I am finding that there is a very confusing amount of information available online about wellness, health and diet, most of it coming from people that have absolutely no credentials or concrete evidence to support their claims. I mean I literally cannot open up YouTube without being bombarded by a massive influx of clips that claim to have the 'one true method' for supreme health, wellness, diet and fitness. Thank god I am not on social media, I can only imagine how overwhelming the material is on those platforms.
Anyway, I have watched some of these 'miracle' videos, mainly out of sheer curiosity and so far this is what I have taken away from what I have been told (and this shit is real, people are really peddling this stuff):
I shouldn't need to go on, this is clearly all outrageously silly and dreadful advice. The bottom line of health and wellbeing is far more simple and a lot less contrived than all that bullshit. And here are 8 simple tips that do seem to make sense and work, and that I do stand behind.
1. Eat a wide variety of foods that are as close to their natural state as possible and avoid refined or genetically modified foods.
2. Don't label foods as good or bad, just eat refined foods and sugars in very small amounts and always stop eating when you are satiated.
3. Counting calories is pointless, not all calories are equal. Just try to opt for healthy choices 80% of the time.
4. Drink water (6 -8 glasses a day) not juice or soda.
5. Take moderate to mild exercise daily and make sure that you move your body whenever you can.
6. Get around 6-8 hours of quality sleep a night.
7. Stay within the recommended 10 alcoholic drinks per week is you must drink.
8. Work on your mindset by meditating, journaling, practising mindfulness and engaging in positive relationships.
And that's it - eight tips for staying well and being healthy. But what do I even know right? I am no expert and I have zero credentials apart from around 50 years on the clock. All that I know for sure is that I do not have any major health issues, I sleep well, love well, live well and feel amazing most of the time. I rarely get ill and when I do, I bounce back quickly. I have fabulous relationships with my family and friends, I make the best of everyday and I plan to keep on doing that until I am well into my nineties. That's really all that I have to go on.
Health and wellness looks different for everyone, for one person it could be six pack abs and a ripped body, for another it could be walking to the shop for the paper everyday. I am not going to judge anyone's ideas or ideals around this, to each their own. I also fully understand that what works for one person may not work for another and there really is no one magic formula that will work for everyone. So really the only advice that I can be 100% sure of, around any of what I have read, learned or experienced about health and wellbeing, is that that you have to be willing to question anyone that isn't a professional and you should never put your own health at risk for any fad diet or vague recommendation. Also, I do believe that eating well is a form of respect, and that you do deserve that respect for yourself and also your body.
The absolute bottom line, I believe is, to find what works for you and makes you feel good about you and gives you the best ride for your money and time; and then smash it every day and you'll be on the right track for sure!
Anyway, I have watched some of these 'miracle' videos, mainly out of sheer curiosity and so far this is what I have taken away from what I have been told (and this shit is real, people are really peddling this stuff):
- You should never eat carbohydrates - they will make you fat.
- You should work out twice a day for 45minutes everyday if you expect to get fit.
- You need around 12 hours of sleep a night to be properly rested.
- If you have pubic hair you are disgusting!
- Clean eating is the only way to get lean and healthy.
- If you are serious about weight loss you need to fast.
- Exercise is better for weight loss than diet.
- You should never eat or drink sugar in any form - it's fattening and gross for your insides.
- Drinking apple cider vinegar everyday will shed weight off you overnight while you sleep.
- You need to eat more potatoes - they are good for filling you up without too many calories.
- You should never eat potatoes - they have tonnes of calories and will make you fat.
- Doing a body wrap is the quickest way to lose weight.
- People who gain weight back after a diet have poor self control.
- You need to drink 3 litres of water a day to be properly hydrated.
- Tans are healthy, we all need a little vitamin D.
- Soy gives you breast cancer.
- The fewer calories you eat the better and days of fasting are excellent for your body.
- Avoid all fats and oils, they make you fat.
- Just detox and you'll lose all the weight you need to.
- Eat six small meals a day to lose weight.
- Have a massive breakfast, a medium lunch and a tiny dinner everyday.
- If you aren't sweating, you aren't working out!
- Fruit is full of sugar and will make you fat, avoid it at all costs.
- Juicing is the best way to get skinny and stay skinny.
- Egg yolks will make you fat.
- Fill up on superfoods and you'll never have to worry about your weight again.
- Gluten free = wellness.
- Pasta makes you so fat!
I shouldn't need to go on, this is clearly all outrageously silly and dreadful advice. The bottom line of health and wellbeing is far more simple and a lot less contrived than all that bullshit. And here are 8 simple tips that do seem to make sense and work, and that I do stand behind.
