7 Healthy Lifestyle Myths Busted
By Cathy Gold, owner of FaBuLife and Gold Standard Fitness
We were wrong! I am a nurse practitioner, nutrition coach, and personal trainer. When I say “we,” I mean all of us – exercise professionals, medical professionals, and nutrition experts. A lot of the advice we’ve given you for years is being proven false. Much of the advice has made America sicker and more overweight than ever before. If long bouts of cardio, eating low fat, and balancing calories is the answer to our health problems and weight loss woes, why are we seeing more obesity and disease than ever before?
It’s hard to change your thinking. It’s even harder to get word out about health research. A lot of this information has been proven for decades, but most still don’t know about it! As we head into a new year, I want to bust some myths that are holding you back from living the healthiest life possible.
- Fat is bad.
Dietary fats have been vilified for decades. Doctors thought eating fat led to higher cholesterol that clogs your arteries. We now know that diets too low in fat are associated with higher risks of heart disease and early death!
Naturally occurring fats like olive and coconut oils, avocado, eggs, butter, and other animal fats are essential to a healthy lifestyle. Now most experts are recommending increasing fats, while drastically reducing carbs, to attain maximal health and lose weight. A low carb, high fat diet is not a fad. It’s been around for over a century!
- Sugar in moderation.
Did you know that we eat more than 4 times as much sugar now as ever before? I’m not just talking about candy bars and ice cream. The food industry has hidden sugars in most foods. Why? Because it’s extremely addictive, studies show it’s more addictive than cocaine!
To quit, it’s better to go cold turkey. By allowing “moderation”, you’re only feeding the addiction little by little. Switch to naturally sweet foods and natural sweeteners like Stevia as a first step, then slowly reduce your dependence on the sweet taste. There’s a lot more flavor in food just waiting to be discovered!
- Grains are good.
Ever wonder why so many people have gluten sensitivity or intolerance? Agricultural practices have changed dramatically in the past century. In fact, most grains we eat are nothing like their ancestors.
A diet high in today’s grains is associated with inflammatory illnesses like Chrohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, fibromyalgia, migraines, and much more. There are better ways to get fiber and nutrients in your diet. Ditch the grains for a few weeks and see how you feel.
- Calorie balance matters.
You’ve all heard it. Eat less, exercise more. Calories in, calories out. How’s that working for you? Your metabolism, and therefore your ability to gain or lose weight, is largely dependent on a complex system of hormones that are greatly influenced by your food choices.
For example, while 6 Snickers bars may have the same daily calories as a well-balanced diet, your body will not respond in the same way. Similarly, under-eating will lead to lasting metabolic damage that’s tough to reverse. Choosing whole sources of natural foods, while avoiding processed and packaged foods, is imperative.
- Heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are genetic.
While a small portion of individuals have genetic factors affecting their heath, the vast majority do not. It’s become a crutch, an excuse. The thing we usually inherit is an unhealthy lifestyle. We tend to eat what our parents ate. Lifestyle factors, such as routine exercise, sleep patterns, and stress, are learned at a young age. You have a lot more control of your health than originally thought.
- Cardio is good for weight loss.
We’ve grown up hearing “cardio” – running, aerobics, spin classes – is the key to dropping unwanted weight. Why aren’t we losing weight then?
Long bouts of cardio training are excellent for your heart and overall health. However, for weight loss, it doesn’t do the job. Shorter bursts of higher intensity exercise forces the body to reach into those fat stores for fuel, and boosts the metabolism for hours after a workout session.
- Eat right and exercise and you’ll lose weight.
This myth has led to more discouragement and failure than anything else has. Eating healthy nutrient dense foods and fitness is important in a healthy lifestyle. But millions of people, especially moms, feel like they’re doing everything right and not getting anywhere. It’s time to question what “eating right” looks like, and how “exercise” helps.
Final thoughts…
All the knowledge in the world does nothing if you don’t put it into action. If you’re not committed to making changes, you will never get the results you desire. When you’re ready to let go of the excuses, the results will happen.
Educate yourself through trusted sources, and obtaining professional help through the process is key to long-term success.
Finally, you don’t have to do it alone. Studies show that people who work with a nutrition coach and personal trainer are significantly more likely to achieve and maintain their goals. Additionally, people with group support are happier and more likely to stick to their newfound healthy habits.
About FaBuLife
My FaBuLife program teaches step-by-step the hows and whys of changing your metabolism, altering your mindset, and finally dropping unwanted body fat for a healthier, happier life. Just in time for a new year!
I developed the FaBu-Life program because there’s too much bad information out there on low carb or keto eating. This 6-week web-based program serves as a way to teach a low carb lifestyle and provide daily contact for education, motivation, and support. It includes step-by-step instructions for transitioning to a low carb or ketogenic diet with meal ideas, menus, tips for sustaining and more. Plus there are workout videos, fitness tips, a private Facebook group, live chats, giveaways, and truly personalized coaching throughout.
If interested in FuBu-Life or personal or small group training, please contact me by phone (336) 549-6460, email goldstandard4fitness@gmail.com
RESOURCES:
Low carb lifestyles: www.dietdoctor.com
Grains: “Grain Brain” by Dr David Perlmutter and “Wheat Belly” by Dr William Davis
Hormones and insulin control for weightloss: “The Obesity Code” by Dr Jason Fung
Low carb/keto coaching and lifestyle change program: www.fabu-life.com
Small group & personal training and web-based fitness programs: www.goldstandard4fitness.com
- Sponsored by FaBuLife and Gold Standard Fitness
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You’re right! Crunchy cravings are so hard! I can tell you it gets better. As your body learns to love new flavors and textures that need for crunch slows down. It’s like anything – your body craves what it eats! Think about it – does someone who never eats chocolate have cravings for chocolate? Nope…. your body can learn to love new things and unlearn bad habits. That said, I like a good crunch too! There are a few cracker or chip recipes I’ve used to make almond flour based crunchy stuff. But I’m lazy and don’t like making that much effort often, LOL. I do love nuts and seeds, but be careful with portions. Also, naturally crunchy things like celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, etc make great tools to eat dips and cheeses. Also, many people use pork rinds – don’t judge! – for coating chicken for a faux “fried” texture or even as a base for things like nachos, sausage dip, and things like that. Pork rinds are actually super natural and not the jaw-dropping unhealthy choice we once thought they were. Hope that help!!
One of my biggest problems is that I always want to have a “crunch” in whatever I eat. I’m always drawn toward carbs for that reason. Carrots don’t seem to do the trick. Any other ideas for healthy crunch? ????
Awesome…..such a truthful and informative read. My life has been changed by eliminating grains, sugar and increasing oils. I feel better,more energy and have lost a few pounds without trying. Shall I also say I am a 68 year old grandmother.