising?  If your method is too extreme or difficult, do more research to find something that may work better for you and try that for the next week.  If you have lost body fat, pat yourself on the back and carry on.

The bottom line: I would recommend seeing a Registered Dietician.  You may know all of the information provided, but hearing it will help reinforce healthy changes.  Always try to remember that if you fall off the wagon, don’t let it run you over – get back on it.