People are often very surprised when they see me eat certain foods. Their eyebrows rise when they see me eat bacon, they are shocked when they see me use butter and they nearly fall to the floor when they see me enjoy a piece of chocolate cake. The look on their faces is almost as if they are waiting for me to tell them the good news..."Chocolate cake has been found to contain antioxidants and is good for your health." Or "Chocolate cake has now been shown to prevent heart disease and actually lower blood pressure."
Sorry. None of these statements are even remotely true but wait, there is good news. I do think there is a 2 fold benefit to eating chocolate cake (or any not so healthy food of your choice) every once in a while.
The first is the mental component to never telling yourself there is anything you CAN'T have. Tell a child he can't do something and what happens? He wants to do it even more. As adults we are exactly the same way and the instant you tell yourself there is a food you CAN'T have, you begin to crave and want that food even more.
With that being said, there are some foods I will absolutely never go near. Not because I tell myself I can't, but because I know how horrible they are and how damaging their contents are for my body. A perfect example of this is any fast food. I've seen way too many documentaries, have read more than enough research and know exactly what goes into a Fast Food Hamburger. Those kinds of toxic chemicals will never cross my lips (or at least I will do everything possible to make sure it doesn't happen).
However, every once in a while I do enjoy a good dessert, a home baked lasagna, or a cheesy, gooey casserole that might not be 100% Diet Solution friendly.
Do I indulge in these foods all the time? Of course not. The greater percentage of all of my meals and foods are in the healthy category, but I do know from personal experience that never restricting myself, or "depriving" myself, has really helped me establish my way of eating as a way of life and not some crash diet.
Here's more good news and the second reason this approach may help you achieve your own health and weight goals. There are now several studies showing the physical benefits to eating some less than healthy foods each week. Yes, it may actually be a good thing for your metabolism. I have heard several credible authors and health professionals talk about this concept before and do believe there is credible scientific research to back this up. I have to give credit to fellow fitness author Joel Marion who really explains the physiological benefits of "the Cheat Day" the best.
As a nutritionist (and overall smart gal) I'm always a bit skeptical (ok, a lot skeptical) when people tell me "Oh yeah, you can eat ice-cream and pizza and still lose weight". Huh? Lose weight how? By then never eating ever again?
Joel's research clearly explains otherwise. His principles are based on the concept of a well planned out, metabolic enhancing, higher caloric intake day. NOT a meal plan consisting of unhealthy foods all day every day (It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that just won't work in the long term).
Joel has put together a great program where he shows you exactly how a good Cheat Day can really help you achieve your weight loss goals with no deprivation. This was definitely good news to me!
Read more about Joel’s program here:
http://cheatyourwaythin.thedsp.info He gives you a lot of great eye opening information, so be sure to take a look now:
http://cheatyourwaythin.thedsp.info In health and happiness,
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