The diet industry is a $40 billion dollar a year business! With that kind of financial investment from consumers, you’d think the diet industry would shrink and disappear, along with our shrinking waistlines. The math here tells us that we are somehow not getting what we pay for, as America (and the world) is generally getting fatter. If you’re sick and tired of being fat and out of shape, this article might just give you the right food for thought to get you going, without spending a penny more. Instead, we’ll explore a simpler way to look at our approach to weight management that could change this weight epidemic forever, starting with you!
Eliminating the confusion:
On the fitness side Over the last few decades we have seen a massive growth in gym equipment, memberships, trainers, Pilates studios, yoga studios, and organized cycling groups. Personal fitness equipment has also enjoyed explosive growth, with exercise balls, hip-hop-ab videos, and home gym equipment. It’s truly mind-blowing and makes a person wonder where to start with any type of exercise routine.
When it comes to diet, the choices become even more difficult. I was looking at a bookstore the other day and I counted over 30 shelves of different diet books to choose from, which doesn’t account for all the programs out there like the Nutra System, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and Lindora, just to name a few. Now there is also the explosion of the Internet with the appearance of dozens of new e-books on diets. This is all great from a choice standpoint, but many diets contradict each other and add to the confusion.
Personally, I’ve been there yo-yo dieting for the past 15 years and almost felt like giving up. Then one day I came across a reading that reminded me of some common sense principles. These principles helped me get through the confusion and get back on track. I lost over 15lbs and kept it off and am working on my last 10lbs right now.
Getting back to the basic:
Think of our grandparents or great grandparents. They didn’t have all the gadgets and gyms, nor did they need a diet program. Our fitness and weight problems stem from lifestyle. We know this intellectually, but do we really understand it?
Here are the ways our ancestors stayed in shape:
Exercise:
They were often up from dawn to dusk working on the farm or running the family business, making deliveries or doing some other activity. Our jobs don’t provide those kinds of opportunities for most of us today, but you can take a 10-minute break every 2-3 hours and take a brisk walk around the block.
Second, our ancestors often had to work very hard. For example, bringing in the hay before a rain or when it was ready for harvest. Our bodies still need variation and intensity, along with regular movement. As you do your workout, vary your intensity level. Include modified high-intensity weight-lifting exercises, which will keep your time commitment lower, while increasing your metabolism.
If possible, use movement to do something you enjoy, such as swimming, playing catch, running across an even field outside, or working on a special home construction project. Whatever you do, try to imitate our healthy ancestors by moving whenever you can and allowing gusts of intensity. Doing this will require some intent and focus, but the rewards are well worth it!
Diet:
Now think about what our ancestors ate. It doesn’t matter if they ate meat or vegetables, pasta or potatoes. The point is, they ate nutrient-dense foods for most of their meals and snacks! The vast amount of processed foods just didn’t exist back then. No copious amounts of ice cream, chips, soda, or sugary cakes at your fingertips today! If they had any of these treats, they were made from scratch, required manual labor to complete, and would have a short shelf life. Previously, sugar could only be purchased through apothecaries or pharmacies, as it was very expensive and expensive.
Simply put, try to mimic your ancestors in the types of nutrient-dense foods you eat. We’ve been focusing too much on macronutrients like fat, carbs, and protein, and while there’s merit in balancing macronutrients, we’ve gone too far here, too. Advertising agencies and the processed food industry have brainwashed us into eating prepared food more often than not. I’m not saying you should never eat a brownie or packaged food again, rather push yourself 85-90% of the time to eat unprocessed foods. Instead, eat healthy, organic, live foods in smaller portions more often, and it’s that simple!
If you think exercise, nutrition, and rest are annoying chores you have to do for swimsuit season, you’re going to be disappointed with your fat-burning and fitness results. Your goal should be to create a long-term lifestyle that takes some of the best elements of how your ancestors lived, and your body will be naturally fitter and leaner.