Put Yourself in My Shoes

You’ve worked really hard to prepare this meal. You shopped a week in advance, at least. You pressed the last of the napkins hot out of the dryer. You’re really pleased with your menu. Broiled fish, roasted chicken breasts with garlic cloves, bell pepper and onions and steamed broccoli, steamed asparagus, and corn you took off the cob just this afternoon. And by request, your special macaroni and cheese is also on the menu.

It’s time to get everything heated, so you’ve got the oven set to 200 up and the warming pots on the stove. The vegetables are steaming and all that’s left is the macaroni and cheese and the corn. Planned down to the minute, your family will be arriving in twenty minutes; the macaroni will be put into the microwave, straight from the fridge in your microwave-safe plastic ware. Your corn will go in right after that for three minutes.

Everyone is on time. You’re placing the last two items on the table as the guests are seated—it went like clockwork.

What Could Possibly be Wrong with This Picture?

The only problem is the microwave. You know how you learn something but it doesn’t stick because it’s so out of line with the rest of life? That was my problem with the truth and fallacy of microwave cooking.

Many, many years ago, when the microwave was banned in Germany, I can recall hearing about it. I was a child and I remember thinking, What an odd thing to ban. Those poor people are so oppressed. Little did I know.

The Problems with Microwaving Foods

Microwaving changes food on the molecular level, denaturing its nutrients and therein making foods empty, useless substances.

What are you left with?

• Carcinogens in your proteins in cereal and milk
• Radiolytics - stuff unknown in nature
• Destroyed meat proteins

As a result of eating this food, studies have recorded the following:

• Reduces blood hemoglobin count (indicator of anemic condition)
• Increases cholesterol and white blood count

In 1991, microwaving blood denatured it enough to kill a transfusion recipient who received that warmed blood.

Most nutritionists will warn parents away from warming baby milk and formula in microwaves for two reasons:

• It destroys the nutrients in the formula
• The formula is generally much hotter than the bottle indicates when removed from the microwave

It’s even been demonstrated to be unsafe for people to stand in front of microwaves. It’s actually causing cell destruction.

Why People Still Use Microwaves

I am going to guess that many people are a lot like me. I extend to the government a benefit of the doubt that they wouldn’t deliberately make me sick. (I don’t know why I extend the government this because obviously that very thing is the case. It makes me sick.)

I am all about the convenience of heating food quickly. I remember our first microwave. It meant and end to oven and stove reheating. No more steam burns—almost no more—hello, 4-minutes-to-a-complete-meal. Speed can’t mean a sacrifice of health. Who would allow that? Actually it was the same people who prosecuted a United States researcher, William Kopp, who went and collected the Russians’ and Germans’ research results.

So, What Does All This Mean to Me?

Instead of saying thank you to my family and friends for the excellent care they took of me after my surgery, I was giving them damaging garbage to eat with the rest of their meals.

The statistics on weight loss nutrition are grim. Research shows that almost 95% of repeat dieters fail in their efforts, and ultimately regain any weight that they initially lost. What about that successful 5%? What is their secret to weight loss nutrition?

Basically, people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off for years have made a few simple changes to their eating and exercise habits that have enabled them to live a healthier and lighter lifestyle. When asked to describe their eating habits, the top responses among this group usually involved weight loss nutrition that was low in fat and low in red meat. Here are some more secrets for success from those who have lost weight and kept it off for good.

Take Stock in Healthy Foods

Stock your kitchen with healthy organic foods so that you will always have the right things around to choose from. Weight loss nutrition includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dried beans, nonfat dairy and fish or lean poultry. Also, try to plan meals in advance in order to avoid making unhealthy selections just because you are hungry and rushed. And make a shopping list so that you’re more likely to choose healthy foods at the grocery store.

Eat Your Organic Fruits and Veggies

Dieters with long-term weight loss success also typically eat more fruits and vegetables than dieters who have failed in their efforts. For example, one recent Harvard study looked at the diets of 75,000 women over a ten-year period. Their results found that the more fruits and vegetables the women ate, the less likely they were to become obese.

Cut Calories

It’s a good idea to know how many calories you eat in a typical day. So if you don’t already know, make an effort to keep a food journal for a few weeks. Then you will be able to find the areas where your diet is weakest. You will also be able to identify the “hidden” calories such as high calories sodas or snacks that sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Once you know how many calories you typically eat, you can make a weight loss nutrition plan that gradually reduces your caloric intake. Make sure you still eat enough food to keep your energy levels high and your metabolism charged. But simply making an effort to limit your portion size will help you cut calories dramatically.

Get Support

Find some kind of support system to aid you in your weight loss efforts. Whether you join a weight loss group, work with a dietitian or simply enlist your family and friends, it is helpful to have someone with whom you can share your experiences. A support group can also be a source of new ideas and strategies for losing weight effectively.

Go Slow

Slow weight loss is critical to long-term weight loss nutrition. Aim to lose no more than one to two pounds a week. Quick weight loss is more apt to lead to the yo-yo dieting that has a negative impact on your long-term health.

It’s also a good idea to go slow while you are eating. Health experts say it takes about twenty minutes for your brain to realize it’s full. That means the amount of calories you take in before you feel full will vary depending on how quickly you eat. Go slow, savor your food, and enjoy every bite of your meal.

Stay Hydrated

Aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of purified water each day. When the body isn’t adequately hydrated, the kidneys may compensate by conserving or “retaining” water. Drinking a lot of fluids also helps to stimulate the digestive system and makes the stomach feel fuller, so you don’t feel as hungry.

Get Physical

Physical activity is very important for losing weight, but you don’t have to workout to the point of exhaustion in order to see results. Try incorporating exercise into your normal activities. Walk to work, or take a stroll in the evenings with the kids.