5 ways convenience is sabatoging your weight loss goals
Do you find yourself running through a drive through at lunch verses taking the time the night before to pack a lunch?
Grabbing those frozen breakfast egg bites instead of making your own?
Wolfing down those pre-packaged oatmeals that boast “great source of protein” instead of spending two minutes making a bowl of old fashioned oats?
You’re not alone, however these “time savers” of grabbing easy, on-the-go processed foods aren’t saving you time in the long run.
The global processed food industry is worth approximately $2 TRILLION dollars, whereas the whole food industry is worth approximately $231 billion.
This means we are spending almost 9x the amount on strawberry Pop-Tarts vs. strawberries.
They’re destroying your overall health and efforts to lose weight.
Processed foods, while convenient, can wreak havoc on our health. Here's how:
Overconsumption Highway: These tempting treats are engineered to be irresistible, leading to overeating and packing on extra pounds. Studies show people can consume an alarming 500-600 extra calories daily from processed foods, a recipe for obesity.
Sugar, Salt, Fat Overload: Processed foods are loaded with ingredients like sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats that tantalize our taste buds but trick our bodies. We don't feel full (satiated) as easily, making us overeat and consume more calories
Obesity on the Rise: The explosion of ultra-processed foods since the 1970s mirrors the rise in obesity rates. Between 2017 to March 2020, 41.9% of Americans were obese, compared to 13.4% in 1980
Losing Nutrition in the Process: Processed foods often lack the nutritional value of whole foods. Even if they meet basic calorie needs, overconsumption due to their design negates any potential benefits
Filling Up Without Feeling Full: Processed foods prioritize taste and shelf life over satiety. This keeps us reaching for more to feel satisfied, raising the risk of diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease
The Bottom Line: Convenience comes at a cost. Sure, they can be included in your diet in moderation, however they should not be the foundation of your daily food intake. Making this switch can be challenging, and we work with our clients to slowly add whole and minimally processed foods into their daily diet, creating a custom plan that works for them.
You have one body, and only you can decide what you’re putting into it.