You are what you eat has never had more meaning in my life than it has in the past year. I’ve been on a diet most of my life; low fat, low carb, low calorie, shakes, you name it. They always started the same way. I’d hear about someone whose cousin lost a lot of weight or I’d read an article in a magazine and I’d try the same program. Each time I’d go shopping, buy the special foods and I’d follow the plan. I’ll confess that I only made it through two days of the 7 day airline stewardess diet, three days of the cabbage soup diet, a few months several times on Weight Watchers and Atkins. I don’t think that Ken realized what he was signing up for when he married me. He never realized that trips to the grocery store would have to include questions like “are you eating bananas this week? What about carrots, can you eat carrots? Bacon was good last week, why aren’t we eating bacon anymore?” Talk about confusion. I've thrown out confusion and moved on to common sense.
In 2007 I banished the word diet from my vocabulary and started treating my body with respect. I know that what I put into my body has a direct effect on how I feel. The saying garbage in, garbage out is just as true with our bodies as with computers. I’ve filled my body with plenty of garbage over the years and the result? An overweight and unhealthy body.
Recently I received an email asking me if I would like to review a book called The Food Bible, A Complete A-Z Guide To A Healthy Life by Gillian McKeith. . I had remembered hearing the authors name when living in the UK so instead of ignoring the offer, this time I did a little bit of research and the reviews on the book made it sound like it just might be something I’d find useful.
I opened the book and started to flip through it. In the back I saw an A-Z listing and immediately looked for the Weight Loss section but didn’t find one. Perhaps it would be listed under “Obesity” but nothing there either. Instead it listed common ailments and conditions. So instead of flipping aimlessly through the book I sat down and read it from the beginning.
Over the past week this book has been something I’ve turned to time and time again but I think the one section that really made the book click with me was when I found the weight loss section. The title is “When do you need to start worrying about your weight?” and Gillian McKeith’s response is “never” As shocking as never might sound to some of you she follows it up by saying “weight balance is a by-product of the work I do, never the focus.” Sound familiar? When I put away my scale and started focusing on eating right and moving more I said, eating healthy and exercise are my focus and the weight loss will follow. She goes on to say “follow a healthy lifestyle and the weight will take care of itself”
So what is the Gillian McKeith healthy lifestyle? She has a quiz on her site that you can take to give you an idea of where you are and where you need to go. I was really proud of how many questions I answered with a YES answer however the ones I answered with NO really gave me cause to stop and think. There are things I can do better. There are areas where I still need to improve. I’ve made great strides by making these changes gradually over a year but it’s time to make a few more healthy habits and kick my efforts up a notch. If you want to take the quiz, click HERE. I scored a 14 out of 20. Not bad but I can do better.
As people trying to lose weight or live a healthier lifestyle we’ve been told to eat more fiber, choose lean sources of protein and good fats. I’ve found magazine articles and diet books here or there that scratches the surface but the Food Bible gives in depth lists of these categories and explains their benefits. It also breaks down foods into vitamin and mineral categories and explains the health benefits behind each one. For example if you’re looking for non-dairy sources of calcium how about oats, figs, hazelnuts or Brussels sprouts? Sure calcium is good for your bones but Gillian explains that it’s also good for blood clotting and nerve function. My only fault with this section is that she fails to list the amount a vitamin or mineral in each serving and if they are listed in order of healthy benefit she fails to state that fact.
The entire first half of the book is dedicated to food, nutrition, the foundations of a healthy diet and food for the stages of life. She gives ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is an excellent source of information for anyone wanting to improve their health or just give their body the fuel it needs to run efficiently at any age or any stage in their life, even pregnancy.
The second half of the book is an A-Z listing of common ailments and conditions. In this section Gillian McKeith addresses each issue by stating the causes and symptoms and then gives a plan of action for dealing with the condition or ailment. She lists what to eat and drink, what to avoid, gives suggestions for herbs or supplements as well as extra tips. I am a strong believer in taking the natural approach to illness whenever possible or using it in conjunction with traditional medicine. This book does just that.
Each time I put it down I feel as though I’ve learned something new. I feel as though I’ve added another piece of the puzzle to my health and wellness plan. In the year that I’ve been writing this blog and talking about my journey to better health, I’ve stated many times that my ultimate goal in better health. Smaller clothes and seeing a smaller number on the scale are just the added benefit. A big thank you Gillian McKeith for putting so much great information together in one place.
Discloser: As part of writing this blog, I always disclose when I’m compensated in any way. I received a copy of this book (18.99UK $36 Canada) however writing a post about this book was my choice, it was not a condition in receiving this book. I genuinely like this book and find the information useful or I wouldn’t share it with you.
