Fast-paced Lives and "Fast" Food
Our society has developed the mentality that, "eat less, move more” is the proper mantra for weight loss. While certain aspects of this concept may have merit, it's important to realize that it does not tell us WHY we over-eat certain foods, have cravings, feel tired, or any other multitude of factors that influence weight. This week, I'd like to touch on the aspect of time-management with respect to healthy living.
Many of us fall into the trap of eating quickly because it's convenient in our busy lives. Preparing healthy, home-cooked meals takes extra time and energy that, frankly, most of us can't find. I wanted to, again, reiterate an article written by Dr. Arya Sharma on the importance of time management with respect to weight loss. Please click below to read his article, because it sums up the concept of fast-paced, stressful lives leading to poor food habits:
www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/fast+food+leads+obesity/8003899/story.html
While the reality is that we can't just "STOP” our busy lives, we CAN work around a hectic schedule to create healthier habits. Dr. Sharma suggests tracking and journaling how we spend our time first, BEFORE even starting to track our food intake. This is an essential exercise to figure out where we can carve out time for proper meals and food preparation.
Start by writing out a "normal” week's tasks…that is, the hours you are at work, home, driving, picking up children, etc. Then, for a week, jot down how you spend every hour of the day. Chances are you will likely find extra pockets of time that you didn't know you had. Time management is the key to healthy habits. The next step would be finding some time to pre-prepare healthy food options (i.e. make all your lunches ahead; bake 12 chicken breasts at once and freeze some; have microwaveable meatballs in the freezer for a quick snack; have small yogurts or pre-portioned cheese in the fridge; etc.) so that you're not scrambling when you're exhausted at the end of the day.
Realize that, in order to sustain healthy eating, we MUST change our lifestyle. This is the only way to keep healthy long-term. It's not about following a "perfect eating plan;” really, it's about structuring our week to accommodate healthy food and activities.
Believe that you can and WILL achieve your goals! When things seem impossible, realize that there is always a way to get back on track, one small step at a time. Never give up!
Dr. Doug