What Food Poisoning Taught Me About Fat Loss
After the 9th time I projectile-vomited into the sink, I knew something was wrong.
Not even the blandest of fare (Saltines, dry bran flakes, and Gatorade Zero) could coax my volatile stomach into cooperating.
“Is this how my story ends?”, I questioned, as I plopped down on the couch to enjoy my 45 nausea-free minutes before the next exorcist-esque explosion out of my esophagus.
It was a hard fought battle, including a personal record of throwing up a dozen times in as many hours, but I had done it. I had defeated my bout with food-poisoning.
After earning back full control of my gag reflex, I had 2 thoughts rush into my brain quicker than the contents of my stomach shoving its way out of my body:
Wowza, never have I been so uninterested in food. Thoughts of foods that max out the “hedonic bliss-ometer”, like pizza and donuts, instead evoked nothing but gnawing nausea.
If folks that desperately needed to lose a few pounds felt like this, except without the whole incessant vomiting thing, fat loss would be effortless.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not still in a state of dehydrated delirium, and I’m not promoting food poisoning as the next fad diet phenomenon.
My ill-fated dance with possibly-rotten eggs (or maybe the 3 day old avocado?) got my wheels turning about one of the most helpful fat loss “hacks” -
Staying ahead of hunger is the key to sustainable fat loss.
Fat loss comes down to 2 simple equations:
Calories eaten > calories burned = weight gain
Calories eaten < calories burned = weight loss
Easy, right? Wrong! On the surface it looks simple, but there are about 47 million factors that impact each variable in the equation.
Your hormones, environment, genetics, tastes, sleep quality, mindset, and the smell of the double chocolate chip muffins that Jeffery-from-the -office baked, are just a handful of the factors in play. Despite your best intentions, a ton is out of your control.
This is why it’s important to set yourself up for success. If you stay ahead of your hunger, Jefferey’s muffins just look “eh” instead of bringing on an irresistible, mouth watering desire.
The top 3 ways to stay ahead of your hunger and prevent cravings are:
1. Don’t wait until you’re starving to eat
Even though you don’t need science to tell you this, research consistently shows that hunger negatively impacts our ability to make “responsible” food decisions.
The easiest way to lose fat is by preventing intense hunger in the first place. Try this related rhyme on for size, “If you wait until it’s too late, it’s impossible to lose weight.”
Do your best to stick to a consistent eating schedule and don’t skip meals in an effort to “save” calories for later. For most, this leads to insatiable hunger later in the day that results eating more calories than you planned (if you become a bottom-less pit after the clock strikes 8pm, this applies to you.)
2. Focus on high protein, high fiber foods
Protein and fiber are the most satiating (i.e. “filling”) macronutrients. If you’re filling up all day on the good stuff, you’ll be less tempted by the less good (yes, Jeffery, I’m talking about your double chocolate chip muffins).
For my list of my favorite high protein options, check out this article here.
3. Stay prepared by having healthy choices on hand
On my person at all times, you can find my phone, wallet, and almonds, a banana, an apple, a protein bar and a bar of dark chocolate. I may not be the most prepared when it comes to self defense, having difficult conversations without smiling, or really anything else that actually matters, but you can be sure that I’ll be strapped with snacks.
Stay ready so that you don’t need to get ready. By having tons of great options available, you’ll be able to curb your hunger without busting your calorie budget.
If you’re thinking, “Well that’s all great and dandy, John, but what/when/and how much should I, personally, eat to reach my goal?”
Great question, my friend! These are obstacles that I help my 1 on 1 coaching clients hurdle every single day. I would love to help you, too.
To book a free consult today - i.e. the best way for me to help you figure out exactly how YOU need to change your eating habits to get in the best shape of your life, click on the application below:
