Diet - what am I doing wrong?

Well done on making healthier choices for yourself first off.

If you're concerned that you're not feeling better or seeing the results you wanted, here are some common causes:

1. Most of us eat more than we actually think we do. Are there 'snacks' here and there that you're forgetting about? It may help to keep a food diary.

2. There are many foods out there which we believe to be healthy which in reality are very UNhealthy. For example: Squash, fruit juice, granola, yogurt and cereal bars to name a few. Also, chicken is no better for you than red meats. (Watch What The Health on Netflix).

3. You are consuming too many empty calories in soda or alcohol.

4. You have an undiagnosed food allergy or intolerance. It may be worthwhile taking a blood test to rule this out.

If you are inactive or spend extended periods sitting down or hunched over a computer screen, this can cause that unhealthy, bloated feeling too. Try to get to the gym more often, or take up an exercise class that you enjoy. If you don't enjoy the gym, you're going to struggle to make yourself go - fact. Once you find something you love, it won't be a chore and it will become as much a part of your daily routine as getting dressed in the morning.

Also bear in mind that the unhealthy foods you were eating before were loaded with salt, sugar and fat, which trigger the release of "feel-good" neurotransmitters, specifically dopamine, which activate the brain's reward centre. This explains why it's so enjoyable to eat highly processed fatty, salty and sugary foods, and why we tend to crave them. It can also explain why you feel so lousy when you suddenly cut them out.

It's not unusual then to experience withdrawal-like symptoms, such as feeling moody, low, unhealthy, lethagic or antsy, when you go cold turkey after you've grown accustomed to eating highly processed foods. To adjust to a less processed diet, try eating a high-fibre breakfast with a source of protein, having strategic snacks, like dark chocolate, an apple, or banana with peanut butter.

That said, it is unusual that you still feel no different, especially since you've been making big changes. I would recommend you see your doctor to rule out any medical conditions such as a thyroid condition, food intolerances or IBS.

EAT HEALTHY FOODS

So, if you are not producing enough digestive fire (enzymes, acid, bile) to break down your food, guess what happens? Large, unbroken food compounds exit the stomach—where they may have begun to ferment, by the way—and then hit the small intestine. Let me tell you something about the small intestine. It likes it’s food particles small. I’m talking busted up. When these unbroken compounds hit the small intestine, a mini-revolt happens. Gas, bloating, indigestion and cramping can be the result. Chronic problems like constipation, skin conditions, brittle hair and nails can be pinned to this as well.

Our systems were not designed to handle these bigger, less chopped-up food molecules. So we don’t absorb our awesome organic grilled chicken salad with balsamic on the side as well. We miss out on the full range of that excellent nutritional density.

You're better off just making sure you eat healthy and stay active. The main benefit you'll get from eating these foods is simply their nutritional value. Ginger aids in digestion and peppers have vitamin c and other antioxidants. “Beyond weight management tea “ is a healthiest source to lose weight as well.

I must say that reason number 1 is unfortunatlety a genetics ( that's a true, that experts mostly didn't mention at all ).

After that is ofcourse a perfect diet and disciplined sport is most important key for success.

So only if you combine all these factors together, then you will understand results ( but genetics plays in this role at least 72% of the main result and rest - diet and sport comes as additional result, what ofcourse will change your body when done it correctly ).

So take action and dont forget to be proud of yourself !

Once you chew up your food and it ends up in your belly, your body still has to break it down. I use the term “digestive fire” to describe the body’s ability to produce digestive enzymes, acids and bile that break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats into their teensy-weensy building blocks of sugars, amino acids and fatty acids. These teeny-tiny particles are ultimately what get absorbed into the body.

So, if you are not producing enough digestive fire (enzymes, acid, bile) to break down your food, guess what happens? Large, unbroken food compounds exit the stomach—where they may have begun to ferment, by the way—and then hit the small intestine. Let me tell you something about the small intestine. It likes it’s food particles small. I’m talking busted up. When these unbroken compounds hit the small intestine, a mini-revolt happens. Gas, bloating, indigestion and cramping can be the result. Chronic problems like constipation, skin conditions, brittle hair and nails can be pinned to this as well.

Our systems were not designed to handle these bigger, less chopped-up food molecules. So we don’t absorb our awesome organic grilled chicken salad with balsamic on the side as well. We miss out on the full range of that excellent nutritional density.

These large, unbroken food molecules travel downstream and eventually end up in the large intestine. The large intestine houses your friendly bacteria – all one hundred trillion of them. When these guys get a hold of partially digested food, they do their best bacterial job. They ferment, and ferment, and work overtime to help you out. Yet, the consequence of all of this fermenting is more gas and more bloating.

And that is just for one meal. That is why often, gas, bloating and distension will get worse as the day progresses. It’s maldigestion compounding maldigestion. And maldigestion begets malabsorption, which leaves you not as nourished as you could be in addition to feeling like a rapidly expanding beach ball. Sigh.

Luckily, there is a simple and elegant solution for low digestive fire and decreased digestive capacity.

The body can be supported with the use of supplemental enzymes taken with meals. I recommend finding a plant-based digestive enzyme formula containing pepsin, protease, amylase and lipase at a minimum and taking one or two of these babies with meals.

With this added support, your body will break down food molecules more efficiently. It will, in fact, be reminded to make these crucial digestive factors, essentially being jump started. You’ll notice gas, bloating and distension decrease, better trips to the bathroom, and maybe even more energy and clearer skin.

It sounds like you're doing a good low carb diet, but sometimes alcohol messes with our weight loss.

You could check out Atkins. It's possible to lose up to 12 lbs the first week. You have to stick to the plan. Your current diet sounds very similar to Atkins, so you're used to the foods which are allowed on the diet.

Healthy fats are an important part of a low carb diet, too, by the way.

We all have a very short (mostly unhappy) life-span on this little planet. Just enjoy it whilst it lasts. Enjoy your Jim Beam, junk food and T-Bone steaks - every day could be your last!

There are three certainties in the western world

A birth certificate

A tax certificate

A death certificate

Try to enjoy the bits in between!

Running/walking and gym definitely helps.