Diet Defined by the N.S.C.A.

"Diet refers to the usual eating pattern of an individual, not a restrictive weight loss plan." This is how the N.S.C.A defines diet.

Were we fall short of weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight is that we generally use just the opposite definition. We tend to use the fad diets, quick weight loss plans, etc. This I define as "a restrictive way of eating over a short period of time for a great result." It is like a get rich quick plan. They don't work and are not long lasting. When considering a "diet" always ask yourself, "Then What?"

The key is to adopt healthy eating habits. This comes first with knowledge. It takes time to learn so don't get frustrated and allow yourself years to really eat well. You will find what works for you and your eating habits should be something that you can do everyday for the rest of your life without sacrificing health.

How long does it take to get through college or an apprentice program? It does not happen overnite, so allow yourself time to learn healthy eating habits. I have a few suggestions to get started.

First, get used to the grocery store. If you generally don't go to the grocery store then this itself will take time to get used to. Try to stay on the outside of the grocery store. This is were the whole foods are. If you are reading labels, chances are you shouldn't be eating it. I like to put it this way, "if it can last on a shelf for months without going bad, how do you expect your body to be able to break it down? The food company made it 'indestructible' so you generally are getting less out of what you eat." This causes you to eat more because it takes more to get the nutritional value that your body is calling for. Now your body has to figure out what to do with this excess material.

Next, look for or listen for the parallels. What I mean by this is if you hear a news program about a certain food or eating habit, and then read the same idea in a magazine, then again in a book, then chances are this is a good eating habit. If I hear something once, I don't think much of it. If I hear it twice, I start listening. If I hear the same philosophy three times, I am now asking questions and researching it and looking to adopt this eating habit as part of my diet. Ideas will change over time as with egg yolks and other food items that were once bad and now are considered good. But look at what the "experts" have been saying for 20 to 30 years.

Also, I always ask myself, "does it makes sense?" Does this eating habit or health claim that I am reading or hearing about even make sense. If it doesn't, I usually disregard it.

Last, portion control. It takes your body approximately 20 minutes to send the message to your brain that you are full. So if you eat until you are full, you have really been eating for 20 minutes too long. A good example of this is when you were a kid and you finished your plate. You were still hungry so you asked your mom to make you more food. By the time your mom made the food, you were no longer hungry. So I give you two tips withing portion control. First is to make your plate of food as to what you know is a sufficient amount. Don't make your plate as big as you possibly think you can eat. Second, eat until you are not hungry as apposed to eating until you are full.

I recommend to eat 4 to 6 times a day. Small portions; snacks and meals are both considered meals so don't think you have to sit down to 6 big meals a day. Who really has time for that? I usually will make a large dinner and cut it into 3 meals. One is dinner, the next two are lunch for the next day. This give me three of my meals with only cooking once.

There are many more tips and plans that I could write quite a bit. I will leave this here for starters and if you have any question feel free to call Justin at (520-318-3488) email (justinlist1@gmail.com) or you can find us on Facebook at Better Bodies.

I hope this was helpful. I always appreciate feedback so that I can improve on communication.

Thank you,

Justin List
Owner: Better Bodies on Campbell
520-318-3488