No Nonsense Foods

Changing how we eat changes everything! The dietary changes I made in the last several months made a huge impact on my health and quality of life. But this change didn't just happen all on its own. No one handed it to me on a silver platter. No amount of praying or pleading brought any miracle. I had to make a conscious effort and become more informed about food choices. If you fail to plan, then plan on failing.

Almost immediately when I began to make smart healthy choices did my obese body start to respond. What were some of the side effects of no nonsense foods? For starters, I began to shed excess weight. In the first 4 weeks of my plan I reduced 17 pounds of excess fat! In the past 4 and half months 57 pounds of excess fat have been lost!  When you eat more fruit and vegetables in their natural whole state, another side effect manifests itself. I began to experience improved digestion and daily elimination. I won't bore you with the gory details, but suffice it to say that it feels great to live each day without stomach pain, without cramping guts and sitting on the throne waiting, pushing, grunting and cursing.

Within a matter of weeks my body started to have increased energy and stamina. No longer pained by the with drawl symptoms of caffeine and sugar, proper nutrition was now giving me a boost. The usual afternoon sleepiness and lack of energy was virtually gone from my daily routine and replaced with achy and sore muscles I didn't even know I had! It even hurt to sit on the toilet my butt cheeks were so sore! I just knew my body was changing for the better. One of my favorite sayings from Tony Horton, the creator of the P90X training program, is "I hate it, but I love it." Wow can I relate to that! I struggled, but I kept pushing play. The no nonsense foods are such a critical part of the plan that I cannot emphasize strongly enough how committed you need to be in order to maximize your investment in yourself.

There are other benefits that I continue to experience, like a sound sleep. I had been diagnosed two years earlier with sleep apnea. My wife didn't get a good nights rest either due to my horrendous snoring. The doctors monitored my sleep patterns by hooking me up to a couple dozen wires. We tested my lung capacities and did a whole bunch of tests. I was told that I could sleep better if I had a special breathing machine called a C-PAP continuous positive airway pressure). I put it off and tried to ignore the issue. I had such excessive daytime sleepiness that I could literally fall asleep within minutes if given the chance. You could say I was a very irritable person to live with. No nonsense foods combined with my daily P90X training quickly began to reverse this disorder. Proper rest and sleep is critical to your health. The old adage early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise, rings true. I still like to sleep in from time to time.

Another amazing side effect of no nonsense food is how you will start to look and feel  much younger!  If you're looking for the fountain of youth, it really does exist, and it exists in proper eating and exercise.  What and how we eat has such an impact on our quality of life and improving our appearance.  I don't want to live with daily pain, discomfort and unhappiness.  It doesn't have to be that way for anyone.  If you're overweight, you may feel many symptoms.  Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about.

• snoring
• headaches
• unrefreshing sleep
• a dry mouth upon awakening
• high blood pressure
• irritability
• depression
• difficulty concentrating
• heartburn
• reduced libido
• insomnia
• frequent nighttime urination 
• restless sleep

When I learned about healthy choices and decided to act on the information by committing myself to doing what needed to be done, only then did I begin to see positive changes.   This isn't a short term plan.  What I'm driving at is a long lasting lifestyle that works with my individual needs and tastes.  When I fuel my body with nutritious no nonsense foods, I reduce or eliminate what holds me back from looking, feeling and functioning at how nature intended my body to work.

Over the course of the last several months I have learned a few lessons along the way.  In future posts I'll address things like how I planned and prepared meals.  When you go grocery shopping, there's a healthy way.  Understanding food labels goes a long ways in making good choices.  When you're educated on food facts, it's much easier to dispel the myths, so I'll try to share and pass along tips and advice that's helped me and will help you too.  When you discover the truth about something, you'll be amazed at how it can truly set you free!  I guarantee you'll lose weight, you'll reshape your body and gain greater health.  

If you want the straight dope on fueling your body with nutritious food and what to avoid, I'm here to help and it won't cost you a penny for the free advice based on my own experience and what has worked for me.  I hope you'll follow my blog and provide me with some feedback on my posts.  I'll be catering good choices that include both dietary and lifestyle changes.  So if you could use a boost to your engine, buckle up for the ride of your life and let's get started!