Do you have a dietary vice? In the nutrition realm what is really considered “bad”? I have heard a myriad of different things over the years, “I only NEED to drink one Coke a day.” or “I eat really well, I only consume 800 calories a day, from Mc. Donald’s” or even “I do pretty well during the day but right before bed I usually have a couple pints of ice cream or a glass of wine as a night cap.”. The list is endless of things that people consider small dietary hinderances or major nutrition set backs. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:  ANYTHING can be addictive, all things in moderation, and if you can’t find what you want to ingest in nature I’d be catious wheather or not it is “good” for you.

Of course there are varying degrees of all these categories, for instance sugar and heroin stimulate high levels of dopamine and opioid production making them considerably more addictive than say carrots. And of course just because you can find something naturally occurring in nature doesn’t necessarily mean you should go around eating it. And so on and so forth. But if you seem to still be having trouble with your eating habits you may consider looking at food in a different light. As a personal trainer I look at food as a fuel source to accomplish the task at hand, whatever it may be. That means, if I am wanting to eat something that is not part of the remaining nutrients I need for the day then I make a choice:  eat the food knowing that if its not part of the solution it is indeed part of the problem, PERIOD. But I am also a foodie, and at times I find myself wanting to consume food for pleasure -and at times I’ve been known to eat my feelings- and not for the sake of nutrition. However, just by being aware of what I’m choosing is a big step in the right direction. Or I may choose to not put such waste into my machine and fuel it with quality and required nutrition to get the results I want. If you’re not sure which category your desired food fits into please refer to the simple suggestions and primitive guidelines previously listed or read back through the nutrition section in our articles. There are foods that are widely considered benign or neutral as far as damaging to your dietary goals. That does NOT mean that they have a positive effect either. If the majority of your calories come from the “neutral” category, you will indeed begin to suffer some consequences of your choices ie lack of marco and micro nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc. We live in a day and age where there is rarely a need for “fillers” in our diet. If you are suffering from obesity chances are its not because of famine or lack of resource. Recent studies have even suggested that your chances of living longer are much higher if you consume less than the recommended caloric intake compared to if you choose to consume more. By eating only the foods that contain the nutrients that you need for optimal function I guarantee you will meet your required daily caloric intake sans any “extras”.

Bottom line, your body is indeed a miracle but its not magical. If you put garbage in you will get garbage out, figuratively and literally.  If you can’t seem to stop giving excuses or stop mindlessly eating you may consider that you need professional help and have a serious addiction. Food can be just as dangerous as other addictions. Try seeing a nutritionist or join a local group to help you combat your trial. And although its widely acceptable now a day to justify and even encourage this glutinous behavior it can be a very very big problem, again figuratively and quite literally. Take control and make your choice, and best of luck sticking with that choice through the holiday season.

Choose to have a healthy and happy holiday.