You know what you’re supposed to be eating, right? It’s simple. Or is it? I was reading through Fitness Magazine the other day and saw an interesting fact about healthy eating. A survey conducted by the International Food Information Council found that 52% of those asked felt it was easier to do their income taxes than to figure out what they should or shouldn’t eat.
I wish I could say I was shocked at that percentage, but I was actually one of them. For most of my adult life, I ate junk. I admit it. Sugary, fatty fast food junk. I knew it was bad for me, but most of the time I didn’t care because I wasn’t overweight. My cholesterol hovered around 208 during that time. I wasn’t confused then. I ate crap and I didn’t expect any changes to take place in my body. Talk about a no-brainer.
When I hit my mid-30s, I got tired of the skinny flab and went on a mission to eat healthy. I did my research and implemented my healthy eating plan based on what I thought was right. Low fat, sugar free. I loved the microwave lean meals. They always had coupons for them too so I relied on those for lunch and dinner to make it easy. My cholesterol shot up to 244 and stayed there… but I was eating healthy. Enter the confusion.
It wasn’t until I started working with Trainer Man that I figured out how bad my healthy eating really was. Unfortunately you can’t really figure this out from magazines and the media for the most part. They use the buzz words of whole grains, baked, low fat, sugar free, but it is so much more than that. Calories are not all created equal as I’ve learned. Healthier doesn’t necessarily equate to healthy.
It’s not easy to figure out what we are supposed to be eating – quantity of foods, types of foods, combinations of foods. Most of us need all the help we can get. So as part of my quest for some kind of fitness, I decided to add to my personal training certification. As of yesterday, I am now certified as a Specialist in Fitness Nutrition! I’ve been cramming recently (and posting on Facebook for accountability) and I finally took the exam and passed with a 93%. Phew.
I’m still sitting here in awe that Formerly Fat Me could actually study for and pass a nutrition exam. Pinch me, please. By the way, my cholesterol is now a consistent 159 and has been for over 18 months now. Goes to show it wasn’t hereditary after all. Booyah! So that was my victory for the week and dare I say I met my goal of finishing prior to September by an entire day. Talk about cutting it close.
Now I have to set another goal and make another wish to come true. What is your victory for the week? I’d love to hear about it and give you your own Booyah!
Speak Your Mind