Nutrition Expert Monica Reinagel Explains the Difference between Losing Weight and Weighing Less

Nutrition Expert Monica Reinagel Explains the Difference between Losing Weight and Weighing Less

“We know how to lose weight. What we don’t know is how to weigh less.”

Those words of wisdom were recently shared on the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress’ Adjusted Reality podcast by Monica Reinagel, a board-certified nutritionist and professionally trained chef who is also a prolific author (six books) and speaker (TODAY, CBS News, NPR’s Morning Edition) on the topic of healthy eating. Monica is the host of Nutrition Diva and the co-host of the new Change Academy podcast. She has also released a free app, Nutrition GPA, that the New York Times labeled one of the Four Best Diet Tracking Apps.

In our conversation, Monica stated that it isn’t that people don’t know how to lose weight. There is plenty of information out there in books, magazines, websites, YouTube videos, etc. The problem is that most of that information doesn’t help us change our behaviors because it tends to take an all-or-nothing approach.

This is a problem because much of our health starts with good nutrition. Poor nutrition can compromise your immune system, which increases your risk of catching colds and other viruses.

It can also aggravate chronic pain, because our food – processed food in particular – contains high amounts of inflammatory ingredients such as sodium, gluten, trans fats and added sugars. Increasing our consumption of anti-inflammatory foods such as whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, unprocessed meats and healthy fats can help reduce arthritis, as well as joint and back pain.

On the podcast Monica emphasized that the trouble many of us have in changing to a healthier diet is the mistaken belief that change must come in bulk, i.e., we must do everything now. If we can’t, then we decide we won’t do anything. Or if we start and then backslide, we often feel we have failed and just give up.

The approach we should be taking instead is to do what we can now and work to improve ourselves overall. That is a philosophy doctors of chiropractic (DCs) certainly embrace.

DCs are often called upon when someone is in pain, which means our immediate focus is on reducing that pain and eliminating it, making it bearable. Long term, however, DCs are committed to taking a more holistic approach to health that encompasses helping patients improve in multiple areas, including nutrition, stress management, hydration, physical activity, posture, mindset and the quality and quantity of sleep they get.

This is what learning how to weigh less is all about. Start by doing something positive, then take the next step and the next until you have slowly replaced your old eating habits with a whole new approach to what you eat. That is the key to sustained success.

Monica did say if she had to choose one change to start it would be eating five servings of vegetables per day. Doing so has several advantages, not the least of which is leaving less room for other, less-nutritious foods.

She also said if you can work a vegetable into breakfast you give yourself a good head start on the five servings goal as well as giving yourself a nutrient-packed start to your day. Another suggestion was to place vegetables in your refrigerator in a position where they are visible and within easy reach rather than hiding them in crisper drawers. Seeing the vegetables will remind you they’re there and encourage you to select them over other, less-healthy choices.

All of this can be summed up in a tremendous quote from journalist and author James Clear: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”

By starting with the little actions – such as adding an anti-inflammatory vegetable, fruit, whole grain, etc. to meals in place of less healthy foods – we can rebuild ourselves to match the image we see in our minds.

Many thanks to our Adjusted Reality guest, Monica Reinagel, for sharing her knowledge and expertise regarding nutrition. Future guests include professional athletes, celebrities, actors, healthcare professionals, wellness experts and influencers. Check it out wherever you download your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Stitcher, and be sure to subscribe at https://adjustedreality.buzzsprout.com/