Which Comes First: The Fitness Or The Food?

For those of you who don't know, I (Amber) am an independent health and wellness coach/mentor. (Oh just knowing I'm going to write about this subject is getting the old heart rate pumping!)

Why? Well let me tell you, here is my soap box that I have been standing on for the last few months. I have been invested in a nutrition program for, just about a year now. And I am ANGRY. Not angry about the program. I LOVE the program. In fact, I love it so much that I became certified to mentor in it so I could spread the love and the knowledge of all that it has to offer to anyone and everyone who is interested in joining me!!

What I am angry about is that for 35 years of my life, society has brainwashed me (and everyone else) to view weight-loss, food and nutrition in a completely misinformed and self hating fashion.

When I started on this journey into my mentor-ship, my mind was literally blown by two realizations I quickly came to understand. They are as follows:

1. EXERCISE IS NOT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT: From the time we enter grade school, we are taught about physical fitness and the importance of moving our bodies. We are made to regularly attend gym class all the way through our school years and made to believe that to be healthy, we must continue to do gut busters and sit-ups for the rest of our lives (at least that was my take on it.) Which meant I spent YEARS (and that is not an understatement) busting my butt, doing 100 crunches a day, forcing myself to run (ew) and a number of other workout like activities that were ultimately heading me in a healthier direction but I wasn't throwing pants that were too large in the garbage or anything.... nothing notable was changing with my body, nor was anything changing with my self image. After experiencing through my nutrition program what the power of one tiny piece of information that had been left out of my knowledge bed for 35 years could have on my mind and body, I started to wonder "Why the hell didn't anyone tell me this before?!?! Why have I been struggling to figure out nutrition for so long? Why did they keep this from us for so long?!?!"

My blood started to boil a little more when I started thinking about where this all started, and how we could keep this from happening to future generations. How could we teach them that fitness is not what's most important, it's the food, it's the fuel you put in your tank that will make or break your weight-loss goals. And it's not only what you eat (because that's not rocket science) but HOW and WHEN you eat it. Long story short if I was going to go on a rampage as a vigilante, I would bombard the schools and beg them to reevaluate their fitness and nutrition curriculum. I strongly feel that, as reflected in daily life, 80 percent of this education should be focused on nutrition over the course of kids education and 20 percent should be fitness. But that strategic plan will have to be for another day.

2. DIETS ARE THE DEVIL: Diets are built upon deprivation, restriction and self punishment. Enough said.

In a world where it is difficult enough for a teenager to have self confidence and self esteem for themselves, why do we condone and engage in the use of ridiculous fad diets that are made for short term results and only further degrade us when we don't lose quick enough. Or when we "cheat" and have something we shouldn't. Why? Because that is all that society has offered us thus far as a solution to weight loss. And what has happened as a result? I talk to so many women who are so burned out on fad dieting and the yo-yo effect that they have just given up hope all together. They have accepted that this is just the way it is. The brainwash, has dragged them under. And my heart literally breaks for them. I just want to get on my knees and plead with them, "Just give this a chance. Give yourself a chance. You should never give up on yourself. Keep seeking until you find what works for you. YOU DESERVE TO FEEL GOOD!"

We don't need a DIET to lose weight. We need a plan of action. We need knowledge and we need support. If you need or want a nutrition and/or fitness mentor in your life, you know where to find me and you can drop an email to Backyard any day.

Empower yourself by nourishing your body the way to was designed to be; not the way someone else decided it should be.

Much love sisters- Amber