Focus on nourishment, not weight loss
Email your questions for Dr Libby to ask.drlibby@fairfaxmedia.co.nz. Please note, only a selection of questions can be answered. to a vicious cycle of restriction and bingeing. And when they are unable to stick to their ‘‘healthy’’ plan the guilt sets in, and the added stress of this really isn’t healthy at all.
In saying all of this, sleep deprivation and exhaustion can send us searching for more energy, and often we reach for sweet foods and caffeine to try to fill this gap. The reason we crave sugary foods is because they provide a fast hit of glucose, giving your energy levels a rapid boost. The problem is, the energy is short-lived, so you end up on an energy rollercoaster, constantly searching for more energy, craving more poor-quality foods. And when these foods become a part of our everyday lives, they end up displacing real, whole foods that actually provide the nourishment we need.
I encourage you to focus on choosing whole, real foods. They don’t have to be fancy – easy, practical meals that include plenty of colourful vegetables are a great place to start. Slow-cooked meals are great. It can also be helpful to make a batch of whole food snacks, such as mini frittata muffins to keep in the fridge, or bliss balls made from nuts, seeds and a few fresh dates to keep in the freezer, so that you have nourishing snacks on hand for when hunger strikes. The fat content in these snacks will help to keep your energy levels stable and feeling satisfied for longer.