This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Trail Mix--Eating on the Journey

If your diet plan has a beginning and end it will probably fail in the long run. Short cuts loop you around back to where you started. Learn the habit of healthy eating for life!

How shall we pack for meals while on the path to living a longer healthier life? As long as it tastes good and takes away hunger, emotional stress, or boredom, can't I pack anything I want? As long as I work out daily can't I eat whatever I want? The answer is NO for most people. There are a lucky few who can eat just about what ever they want and never suffer from it but for most of us we need to learn a new energy management system. That means to balance the energy source going in (food) with the energy use going out (movement).

Nutrition is the foundation of good health. Exercise is important but it is a component of health--not the answer for health. Eating the right things in the right amount to balance the blood sugar so weight loss can occur as well as the reduction of medical issues and inflammation in the body takes understanding and consistency.It also takes a change in habits or you end up on a loop trail that brings you right back where you started. You don't want that after all that effort! 

Most diets manage the energy going in...but for only a short period of time. Once the weight is lost and you can't count points, eat out of a microwave box, or take that magic pill any longer the weight creeps back on (loop trail)! Learning to eat for life is the key to true success.

Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So when packing your food for the journey, be sure you bring enough food along to fuel six times throughout the day, every 2-3 hours, and consume the proper balance and portion of macronutrients--protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fat. These usually come from natural foods--not a package!

Just implementing these two things can get you started on a healthier path!

Find out what's happening in Cummingwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you need help, I would love to be your trail guide!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?