Reading vs. eating

It's a known fact that when we try to take away something from ourselves we need to replace it with something else. In my weight loss journey, I need to fill the void that snacking and overeating used to fill with something far more useful and beneficial. I've always loved reading, and so now I can read about one of my favourite subjects--healthy eating!!

My favourite new read is "The Skinny Rules" by Bob Harper. I'm trying to incorporate rule #7 into my daily eating patterns, which is...no carbs after lunch. No carbs after lunch - what??? Okay, he allows carbs only if they are offset by even more fiber. Here's why: "Carbs are forms of sugar, and sugar cues the pancreas to make more insulin, which in turn triggers appetite. The later in the day that you comsume sugar, the more likely it is that you will get food cravings late at night."

So he's basically saying, lay off the breads and pastas and rice after lunch! Fruits and veggies are okay later in the day because of their fiber and additional health benefits. I guess I always knew this, but he explains it in such a user-friendly way. I usually just borrow books from the library, but this book just might have to be a permanent addition to my bookshelf!!

Sometimes it's really hard to sift through all the health information we see in the media. Coffee's bad for you...no wait! Coffee's good for you! Coconut oil is bad for you...no wait! Coconut oil is now amazing for you! Chocolate, carrots, the list goes on and on. But I'm finding, the more I read, and the more I get back to food as God made it, from the perimeter aisles of the grocery store, the better my body responds. All things in moderation!

So, for today, I'm going to continue to learn and find out what is best for my body. I have a huge goal ahead of me, and a lifestyle change is in process. For the rest of my life. Can I really learn this time that after I lose the weight and achieve my goal, I can't just go back to eating whatever I want in massive quantities? Lifestyle change. The new buzz word that we use instead of "dieting." But it's my heart's desire to make this change, and to make it last for the rest of my days.

Back to my reading!