As we enter 2015, I'd like to help you get started on the right foot. In my office, there is no shortage of excuses for not following nutrition recommendations. While I work exclusively with athletes, these excuses can be heard from just about everyone trying to make healthier choices toward bigger goals. So it's time to "name it, claim it and tame it"...it is a new year, after all.
1. I like to sleep.
This is most often used an excuse for not eating breakfast or not eating a post-workout snack after late night training. I like to sleep too - who doesn't? However, it is about priorities. While getting 7-9 hours of sleep on average is a must, so is fueling your body correctly. Re-evaluate where your time is spent. Is there a reason you need to watch 3 hours of television at night? Do you really need to stay on social media until midnight? Its time to unplug early and go to sleep...or stop hitting snooze in the morning. Make a commitment to eating when your body needs you to.
2. I don't have time to plan.
I say it again here - it's all about priorities. Many people believe that planning to eat healthy is some grand event requiring large amounts of time each week in order to make it work. In reality, many people spend very little time planning - and even fewer minutes the more they do it. How hard is it to make a grocery list while you're doing a long stationary cycling or trainer ride...or while you are watching your kids' practices...or during commercial breaks of your favorite television show or sporting event? There are always minutes available in the day...it is how you use them that makes the difference.
3. I don't like _______.
Contrary to popular belief, it isn't just toddlers that have a picky palate. I have adults in my office giving me full-out lists of foods they "really don't like". While it is perfectly okay to have a few foods you truly don't enjoy eating or follow a type of eating style (i.e. vegetarian, vegan, etc.) , it is unacceptable to cut out a large portion of available foods simply because they are "yucky." The way I phrase this to my athletes in the office is this: If you didn't like a particular workout, you wouldn't tell your coach or trainer you just "weren't going to do it today"...you would suck it up and do it. The same holds true for healthy eating: It may not be very fun or taste very good at the beginning, but you need to suck it up and do it. High level performance requires high level eating.
4. My kids won't eat healthy.
Ask any pediatric dietitian, and they will tell you who holds the control here: you. Parents decide what is brought into the house and what is served at each meal or snack; children decide how much they are going to eat of the foods offered at a particular meal or snack. Worried about the complaints you will get when you stop buying pizza rolls and bagel bites and instead offer fruit and cheese for snacks? Like many areas of parenting, you're not mean for making your kids eat healthy...you're being a good parent by watching out for their health along with yours. You are the one who chooses what is brought into the house...not them.
Some of you may read this and think I'm crazy or too hard-lined. The truth is that nutrition changes are hard. In order to be successful, you need to get rid of the excuses and commit. This is a perfect time of year to do that. And if you can't do it alone, I'd love to see you in the office or via phone or Skype. Check out more about my services at www.RDKate.com.
Be Extraordinary,
RDKate
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