As a dietitian and a woman of color, I understand the struggles of weight management and health concerns.
Not only have I educated and assisted others with these issues, I've encountered them myself.
Not only have I educated and assisted others with these issues, I've encountered them myself.
A person's weight and overall health is influenced by multiple factors such as: sleep, nutrition, exercise, genetics, and whether or not a person abuses substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs.
Although The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated "Individuals are unlikely to be able to directly control many of the determinants of health," WHO and many other governmental agencies are very much aware that one's health is strongly influenced by the above factors. Therefore I will say both professionally and personally, you can control all of these things; including genetics! However in order to take control over your health, one has to recognize that a change of mind is essential and change is possible!
Nutrition is the primary way to get hold on your health!
Here's a personal experience: a friend of mine who has successfully loss 20 pounds and maintained it shared with me that she took the Whole30 challenge. Of course being the dietitian that I am (skeptical of fad diets),I was reluctant. However these are the thoughts that went through my mind which eliminated my reluctance:
1. I was having some issues.
2. In the past I had implemented "evidenced based" dietary guidelines with no results.
3. I've worked side by side with dietitians ("the nutrition experts") and physicians who have struggled with
serious ailments such as hypertension, osteoporosis, hormonal imbalance, heart disease and cancer!
4. The concept of resetting the mind/body button (a minimum of 30 days to do so) made sense to me!
5. I know nutrition, how to cook, and the body's reaction to the slightest change.
6. Finally, since I had long busted out the standard dietitian box "low fat, low sodium, high fiber, 3 servings of
dairy a day" fits everybody sermon, I said to myself you're going to take the Whole30 challenge!
Here's a personal experience: a friend of mine who has successfully loss 20 pounds and maintained it shared with me that she took the Whole30 challenge. Of course being the dietitian that I am (skeptical of fad diets),I was reluctant. However these are the thoughts that went through my mind which eliminated my reluctance:
1. I was having some issues.
2. In the past I had implemented "evidenced based" dietary guidelines with no results.
3. I've worked side by side with dietitians ("the nutrition experts") and physicians who have struggled with
serious ailments such as hypertension, osteoporosis, hormonal imbalance, heart disease and cancer!
4. The concept of resetting the mind/body button (a minimum of 30 days to do so) made sense to me!
5. I know nutrition, how to cook, and the body's reaction to the slightest change.
6. Finally, since I had long busted out the standard dietitian box "low fat, low sodium, high fiber, 3 servings of
dairy a day" fits everybody sermon, I said to myself you're going to take the Whole30 challenge!
In January 2017 I embarked upon the Whole30 challenge for the 1st time and plan to take this challenge two more time this year. I used my knowledge of nutrition, cooking skills, biological cues, and an exceptional palate to help me successfully complete this 30 day process. Not only was I able to loose some weight, I've maintained the loss and other health improvements were achieved.
Therefore, I want to share with you some of my ideas and recipes. Since I'm a simple no nonsense person, I wanted food preparation to be just so, yet Whole30 Compliant & tasty! Below are a few things I found to be very beneficial; hope you'll implement, enjoy, and learn more about your body throughout this process!
Therefore, I want to share with you some of my ideas and recipes. Since I'm a simple no nonsense person, I wanted food preparation to be just so, yet Whole30 Compliant & tasty! Below are a few things I found to be very beneficial; hope you'll implement, enjoy, and learn more about your body throughout this process!
1. Drink lots & lots of pure water! This helps heal your body, promotes
weight loss, reduce detox symptoms.
2. Don't be afraid to use plenty of the "right salt" to season your food to
taste.
3. Measure out & eat 1/2 cup of raw trail mix daily (raw almonds, pecans,
walnuts, cashews, raisins).
4. Eat a raw salad daily. My dressing (olive oil mixed with Coconut Aminos
& fresh squeezed lemon).
5. Drink some No Sugar Added fruit juice. You can mix with club soda to
create a spritzer. I also enjoyed low sodium tomato juice and I added
Celtic Sea Salt to taste.
6. Since potatoes is the only starch allowed on Whole30, be creative at meal
times. Here are a few options:
a) baked sweet potato with cinnamon & Ghee Butter,
b) baked white potato with guacamole,
c) roasted red potatoes seasoned with garlic, olive oil, Celtic Sea Salt & black pepper.
7. Here's a breakfast I've enjoyed during & post Whole30: cooked protein (usually steak or chicken) on a bed
of salad mix, 2 eggs over medium, and fried apples or sautéed bananas. Fried apple recipe below:
a) prepare fig paste (2 figs in small bowl filled with hot water for a minute or two),
b) add peeled apples in pan with small amount of olive oil,
c) add cinnamon, all spice, and water from the fig paste into the apples,
d) mash the figs into a paste & add to the apples,
e) when apples have finished cooking, add Ghee Butter & Celtic Sea Salt to taste!
8. Exercise daily!!
9. Since all hard candy, cough drops, gum, has to be avoided, keep dried fruit such as prunes, figs, or dates
around.
10. Keep a clean & organized kitchen, follow the Whole30 rules, & enjoy success!