Well, it’s September and Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Schools are back in swing, the travel season has wound down and that means the holidays are coming next. Have you made changes to your diet or are you planning to? In previous articles I have addressed the need to not only workout (increase your fitness) but to also change your diet to meet your goals or adjust for health requirements.
This month, I want to talk about having a balanced approach to dieting / nutritional needs. I was recently stopped by a young lady in a grocery store as she wanted to know how my wife and I managed to be skinny with all of the bread in our shopping cart. I was initially caught off guard, because no one has stopped me while I’m shopping to ask me about my diet. Anyway, as I looked down, I realized that my cart was in fact filled with different types of bread; hot dog buns, hamburger buns, sandwich-thin bread, white bread and a loaf of French bread. Now, you may be asking the same thing. There’s no way to consume all those carbs and still maintain a healthy weight.
It’s all about the choices and types of food you eat. Whether you’re on the road (pilot life) or out running errands, you have a choice in what you eat. What I had to explain to this young woman was that the bread was keto and contained lower calories and higher amounts of fiber. As an example, I eat around four slices of French bread for breakfast maybe three times per week. I use high fiber, low calorie bread and more egg whites than whole eggs (one whole egg to five whites). This lower-calorie option is high in protein and keeps me satiated longer than regular French toast.
I use various options to make better choices, opting for more protein-based meals even when I’m on the go. Even at the airport, any sandwich or meal I get, I look for the healthier options (chicken or turkey, without cheese and lots of veggies). Years ago, when we talked about dieting, we were confined to the diet-food section of the grocery store. Those choices were limited at best, and you could often find yourself overindulging later in the day.
If you make better choices, you’re more likely to stick with a lifelong plan versus starving and giving up in the short term. My theory is that if you can modify a recipe to be healthier and it’s close to 80% like the original, you’re getting somewhere. When it comes to food, healthier options that allow you to have a higher volume of food at lower calories will help you stay fuller longer. I even opt for the sugar-free dressing or sauces when I can.
Making better choices doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself by starving to meet your goals or needs. You’ll find it easier to stay focused when you feel fuller longer!
As always, if you are interested in any specific fitness-related topic, reach out to me at [email protected]. Tune in next month for a new article on challenges!
