A friend of mine posted on Facebook that he was wanting to make some changes. He wanted to get healthier and lose some weight. The following was my response to him.
I think I could make it a whole lot easier for you, a whole lot healthier for you, and increase the odds of the changes you want to see take place, and be longer-lasting.
I know GLP-1’s are a cheat code to quick weight loss, but I’m not of the opinion that they are the way to appreciate lifelong change.
You’ve already got the cooking for yourself part of the equation in the bag.
Don’t snack. Avoid their seduction…😎
Whole foods ONLY made from fresh, single ingredients.
Look up the term “oxalate.” Remove all foods that anything other than low in oxalate content. Examples of high oxalate foods are Spinach (cooked), Rhubarb, Spinach (raw), Rice Bran, Buckwheat Groats, Almonds, Soy products (tofu, soy milk), Beets, Navy Beans, Baked Potato (with skin), Okra, Raspberries, Cashews, Yams, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Cocoa/Chocolate (dark), Miso Soup, Wheat Berries, Corn Grits.
You will notice that this basically means that you would, for the most part, be on an animal-based diet. All of those so-called plant-based Superfoods are basically NOT super and off limits.
Focus on getting all of the electrolytes(salts) that your body needs on a daily basis from food-based sources where possible. Supplement as needed. If you can do this you will be amazed how much this will remove your food cravings. Most of the time your food cravings are actually electrolyte deficiencies. Whole milk and orange juice are a great way to get a LOT of these electrolytes.
Set aside 9 hours of downtime before sunrise for your body to get the restorative sleep it needs to repair and rejuvenate itself.
Eat only when the sun can shine on your plate and be sure to stop eating 3 hours before you plan to sleep. No fudging here except on special occasions.
And MOST IMPORTANTLY, walk. Start out slowly if you need to, but eventually, work your way up to at least a few miles a day. We are bipedal creatures, and walking is a non-negotiable if you want to be healthy and achieve your goals. Walking is the most important and the best prescribed medication that will give you what you are looking for, and the best part is it costs you no more than comfortable shoes with a wide toe box. And you can do it anywhere.
Oh. And don’t take yourself too damn seriously. Avoid ideologies at all costs. Don’t become legalistic. And if someone invites you over for dinner and sets a table full of the stuff you don’t want to eat, don’t stress. Eat it and enjoy it. It won’t kill you. Just treat it as a treat and be grateful to your host. The narrow path will be there for you when you wake up the next morning.
If you need more help or have questions, I’m here for you.