Food Combining

This post may be a bit of a stretch for many of you. Why would the combination of the food I eat make a difference to my health, weight, how I feel, etc?

Digestion--Break it Down
I first learned about food combining when I studied Ayurvedic Medicine in my yoga teacher studies. In ayurveda, it is taught that certain foods do not combine well, because it takes different kinds of enzymes to break down in our bodies. Therefore, it is best not to eat them in the same meal. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but meat and starch do not mix!!

Digestion--Quick Exit
Yes, I mean going potty! Look at it this way, if your body only has so much energy in a day, how much of it do you want spent on breaking down your food? If you follow food combining guides, you digestion is quick. You will go to the bathroom more often. Your body can be spending energy revitalizing and repairing your body, not spending too much time digesting your food.

Weight Loss---Maybe
Some weight loss programs promote food combining strategies for weight loss. I can say that when I follow food combining strategies, I definitely feel thinner and lose weight. That being said, I cannot say that it is the food combining only. When I am following food combining, I have a very clean diet and exercise, as well. I do think that the food combining plan does help eliminate water retention and promote digestion. When I follow the rules, I feel light and have good energy.

Good Food Choices
I will share the food combining rules with you. NOTE: There are no Cheetos, Oreos, Soda, etc. on the chart. You will make better food choices, if you follow these rules. We are talking whole foods only, folks. If you need to break yourself from processed foods, this is the plan for you!

Food Combining Guide:

1. Fruit--Eat is alone or leave it alone. Fruit does not combine with anything. It takes only 30 minutes to digest, so if you are hungry before bed or a workout, fruit is a good choice.

2. Nuts/Seeds/Dried Fruits--raw nuts, seeds, unsulfured fruits only.

3. Flesh Protein/Meat--Fish, Eggs, Chicken, Meat, Game, Shellfish, Raw Cheese

4. Starches--whole grain breads, brown rice, sweet potatoes, avocados, legumes, cooked corn, pasta

Do not mix foods between 1-4. Veggies combine with meat. Veggies combine with starch. Veggies combine with nuts, seeds and unsulfured dried fruits.

Veggies/Meat
Veggies/Starch
Veggies/Nuts, Seeds, Dried fruit
______________________________________________________
5. Starch and Meat do not mix.

6. Avoid dairy, but if you eat it, it combines with meat.

7. Chocolate--70% chocolate bars (Green & Blacks and Dogoba, for example) can be enjoyed.

8. Wait 3-4 hours between meals. Let one meal digest before you eat another.

This is an oversimplified list. I suggest that you read The Raw Food Detox Diet for a great food combining chart. There are other charts on the web. I prefer Natalia Rose's because it is the easiest to read.

Check it out. See how you feel. You can always go back to how you eat today.

Build a Team

Even though I teach 4-5 Spinning classes a week, it is still hard to accomplish my fitness goals. Let's face it, every day life can be challenging. Full-time work, teaching, maintaining a home, raising two puppies, maintaining friendships, etc. take a lot of time and MENTAL energy.

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to start weight training again. Well, it hasn't gone so well. My intentions have been great, but I just haven't been doing it. I came to the conclusion that I just don't have the mental energy to add it to my life.

Ask For Help

I decided for my birthday that I would hire a trainer to HELP ME on a regular basis! You might be thinking---Don't you already know what to do? Yes, I do. Then, why are you paying some one to tell you what you already know?

The answer is simple, I want/need some one to take care of me and make my life a little easier. You see, I don't have to create my workout plan. I just follow his lead. I have some one that is invested in my progress. Some one to keep me honest. Some one to keep me motivated. TEAMWORK!

Don't be afraid to ask for help. From professional athletes to contestants on The Biggest Loser, they all have a team to help them. Lance Armstrong knows how to train his body, but he still has coaches to help. Overweight people know to "eat less, move more" yet they still can't seem to make a change.

Look at your life and assess where you could use some help. Ask for it. Get it.

Ignorance is Bliss, Part 2

Do you want to know where your food comes from? Really?

I finally got around to watching Food, Inc. If you want to know where your food comes from, watch it.

This documentary is not gory, does not shame, is not about weight loss or removing meat from your diet. In my view, the movie is about the relationship between our food system, government and what is on our plates.

Just like the option of reading nutrition labels in the grocery store or about reading the nutrition information for your favorite restaurants, this movie is one way to educate yourself about how your food purchases effect your health, the environment, worker's rights and the economy.

If you want to make more informed decisions for yourself, check it out.