BY: Jody Trierweiler
I’ve been in the Health and Fitness industry for over 30 years. While many things have changed – like the science that’s leading us into incredible new discoveries about nutrition and exercise. There’s one thing that has remained constant over the years, and that’s the desire for almost every single person to lose body fat.
The questions pour in to me daily: What supplement can I take? What powder can I drink? Should I take creatine? How much should I exercise? Is taking a GLP-1 dangerous even if only short term?
The most frustrating thing for me is that people already know what to do, but they don’t want to do it. They want a work-around, a short-cut, an easy button. They want to eat french fries and then drink weight loss tea. But those “buttons” are not as great as you might think!
“Stick to food without labels, such as vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins.”
Many of us already know what we need to be doing. That is – saying “no”, restraining, and resisting unhealthy food, despite how difficult that might be. It takes maturity and discipline that most don’t want to master.
Another important pillar of health and fat loss is adequate sleep. Without it your hormones will be out of balance and your appetite will increase. So if you’re not currently sleeping at least 7 hours per night, you need to get that in order first.
A big part of fat loss involves diet and nutrition. You already know this, but it’s not easy because we are human, get cravings, and the food industry creates ultra-processed food to entice you with crunch, sugar, and salt in the perfect ratios to keep you coming back for more.
Stick to food without labels, such as vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. I know this is hard to do during the holidays, but that is the foundation of a healthy body. Small amounts of carbohydrates such as beans, lentils, and whole grains like quinoa, and kamut. Use healthy fats in cooking oil such as olive, avocado, coconut, tallow, butter, ghee. Use fruit as dessert, skip refined sugar and no sugary drinks or fruit juices, they spike the blood sugar and lead to diabetes.
Consider trying a one day fast (ask your doctor first). One of the benefits of fasting is that it helps one master self control, and you increase your ability to say no to foods that don’t serve you. There are also numerous health benefits to fasting.
After sleep and nutrition, focus on moving. Be active every single day. Focus on your muscles, and get resistance training 3-7 days per week. Get at least 7,000 steps per day. Find an activity that brings you joy such as dancing, swimming, biking outdoors. Don’t make it complicated.
Remember the basics is what will help your body thrive.
Jody Trierweiler, C.N.C is a CM Magazine Contributor, and health and fitness expert in Metro Detroit. Follow her and shop supplements @jodysfitlife on Instagram and Facebook, or see her on Live In The D on WDIV-4 NBC Detroit. Take one of her fitness classes at Life Time Fitness in Bloomfield Hills, or Club Studio in Troy, Michigan.
