15. Don’t be Scared of Carbs!

If you cut out carbs, or reduce them dramatically, you run the risk of rapidly depleting energy levels, as well as increased anxiety, irritability and even depression.

You are also denying your body a great food source. Food combining, or separating carbs from protein is one school of thought, but not mine. For a start, unless you can afford your own personal chef to go wherever you go, it is extremely difficult to implement such a diet.

The key is to eat balanced meals, and to eat the RIGHT carbohydrates.

Good carbs include:

oats
wholewheat
rice – preferably wholegrain
potato – preferably with the skin left on
sweetcorn
rye
bananas
all fruit

You can still lose weight and gain all round good health when you eat carbs with your meals. Just don’t overdo it. Try and make sure your carbs are about a third of your whole meal, and never more than half.

9. Diet Intake Accountability

Ok, I’ve decided to blog about everything I eat!

Yes, it’s going to make riveting reading, but it’s so I can see for myself how good or naughty I’ve been.

Obviously there is no point in telling fibs. If I fall off the wagon, I have to report it. This blog will be my accountability.

Recently on TV there were several couples who had been eating healthily with the help of a nutritionalist. They were overweight to begin with, but the benefits were not just weight loss.

They were all asked to make charts of particular health issues, such as sleep levels, energy levels, skin condition, iritability, digestion, sexual function, and headaches.

Within only two weeks, there were dramatic improvements for all couples on EVERY health issue. One woman said the improvement in her energy levels alone would ensure she would never go back to her old eating habits.

And one guy after five weeks said he no longer has the slightest heartburn, and he was previously told he would have to have an operation for his severe acid reflux.

Well, my problem at the moment is poor sleep, headaches and low energy levels – oh and irritability!

I’ve already made a start on improving my blood sugar levels by eating porridge every morning and lots of fruit, and cutting out all sweets and chocolate (although I had a moment of weakness the other night and put drinking chocolate in my porridge – a brilliant compromise!)

Let’s see if I can become the picture of health!