Mythbuster Monday: Fifth Edition

The Myth: As long as I exercise, I can eat whatever I want.

You figure if you’re not losing weight, it totally has to do with exercise, and that you should simply get your sweat on more often.

Darlings, they don’t call it a diet and exercise plan for nothing! One without the other makes as much sense as filling your car’s gas tank with mud. Here’s the skinny on eating fat: even if you exercised 7 days a week, ice cream and potato chips will glue those extra pounds to your body no matter how much you sweat. And what good is building muscle tone if you have a layer of fat covering it?

But… (come on, you know there’s always a but) reducing your Cheeto's intake down to one bag is not going to solve the problem, so STOP. Put down the artificial cheese flavored corn puff, wash the food coloring off your fingers, and listen: it’s all about what you eat and how much.

A nutritious, healthy diet is packed with vegetables, fruit, carbs, fiber, lean protein, good fats, and water. Fill your dietary empire with these foods, and your exercise won’t go to waste. Soon your body will become accustomed to getting what it really needs and you won’t even miss all the deep fried, mineral-deficient, high fructose corn syrup disaster snacks of your past.

And trimming the fat is an important part of any well-run kingdom, right? So stop lying to yourself. Get to eating healthy, keep moving, and you’ll feel so invincible, that world-domination won’t seem so far off.

Make a list of everything you ate and drank for the last 3 days. Be honest. It will make you accountable for what you put into your body.

Ditch Dairy!

We all heard the words “DRINK YOUR MILK!” growing up. We were told it helped us grow, strengthened our bones and was "good" for us. Fast forward to life as an adult. You’re eating right and exercising, but the scale is moving slower than sap in winter. What could be the problem? Believe it or not, your beloved dairy products may be to blame, at least in part.

Yes, dairy can supply you with many nutrients such as calcium, potassium, protein, and vitamins D, A and B12. But studies show that dairy products can actually be far worse for you than the vitamins they provide. Scoop this: skim milk is over 50% sugar, and dairy products in general are crammed full of bad saturated fats and cholesterol. Butter is 100% fat, cheddar cheese is 74% fat, and even the “2%” milk you think is as close to fat-free as can be, is actually 35% fat! It’s little wonder how this can translate to fat on your frame. With those kinds of numbers, it may be time for you to ditch the dairy.

We know, imagining your world without it is pretty painful. The good news is it doesn’t have to be, so dry your milk-loving eyes. Almond milk or coconut milk are fabulous substitutes that are not only better for you, but are FAR more flavorful than regular milk. Add almond milk to your oatmeal and you’ll wonder what you ever did without it! Sweet, delicious, and SO much healthier! From smoothies to baking, your culinary cup will runneth over.

Ditching dairy is a move worth making. Soon you’ll hardly miss it, and seeing those numbers finally move on the scale will be the proof in the pudding. (Dairy free pudding, of course.)