You may think that losing weight may take the fun out of life. But you will be surprised how just a few simple changes to your diet, lifestyle, and routine could transform your mind and body in ways that far exceed your wellness expectations. Start by asking yourself a simple question: Are your eating habits getting in the form of achieving your wellness goals?
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I want to tell you a story that happened to me about twelve years ago. At the time, I thought I was in my prime health. I was going to the gym 2-3 times per week. I ate well and didn't drink alcohol. I learned to stay active in the military, and I conditioned myself to work out regularly. I thought I was healthy and didn't have any significant health concerns. However, as an ER nurse at the time, I primarily consumed what was available at the hospital cafeteria to keep me going. I would often eat out on my days off. One day, I accidentally discovered that I had a fatty liver. My fatty liver was due to syndrome X, or metabolic syndrome as it is now known. I had never really considered the health implications of a careless diet on the human body. And it does! The solution to the growing health problem of metabolic syndrome is a simple change in our mentality and perception. 
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Exercise, for example, is meant to help us stay fit. However, most of us do not exercise properly. We tend to overlook endurance and cardiovascular health when we do exercise. It is vital to keep our bodies in motion and well maintained to develop a healthy cardiovascular system. Typically thirty minutes or more of any sustained physical activity will engage our metabolism and help us achieve weight loss. So, when we decide to improve our health, exercise, and diet, it is essential to understand how physical activity and exercise affect weight loss.  
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So back to my story! I volunteered to have an MRI of the abdomen to help a technician friend calibrate the MRI machine one day. He showed me that I had a fatty liver, which I would never have imagined. I had no idea what it meant at the time. Despite my moderate weight lifting habits, my normal liver function enzymes (LFTs), and no alcohol use, I was puzzled. I had a fatty liver.

I chose to go on a juice fast for a month, so we lived off a Gerson therapy recipe I had found in a book for a whole month. I lost some weight, but I mostly felt better about myself. I was able to run a mile with no effort, and ever since, I have tried to run between 2 to 3 miles twice a week. I am now 51 years old, and even though it is supposed to be harder to lose weight at my age, I have been able to lose some weight and gain some muscle mass. 
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Looking back at the moment I had the MRI. It was a good turning point for me. Nobody in my family had ever been overweight, nor had any family member ever been diagnosed with a fatty liver before. I did not want to be the first one!
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People start to develop metabolic syndrome by having a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. You add all that up with some stress in our lives, resulting in obesity. Another factor directly contributing to obesity is the Standard American Diet (SAD). The SAD is high in carbohydrates, low in fats, and moderate in proteins. It was initially introduced in the mid-1970s, and essentially there was no science to it. It was believed that processed carbohydrates provided the primary fuel source for our cells (Biology 101). However, to fuel our cells, the human body can produce glucose (gluconeogenesis) from other food sources, such as fatty acids and proteins.  
 
So, now that we have the science and know the role of diet in our health. It is vital to develop a strategy to consume fewer carbohydrates, increase our protein intake fat in the form of fruits and vegetables, and focus on healthy fats.
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The secret to staying healthy and maintaining an adequate weight is simply consuming fewer carbohydrates. However, I would not necessarily jump to a ketogenic diet, which is not for everyone. Few people can stay committed to a lifelong ketogenic diet, and once you stop or change your diet back to your habitual eating. The weight will come back. 
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I have found a more appropriate and sustainable diet through functional medicine coaching training. And now, I am ready and able to share the knowledge of this simple nutrition path with you.​ It is essential to know how the food we eat affects us. Different nutrients affect our bodies in many different ways, and there is a science to maximize our nutrition and prevent us from having excess weight. 

I invite you to explore how your diet can benefit your health without sacrificing the tastefulness and rigidity of a diet. 

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Losing weight does not need to be an uphill struggle that leaves you feeling frustrated, exhausted, and deprived.