Let's think about health, not dieting, but health! Becoming healthy and staying healthy is a matter of lifestyle - a change, for life. Long-term dieting has been proven, time and time again, to be a short-term solution that usually results in more weight gain after the fact. You can only stay on a diet for so long.

Does it actually sound healthy to exclude carbohydrates from your diet, eliminate fruit, eat only cabbage, start drinking shakes full of artificial nutrients, take bottles of pills, eat cardboard-tasting chocolate flavoured bars or fatty steaks and bacon at every meal? Do you honestly think this is the way to go? Seriously? Mother Nature meant for us to eat real food, she is wondrous, but believe me she's not very forgiving.

We've established that a diet is out of the question; we have to change our way of eating for life. But how exactly can we do this? What does a healthy lifestyle consist of? When thinking of healthy eating, many envision nothing but salads and water, but that's not the true picture at all! A healthy diet is full of choices and full of flavour. Yes, a diet of nothing but raw fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds would be ideal, but how many of us could maintain this regime in the real world? Not many... Never fear! It's still possible to live a busy lifestyle and be healthy at the same time. But, before we discuss food any further, let's discuss this concept of lifestyle just a little more . . .

There are 3 components of lifestyle change that are most helpful to understand:

Education

We must educate ourselves and learn how food affects our bodies and what foods to eat or not eat. Many people are unhealthy because they have no idea what and how to eat. They simply eat what they grew up eating. Often times this means consistently ingesting foods that please the taste buds, but bring destruction to the body. Self-education is critically important. As you begin to learn about your body and the role that food truly plays, you will find your perspective changing. The more you know, the more you will want to change.

Desire

We must have the desire to change, not only on the outside, but also on the inside. Becoming healthy requires an intense desire to do so. Take the time to think about why you really want to lose weight. Doing it to get into that sexy black dress, or your bikini this summer is NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON! Think deeply about you. Think about your health, your enjoyment of life and all it has to offer. Imagine bouncing out of bed in the morning instead of staggering. Envisage not only looking good, but also feeling good! We must love ourselves and those around us enough to value our lives and become healthy and productive individuals.

Discipline

We must break the power of old habits and perspectives of who we are, by establishing new healthy habits and working on self image. This takes discipline and willpower. Make a list of ten things in your life that would really improve if you were healthy and fit - notice I didn't say thin! Now, use this list to motivate yourself. A desire to lose weight is useless unless you actually motivate yourself to change - and change takes discipline! It is not an easy task to stop eating unhealthy foods and to begin exercising. One of the best ways to make a change like this is to work with a coach to help you establish new routines. Once you get over the hurdle of beginning to change, you will notice how much better you feel and this in itself will be a motivating factor. Remember, we are not talking about a slimming diet - this is the way you are going to eat and live for the rest of your life. Discipline yourself enough to start and once you do, you'll find yourself falling in love with the new you.

Now, let's get back to some tips for healthy eating . . .

For one week, before taking any huge steps to change, journal the things you eat, how you felt before and afterwards, and any other thoughts you may have. Take notes of any incidents that sent you straight to the fridge, or cookie jar. Looking over this journal, you will be able to pin point key triggers, such as negative emotions and situations that cause you to overeat.

After you have made a distinct decision to start a new lifestyle, go back to this journal and begin to write down your new eating habits. You'll be amazed at the difference.

You've heard it before and here it is again - eat only fruit for breakfast. Start the day fresh and clean, not just on the outside, bathe your internal system too, in fresh juice and its fibre.

Convert your diet to at least 70% raw food. You may think that this is impossible but really it isn't that difficult. For example - if you are eating 3 meals a day, your first meal of the day is already fresh fruit. For lunch you could have a salad with some lightly steamed vegetables and maybe a baked potato. And for dinner, some protein, grilled chicken for example and another great salad. Try to eat early in the evening, then if you get sugar cravings later on, I recommend a shake made from a handful of almonds, a cup of water, a couple of dates and a banana, put everything in the blender, and you'll be drinking a delicious satisfying shake in less time than it would take to make a cup of coffee and raid the cookie jar.

Prepare your meals well in advance before you get hungry or tired. One of the main reasons for not eating properly is not having the energy to prepare something wholesome, so we reach for the junk.

As soon as you get used to eating better, start cutting out sugar and refined carbohydrates. This means sugary sweets, white pasta, white bread, white rice, etc. These products have had all the natural nutrients stripped from them during the refining process. You will find that as your body gets more nutrients from a good diet, you will crave empty carbohydrates less and less.

I don't advocate taking vitamin supplements under normal circumstances because if you eat a healthy diet you will get everything you need. However, did you know that most overweight people are undernourished? (Yes really!) This is one of the reasons you feel so hungry when you change to a healthier diet, your stomach is no longer packed full of nutritionally defunct junk and recognizes the value of the real food you are now providing it, and so initially, it craves more and more, in order to re-establish a healthy organism. As a result, I have found that a mineral supplement including magnesium, iron, and zinc and a multi B vitamin supplement can really help for the first month or so.

You will probably feel really lousy during the first couple of weeks, as the toxins are released from your system; you make even think you have a cold or flu. Symptoms of detoxification may include a running nose, aching joints, tiredness and headaches. But stick with it, and you will be feeling like a new person in no time.

Recommended Reading

Food Combining books by Katherine Marsden
"Raw Secrets" by Frederic Patenaude