| The human body is designed such that it requires a | | | | essential products you must consume daily in order |
| constant source of food and water to run properly. | | | | for your body to run properly. Create a body |
| As babies, our eating habits are such that taste is | | | | maintenance plan, the same way you would create a |
| secondary and nutrition is primary. Children thrive and | | | | vehicle maintenance plan, and stick to it. |
| grow when they receive the proper amounts of | | | | Do Not Use Food to Console Yourself or Others |
| food and water. | | | | This is not a popular idea, but it is true. You must |
| What happens as we age and become acclimated to | | | | learn to stop using food to make yourself or other |
| society is that we start to prioritize taste over | | | | people feel better. Even if you are eating healthy |
| nutrition, until ultimately we forget altogether that the | | | | foods as a pacifier, the bigger issue is that you are |
| primary purpose of food is to nurture our bodies. | | | | using food in a manner it is not intended for. There |
| Instead, we start to use food to make us happy, as | | | | are psychological uses for food, and of course you |
| a celebratory thing. We congregate in the kitchen and | | | | should follow the advice of your doctor, but it will be |
| hold meetings at eateries. Food becomes | | | | wise to get out of the habit of eating away your |
| synonymous to fun, friends, family, and many other | | | | feelings. |
| things - except nutrition. | | | | Ways to Replace Emotional Eating: |
| To Lose Weight, You Must View Food As Nutrition | | | | - Move your body. Physical activity is one of the |
| Notice that when you begin a new weight loss | | | | very best ways to get endorphins going and make |
| program, you are asked to eat much less and much | | | | yourself feel better. |
| differently than before. You are asked to consume | | | | - Stimulate your mind. Pick up a book, or better yet, |
| healthy foods, in small amounts, during certain times | | | | try to solve a Sudoku or crossword puzzle. Do this |
| of the day. That is not usually what you want to do, | | | | every day. It will not only make you feel better, it |
| but one thing that can help with it is to change your | | | | will significantly improve brain function and creativity. |
| mindset. | | | | - Talk it out. If you are not into journaling, try talking |
| Food IS nutrition, and naturally it is nothing more than | | | | about your feelings instead of eating food when you |
| that. We make it more than that ourselves, but in | | | | are upset. If no one is around, talk to yourself! The |
| and of itself, that's its whole job. The key to | | | | greater point here is to open up and confront what is |
| successful weight loss is to put food in its place once | | | | going on rather than stuffing it down with food. Don't |
| and for all. | | | | Overfill Your Tank |
| Don't Consume Anything That Fails to Provide Proper | | | | Going back to the vehicle example above, three |
| Nutrition | | | | major things you are always careful not to overfill |
| Rather than setting precise limits on food, especially | | | | are your gas/fuel, anti-freeze/coolant, and oil, right? |
| in the very beginning of your weight loss journey, | | | | You never want to overfill those areas as it could be |
| decide that you are only going to consume nutritious | | | | catastrophic. |
| food. So anything that doesn't provide nutrition goes | | | | The same thing applies to your body! Your body has |
| away. What is nutritious? Foods high in vitamins and | | | | limits, and you should not push them. Overfilling your |
| minerals are nutritious, as well as foods high in fiber | | | | body on salt, sugar, or fat can lead to serious health |
| and protein. In fact, if you successfully fill yourself | | | | problems. And these health problems don't always |
| with highly nutritious foods, you won't have room for | | | | show up right away, do they? Sometimes the |
| the junk. | | | | symptoms lie dormant for years until your body |
| Don't Use Junk Food as a Reward | | | | eventually just breaks down. |
| It makes no sense to reward yourself for eating | | | | Eat in the proper proportions, and if you don't know |
| healthy food by eating junk food. The goal here is | | | | what they are, simply stop eating when you feel full. |
| train your body to stop abusing food. Find other | | | | If you find yourself unable to tell when you are full, |
| rewards - such as a day off, date night with your | | | | contact your doctor right away. |
| loved one, or even money. Just be sure not to say | | | | Remember Food's Ultimate Purpose |
| to yourself, "I was good all week so now I will have | | | | Ultimately, food's job is to give you energy and help |
| this fudge brownie." | | | | you thrive. Food is nature's fuel for your body and |
| Take Care of Your Body as You Do Your Car | | | | you cannot sustain a healthy lifestyle if you |
| If you own a vehicle, you know that in order for it | | | | continuously fill your body with junk food and food |
| to run properly, it must be taken care of. The same | | | | that lacks nutritional value. |
| lessons apply to taking care of your body. Water, | | | | You will enjoy successful, lasting weight loss by |
| protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals - these are all | | | | keeping food in its proper place. |