What to eat to lose weight... for good.

​So, Lydia, I hear you say, what do I need to eat to finally, really, truly lose weight for good and keep it off? What is the secret?

That's the question I get all the time - what do I need to eat get to get to goal weight? 

And usually, people expect it to be new and, well, different. I've been there. I've eaten all. the. weird. things. I've grapefruit-ed and keto-ed and no-fatted and all-fatted. And I thought they were the answer for the first few days or weeks until I never wanted to see a grapefruit again.

But now after several years of testing, at last, I have the answer. And the surprizing answer is - It's not a diet.

I can tell you in my experience as a marketer, all diets are things that are INVENTED. Sure, some parts of them are based on research but they are all recent developments influenced by marketing culture.

But what works long term is ... [drumroll] what has been derived from hundreds of years of human experience. 

And that is meals.

Yup, meals, planned ahead, with some balance of foods, and some level of enjoyment, not bran flakes but not a sensory extravaganza.

You could add some other commonsense things that normal eaters do for extra credit. The book The Rules of “Normal” Eating which explores what normal eaters do. It lays out the four basic rules that "normal" eaters follow instinctively — eating when they're hungry, choosing foods that satisfy them, eating with awareness and enjoyment, and stopping when they're full or satisfied. 

This doesn't mean you give up elements of diets that have really worked for you. You can still err on the side of keto, or have a plant-based diet, but to do it long term requires having an approach that works for you that you stick to and refine over time. It cannot feel extreme.

So what is your eating approach going to be?

Challenge: Test out a basic plan for the next 30 days. Invent it yourself, using meals. 

But, Lydia, what is a meal?

• A meal has a start, finish and an end and is eaten at a specific time every day. I know some of you can't eat at the same time every day, but get as close to it as you can and your body will reward you by turning off your hunger hormone ghrelin after a few days of not snacking. 
• A meal also is substantial and healthy. That means it's not just a diet shake or iceberg salad, but at the same time nor is it a doughnut.  Healthy means it has stuff that comes from nature and is not too processed. At the end of a meal, you should feel totally satisfied not stuffed. Practice eyeballing what that amount of food is for you. Clients are always surprised about how little food they actually need to feel full.

Let me know how you find meals if you aren't a meal eater!  For some people, giving themselves permission to eat meals is the answer to long term weight loss, so don't underestimate this approach.

Have a great week,

Lydia 

Remember, if you need help I offer a free session, so jump on the phone with me. It ’s zero obligation just so you can get to experience the power of coaching first hand. I promise you will get value.