Welcome to August! This month we’re taking a deep dive into something that has a HUGE IMPACT on how you feel … your energy … your health & wellness … and your results!
It’s all about what you FEED your body – and that means your food choices!
What “RESULTS” are YOU working towards right now?
You might be trying to
- lose body fat –
- balance your hormones –
- boost your energy levels –
- balance your gut –
- or even just feel better about yourself and life in general.
No matter what your goal, your results can be tied to WHAT YOU EAT.
AND … if you’ve been struggling on this front, there may be a good reason for it!
Frankly, the deck is stacked against us in our food choices these days.
That’s because many food manufacturers create products that lead us to crave MORE of those same products.
We’re talking about ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS.
That’s stuff like
- chips,
- ice cream,
- sweetened granola bars,
- cookies,
- white bread,
- crackers
- and sneaky things that might appear to be healthy (like Lean Cuisine frozen foods, flavored yogurt, Naked Juices, dried fruit, protein bars, etc)!
Honestly, we even hate to call them “food” … because manufacturers take whole-food ingredients and strip them of their good-for-you components like fiber.
Then, they add other ingredients like
- sugar,
- artificial flavors,
- excess sodium, and
- unhealthy fats
to make them appeal to our taste buds.
Food scientists say these foods can have addictive properties!
It’s a double-whammy.
Because not only do you crave MORE of them, but they don’t do you any favors in the health & wellness department. They’re high in calories and low in nutrients.
It can feel like a vicious cycle. But the good news is, it’s also one you can break!
The first step is to become AWARE of what you’re eating and how you feel when those cravings strike.
Just as an example, for me personally, I know that when I eat something sugary like a cookie, donut or candy I immediately want more of it.
It happens every time. And it starts me on a slippery slope to craving it every single day.
Here’s a solid strategy to help you break the loop:
Keep a FOOD JOURNAL for ONE WEEK.
It doesn’t have to be fancy! You can write in a paper journal or use an app if that’s easier for you.
Focus on the five W’s –
- who,
- what,
- where,
- when, and
- why
as well as how you feel after you eat. Make sure you pay attention to any cravings you have before, during, and after.
We think you might be surprised to see just how closely your cravings track back to eating ultra-processed foods!
Plus … we’ve got a great resource for you! This month we are releasing our latest guide, which includes 9 science backed ways to CRUSH YOUR CRAVINGS! Here’s how to get it
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Reference:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21167850/