How Secret Food Allergies are Keeping You Fat and Lazy
Wondering why you are doing everything right but are still prone to uncontrollable cravings, poor sleep, exhaustion, bloating, and even, heaven forbid - weight gain? Let me tell you, hidden food intolerances or sensitivities may be the culprit. Foggy head, restlessness, fatigue, poor mood, lack of energy, angry outbursts - all are signs that you may have eaten something that your body does not agree with. I have been there. Screaming at family members because you had a bagel last night? It can and does happen.
Reddit users agree, those who have gluten intolerances can deal with some of these symptoms hours, days, and even weeks after being "glutened".
But just because you've eaten something you are allergic to doesn't mean it will stall your weight loss and fitness goals - does it? I mean, how could it? A calorie is a calorie, after all, isn't it?
While the last statement is completely accurate, the effects of food intolerances go well beyond calories alone.
Food allergens make you feel miserable inside and out due to your body's inherent reaction to the harmful substance entering your body. The immune reaction that is created makes you feel chronically ill and can potentially cause headaches, muscle pain, breathing diffulties, and overheating. These reactions can easily sap your motivation, cause a fitful sleep, and make the workouts you do end up doing feel like torture. It's as if you are constantly walking through quicksand or against the wind. Not great when you want to keep active. Not only that, your brain will crave MORE of the same food in order to get that same initial "excitement" reaction from the adrenaline produced, fuelling a wide-eyed, frantic binges to get your next "hit".
So what can we so about it? Keep a food journal. In fact, I'm sure you already do. So now all you need to so is look back and see how the foods you eat affect your mood, wellbeing, and energy levels. Also, take into account that reactions may range from almost instant, to a day or so proceeding your intake of said food.
Not sure where to start? Common culprits include milk, cheese, wheat, gluten, grains, seafood, peanuts, and eggs. Some people may not be able to tolerate any dairy, while some are fine with cottage cheese and yogurt but not with milk or other cheeses (especially the more aged cheese varieties). Some people may want to avoid vinegar, coffee, chocolate, wine, or alcohol. Some people have issues with specific fruits or veggies such as citrus, avocado or nightshade vegetables. Take note if, after eating certain foods, you get the urge to overeat, feel your heart rate noticeably increase, feel flushed, dizzy, agitated, or feel a headache coming on.
Once you have a list of the foods you believe are harmful to your body, eliminate them and see how you feel. After a few weeks, you can always add them back in (one at a time, of course) in order to "test" whether it was in fact, the cause of your physical and mental symptoms, if you decide to.
The whole point of this journey is to discover what works best for you and your body, and that includes food preferences not only for your mind, but your body as well. The more we discover what fuel works best for our individual bodies, the more we can get our own engines humming like that of a brand-new ferrari. Always remember that it's about the journey, not the destination. Each time you monitor your food log and discover a new insight of which specific combinations/grams of foods/macros/meals work for you, the closer you are to the perfect diet for your own individual needs. Not only will you achieve your ideal physique by tailoring your diet to YOUR needs, you will feel great inside and out, have tons of energy for the day, and sleep like a baby at night.
Let me know in the comments below if you have dealt with food intolerances, how you found out, and how you are doing now!
Amanda
Reddit users agree, those who have gluten intolerances can deal with some of these symptoms hours, days, and even weeks after being "glutened".
But just because you've eaten something you are allergic to doesn't mean it will stall your weight loss and fitness goals - does it? I mean, how could it? A calorie is a calorie, after all, isn't it?
While the last statement is completely accurate, the effects of food intolerances go well beyond calories alone.
Food allergens make you feel miserable inside and out due to your body's inherent reaction to the harmful substance entering your body. The immune reaction that is created makes you feel chronically ill and can potentially cause headaches, muscle pain, breathing diffulties, and overheating. These reactions can easily sap your motivation, cause a fitful sleep, and make the workouts you do end up doing feel like torture. It's as if you are constantly walking through quicksand or against the wind. Not great when you want to keep active. Not only that, your brain will crave MORE of the same food in order to get that same initial "excitement" reaction from the adrenaline produced, fuelling a wide-eyed, frantic binges to get your next "hit".
So what can we so about it? Keep a food journal. In fact, I'm sure you already do. So now all you need to so is look back and see how the foods you eat affect your mood, wellbeing, and energy levels. Also, take into account that reactions may range from almost instant, to a day or so proceeding your intake of said food.
Not sure where to start? Common culprits include milk, cheese, wheat, gluten, grains, seafood, peanuts, and eggs. Some people may not be able to tolerate any dairy, while some are fine with cottage cheese and yogurt but not with milk or other cheeses (especially the more aged cheese varieties). Some people may want to avoid vinegar, coffee, chocolate, wine, or alcohol. Some people have issues with specific fruits or veggies such as citrus, avocado or nightshade vegetables. Take note if, after eating certain foods, you get the urge to overeat, feel your heart rate noticeably increase, feel flushed, dizzy, agitated, or feel a headache coming on.
Once you have a list of the foods you believe are harmful to your body, eliminate them and see how you feel. After a few weeks, you can always add them back in (one at a time, of course) in order to "test" whether it was in fact, the cause of your physical and mental symptoms, if you decide to.
The whole point of this journey is to discover what works best for you and your body, and that includes food preferences not only for your mind, but your body as well. The more we discover what fuel works best for our individual bodies, the more we can get our own engines humming like that of a brand-new ferrari. Always remember that it's about the journey, not the destination. Each time you monitor your food log and discover a new insight of which specific combinations/grams of foods/macros/meals work for you, the closer you are to the perfect diet for your own individual needs. Not only will you achieve your ideal physique by tailoring your diet to YOUR needs, you will feel great inside and out, have tons of energy for the day, and sleep like a baby at night.
Let me know in the comments below if you have dealt with food intolerances, how you found out, and how you are doing now!
Amanda
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