I struggled with my weight for years. I’d see the other girls my age walk by in their size 0 (or heck – size 8) jeans silently cursing myself for being a size 12. I ate moderately healthy (you can only be so unhealthy on a gluten free/dairy free diet – but gluten free cookies are still cookies) but for most of my life I felt like I was one of the “bigger” girls, and I didn’t know why.
It wasn’t until YEARS later I discovered the concept of Gut Health and how instrumental it is to overall health – including weight. I was trying to get eczema under control, but along the way I dropped 15 pounds, KEPT it off (check out my before & after at the bottom of this post) & these are some tips I learned along the way:
1. Eat your veggies first
There’s a term us Health Coaches use called “crowding out.” This is the idea that you don't deprive yourself of a food, but you simply fill yourself up on the healthy foods so you eat less of the unhealthy foods. Finish your veggies first. There’s a reason you weren’t allowed to have dessert until you finished your dinner as a kid!
2. Then eat MORE veggies
Your gut LOVES veggies. And the more veggies you eat, the better your body will function. When I started dropping all that weight, I was asked how. My response? “Honestly I’ve just been eating a lot more vegetables lately.” It really can be that easy. Everyone has a different starting point. Acknowledge where you are without judgment and work toward filling half your plate with veggies.
3. Make easy, healthy shifts
Get the brown rice/quinoa or veggie noodles (low glycemic!), opt for the sweet potato fries (also low glycemic!), try homemade banana ice cream instead of the pint at the store (just toss a few bananas in a high-speed blender with a splash of liquid! – two ingredients and no refined sugar!) or have a smoothie instead! Don’t be afraid to experiment with foods you already love and see what you can shift to make them better for you. Also remember: the fewer ingredients the better.
4. Find your trigger foods
For some people this is easy. You know which foods make you feel bloated or just plain gross, so you avoid them. To identify less obvious culprits, keep track of the food you eat and how you feel right after & 3 hours after you eat it. Is that food serving you or should you find an alternative? In more challenging cases, you may have to outsource – like I did. I found a local Naturopathic Doctor who tested me for food intolerances, and that took out all the guesswork. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Was this helpful for you? Let me know in the comments below! You can also request to join my new Facebook group for more tips to come – free of charge. <3
I'm trying to get inspired to eat better. I always feel bloated.