Some of you are veterans of the war on fat. Back in the days when low fat was recommended across the board by doctors and dietitians. That brought on what I all the Invasion of Snackwells. Low fat and no fat snacks were everywhere!
Do you remember Wow chips? If you ever read the side effects of those things you do. Horrifying. These fat free chips that saved you from fat. Words like loose stools and worse were connected to these chips. It was so bad that they actually came with a warning label.
The irony from all of us avoiding fat is that it led us to eat more junk carbs that many experts believe has set us on the path to obesity we are on now. So what do we do now?
Low carb? Count calories? Keto? Paleo?
Those work great for some people and not that great for others. The key is to finding the nutrition plan that you enjoy doing, that fits your lifestyle, and one that you could see yourself doing long term.
I would suggest a simpler "diet" that is starting to gain a lot of steam among nutrition experts. Instead of counting calories, carbs, etc.... you simply begin to focus more on nutrient dense foods.
Think of it as focusing on quality over quantity. A few basic tips would be:
-Avoid low fat and no fat
-Eat more vegetables and fruits in different colors
-Cut down liquid calories, sugar, refined grains (pasta, cereal, tortillas)
-Avoid processed/fast food whenever possible
-Eat whole foods
But if we are being honest, it is about using common sense. Is an apple or low fat apple snack better for you? Is a bowl of Captain Crunch or an omelet better for you?
Take the complications out of your diet! Start focusing on taking in higher quality foods and it will not only help you lose weight, but also be better for your overall health. When you start stripping away so many of the "food rules" you will find your relationship with food become a much healthier and fulfilling one.