GutAware

Why I Am Not on a “Diet”

Here’s the thing – I am not on a “diet”, I no longer focus on weight loss, I am not fixated on portions and I don’t eat “low carb”. Two years ago I changed my mindset to eat for the health of my gut. I now focus on quality food over calories. If you eat for your gut health, you are focusing on fibre, hydration, and real, whole foods. Low calorie does not matter in the big picture if you aren’t eating QUALITY food. You can eat processed junk food, keep your calorie count relatively low, and maybe lose some weight, but you won’t meet your daily requirement for nutrients. Eating this way leads to nutritional imbalances often resulting in low energy and poor overall health. However, if you eat for your gut health, your plate is filled with nutrient dense fruits, veggies, dark leafy greens, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. These are the foods that your gut wants. These are the foods that will give you energy and, if balanced, will lead to sustainable, healthy weight loss.

To change your mindset, stop framing your thoughts around about being “allowed” or “not allowed” foods. This is typical negative diet culture language. You do not need permission from anyone else to eat or not eat certain foods. You are the only one in control of your health. So make an intentional, conscious decision to fuel your gut with the most nutrient dense foods, which ultimately means you are making the choice to eat to support your health and well-being.

It should be noted that it takes time, consistency and patience to get your gut to a place where these amazing foods are easily digested. If you make any sudden, drastic changes to your diet,  it may cause your gut to react negatively to the increase in fibre (cue gas, bloating, constipation etc..). The problem many people face is that we have overloaded our guts with processed foods that are low in fibre and low in nutrients that do not benefit your gut. The end result is a gut that has difficulty tolerating fibre which is often why people end up avoiding fibre rich foods. Work with a professional who can help you slowly introduce foods and transition to this way of eating to help alleviate any potential uncomfortable symptoms. It’s worth it!