Do you need yet another program telling you “eat this, not that?” I see thousands of weight loss programs and workshops out there focused on nutrition and how to eat. But the truth is, you already know what to eat. My first Weight Watchers leader, Claudine, was really a Weight Watchers rebel. She was so completely fantastic and inspirational; her meetings would fill to standing room only. With her numbers and success, Weight Watchers stayed pretty hands off of telling her what she had to teach. The meeting that was supposed to be about nutrition in all WW meetings across the country that week, Claudine opened by asking, “Is there anyone in here that does not know what I mean if I say, “eat right?” No? Good. Now we can talk about what I want to talk about.”
The truth about “eating right” is: If you don’t already know, no one else can really tell you. Your body is going to be the best judge of what is working for you. If you sit down to list the foods that are your “fuel” – not your fun, party-in-my-mouth foods, but the foods that feel good in your body and keep you going to the next meal, you will find a list just jumps right out. For me, it was a lot of good protein foods (chicken, eggs, ground turkey, steak), lots of various vegetables, fats like olive oil and avocado, and a few carbs like oatmeal, whole grain, the occasional potato. I know that these work well in my body and if I stick with those, I drop weight and feel great.
You can still have an occasional fun food in there – we all need that bit of pleasure eating. But start paying attention to what your fuel foods are. What you eating that feels “clean” in your body and keeps you well satisfied until the next meal. Make a list and start noticing the amazing wisdom your body already has. Tell me in the comments below what your top fuel foods are. We can all learn from each other!
Great post! I want my own Claudine at my WW Meeting.
Your words were eye opening, because when you said to list my fuel foods, I immediately thought of what WW had programmed into my head. Truth is, fruit doesn’t make me feel good. Beans and legumes do not make me feel good. Carrots do not make me feel good. Brown rice does not make me feel good. These are foods that I’ve been forcing down as part of my day. Time to focus on what feels GOOD and find my real fuel food.
Kim – it is such a shame to eat foods just because we think we “should” be eating them. Everyone has foods that are good fuel that they like. Make sure the foods are basic, clean and leave you feeling light and energized. That’s your fuel!
half a peanut butter sandwich folded over. Just one slice of bread, peanut butter, fold it. Works really well for my lunch at work. Usually I will also have a piece of fruit. This keeps me fueled until quitting time. Not so much that I’m full, but enough. I don’t think about food at all after that.
Oatmeal and oat bran. Popcorn. Chicken. A hamburger every other week. Lots of veggies. Cold in summer, warm in winter. When I eat right I do feel better. Sometimes I get run down and tired and I eat too much “desperate, tired” food – peanut butter sandwiches, cold cereal, crackers, etc… And that seems to be a downward spiral. It can be hard to find the time to prepare good foods but when I do I feel better. I even think I get sick less.
“desperate, tired” food…love this!
Isn’t it interesting how peanut butter sandwich is one person’s fuel and another’s tired food. It’s all about what works in our individual body. It is so worth it to pinpoint the foods that work in your body and help keep your weight in a good place, then take the time once a week to make sure they are prepared and on hand. I am even happy in life when my food is set to go!
I *love* peanut butter! But if I rely on it for too many days I start to feel run down and crave a “real” meal.