1. Eat a wide variety of foods that are as close to their natural state as possible and avoid refined or genetically modified foods.
2. Don't label foods as good or bad, just eat refined foods and sugars in very small amounts and always stop eating when you are satiated.
3. Counting calories is pointless, not all calories are equal. Just try to opt for healthy choices 80% of the time.
4. Drink water (6 -8 glasses a day) not juice or soda.
5. Take moderate to mild exercise daily and make sure that you move your body whenever you can.
6. Get around 6-8 hours of quality sleep a night.
7. Stay within the recommended 10 alcoholic drinks per week is you must drink.
8. Work on your mindset by meditating, journaling, practising mindfulness and engaging in positive relationships.
And that's it - eight tips for staying well and being healthy. But what do I even know right? I am no expert and I have zero credentials apart from around 50 years on the clock. All that I know for sure is that I do not have any major health issues, I sleep well, love well, live well and feel amazing most of the time. I rarely get ill and when I do, I bounce back quickly. I have fabulous relationships with my family and friends, I make the best of everyday and I plan to keep on doing that until I am well into my nineties. That's really all that I have to go on.
Health and wellness looks different for everyone, for one person it could be six pack abs and a ripped body, for another it could be walking to the shop for the paper everyday. I am not going to judge anyone's ideas or ideals around this, to each their own. I also fully understand that what works for one person may not work for another and there really is no one magic formula that will work for everyone. So really the only advice that I can be 100% sure of, around any of what I have read, learned or experienced about health and wellbeing, is that that you have to be willing to question anyone that isn't a professional and you should never put your own health at risk for any fad diet or vague recommendation. Also, I do believe that eating well is a form of respect, and that you do deserve that respect for yourself and also your body.
The absolute bottom line, I believe is, to find what works for you and makes you feel good about you and gives you the best ride for your money and time; and then smash it every day and you'll be on the right track for sure!
SUPER SIZE ME
Release Date: 2004
Rating: M
Running Time: 100 mins
Here's a way to get yourself sworn off McDonald's for the rest of your life. This controversial documentary records a month of solid junk food eating for Morgan Spurlock as he personally puts his health on the line to demonstrate the pitfalls of eating from fast food outlets.
Clearly this is an extreme way of getting across an anti fast food message, but it is riveting watching nonetheless. There is nothing truly scientific going on here, we all know that if you eat nothing but McDonald's for a month you're going to feel like crap. But Morgan's month is closely monitored by a dietitian, a practitioner, a gastroenterologist and a cardiologist, which makes the rapid demise of his health all the more prevalent and alarming.
This documentary will leave you feeling sick to your stomach and trust me when I say that you won't be going to the drive-through window for a while after seeing it.
FINAL SAY: No, I don't want fries with that!
3 Chilli Peppers
Note: Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! (2017) sees Morgan Spurlock opening his own fast food chicken restaurant in an attempt to explore whether fast food is actually as healthy as it now claims to be. What he discovers is not only an exploitation of the consumers belief in what they are eating, but also an exploitation of chickens and the farmers that raise them for the fast food industry. I actually enjoyed this instalment more than the first Super Size Me and found it overall a lot more alarming as well. It's a solid 3.5 Chilli Peppers documentary.
Release Date: 2004
Rating: M
Running Time: 100 mins
Here's a way to get yourself sworn off McDonald's for the rest of your life. This controversial documentary records a month of solid junk food eating for Morgan Spurlock as he personally puts his health on the line to demonstrate the pitfalls of eating from fast food outlets.
Clearly this is an extreme way of getting across an anti fast food message, but it is riveting watching nonetheless. There is nothing truly scientific going on here, we all know that if you eat nothing but McDonald's for a month you're going to feel like crap. But Morgan's month is closely monitored by a dietitian, a practitioner, a gastroenterologist and a cardiologist, which makes the rapid demise of his health all the more prevalent and alarming.
This documentary will leave you feeling sick to your stomach and trust me when I say that you won't be going to the drive-through window for a while after seeing it.
FINAL SAY: No, I don't want fries with that!
3 Chilli Peppers
Note: Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! (2017) sees Morgan Spurlock opening his own fast food chicken restaurant in an attempt to explore whether fast food is actually as healthy as it now claims to be. What he discovers is not only an exploitation of the consumers belief in what they are eating, but also an exploitation of chickens and the farmers that raise them for the fast food industry. I actually enjoyed this instalment more than the first Super Size Me and found it overall a lot more alarming as well. It's a solid 3.5 Chilli Peppers documentary.
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