What is your food protocol?

I have mentioned a food protocol before but decided to jump back in. I am reading a new book written by a life and health who also a medical doctor and she describes how she teaches her clients on developing their own food protocol. The book explains one of the main factors of a good food protocol is that it is tailored to work with your specific body. No, not a food protocol that is handed to you but on that fits your lifestyle and your body feels okay with. I too have tweaked my own protocol and it appears to be quite similar to the authors. Now, I did not have to lose 40 pounds and admire her for writing about her struggles with emotional eating. However, I did have troubles with gaining and losing the same darn five pounds over and over. So, let’s just say, I probably have lost well over forty pounds too. My food protocol is simple. I try to stay away from flour and sugar. She does this as well. I drink lots of water, no breakfast or if I eat something, not until after 10am. I try to skip breakfast and eat only lunch and dinner. She has her clients skip a meal (a form of intermittent fasting) twice a week. She explains how intermittent fasting is perfectly healthy, but some might not be able to do. She has a client who choses to do what I do and eat around 10 or 11am. I too sometimes eat a small breakfast around 11am, lunch at 2pm and dinner at 7pm. Now, I would prefer to eat twice, only because it is easier and takes less effort, but if I truly listen to my body, sometimes it is really hungry around 10am. I have found that eating twice works well for me most of the time. I have done this for almost two years and have maintained the same weight within two pounds.

What exactly is a food protocol? It is a way of eating that is feels good on our body and makes us feel good inside. In other words, a food protocol is an agreement you make with yourself about the types of foods you will or will not eat in order to reach your health goals. It is a set of eating guidelines that you, yourself, create based on your likes, dislikes, personality, and still able to reach your health goals. Yes, some of us might know there are things we enjoy eating but know it needs to be on occasion. Something I want to add to my own protocol is PLANNED exception. She suggests this for her client, and I think this is an incredible idea. I have heard of this exception before, but they referred to it as a planned “cheat”. I guess I liked the term “exception” better lol. It sounds a little less like cheating. A planned dish, once a week, or at a specific function, that you want to enjoy. For instance, a small bowl of ice cream every Friday night or heading to a party that is having a Mexican cook off. Having these exceptions help keep us feeling more satisfied. She also recommends that we have PLANNED exception meals that are for special occasions. I loved this as well. So, it is okay to enjoy that birthday dinner or that new restaurant with the incredible lasagna, as long as it is planned 24 hours in advanced. That keeps it as a PLANNED exception and not just a spontaneous idea. It also gives us time to really think about our goals and if the exceptions are well worth it. Now, it is all about our choices.

Another point in her book that I totally agreed with is that we all must decide what are health goals are and not let someone else’s ideas and or opinion shape us. We are all different, and in different ways, in different body types. We need to decide what we chose as our very own health goals. Some of my clients want to lose weight to help their knees and hips, other want to feel more energetic (more of foods choices and not weight concerns), and then there are those who want to look and feel great in their clothes. I wanted to lose my permanent five pounds only because I wanted to be done with wanting to lose the five pounds. Does that sound a little wild? I was sick of deciding I would take off the extra five pounds and would do and then regain. I for the life of me, I could not figure it out. I finally have found what works for me and what feels good. Yes, I eat a piece of chocolate almost every night. I have a glass of wine almost every night and more than one on weekends lol.

What the book states that really resonated with me is that while it takes work to come up with a good food protocol that we can live with, it should not feel like a chore or punishment. We should find things that work they taste good. For instance, adding avocado or cheese to a salad. Also, if we continue to eat out of what is considered our protocol, we need to tweak and find out why we cannot stay within it. Overall, I cannot stress how this has helped me in well 80% of the time. No, I am not perfect but do well most of the time. So, hope this helps and hope it encourages you to think about what is in your food protocol. Hopefully, it is not pancakes, burgers and fries, and ice cream lol. I am calling you out today!

Have a beautiful healthy day,

Janie