by | Mar 23, 2014 | 6 comments

Thank you so much for all the positive feedback on Friday’s post on food intolerance testing.  I’m so glad that sharing my experience was helpful, and I hope to be able to help many of you work on your intolerances as well!  If you emailed me about your own testing and I haven’t gotten back to you, you’ll get a full response on Monday morning.  And if you haven’t contacted me yet but want to talk about what it might mean for you, I’m here for you! (and currently offering the tests cheaper than the list price!)

I’ll get right down to business, since I’m currently in Minneapolis completing RRCA Running Coach Training, and didn’t get the post written in advance.  I’m learning a ton, and I can’t wait to share highlights with you when I return!  For now, here are 7 Interesting Things I Read This Week.  Enjoy! 

7 Interesting Things I Read This Week

  1. Considering the future can help you make better food decisions.  Many of us have dealt with emotional eating at one time or another, and know firsthand how hard it is to resist the urge when you’re stressed or overwhelmed.  This study from the University of Delaware shows that if you focus on something other than the present when hit with the urge to overeat, you will be less likely to indulge in unhealthy foods.  Interesting! pistachios
  2. The Cookie Monster Knows More About Willpower Than You.  I haven’t completely internalized how I feel about this post, so I’m anxious to hear your comments.  But I learned about the marshmallow study many times during college, and I found it incredibly interesting that Sesame Street puts so much psychological thought into their episodes!  I only wish they had asked Cookie Monster to think about how healthy he’ll be in the future rather than thinking about all the cookies he will be able to consume in the future – I’m not sure that was the type of future the researchers in #1 were talking about!cookiemonster
  3. I read the top nutrition books and this is what I learned.  I love this simple post because it hammers home a point I’ve tried to make several times: there is no single right answer to “what diet is best.”  Different things work for different bodies, and learning what works for our own is a lifelong process.  Sure, there are principles that are more likely to work than others, and I know how to guide people through the process of self-discovery fairly efficiently, but still … nutrition is confusing!  This is why I love reading nutrition books and hearing from speakers that have vastly different opinions (with scientific studies to back them up!) – it’s so fascinating to me.  The best part of it all is that the one thing they concluded was that vegetables are good for everyone.  You KNOW I love my vegetables!! veggies
  4. 89 simple swaps that will make you healthier.  I love lists like this, and am happy to say that I already incorporate many of these swaps.  There really are some great ones in here! Screen Shot 2014-03-22 at 9.25.18 PM
  5. Why high-impact exercise is good for your bones.  If you’re a runner, I can almost guarantee that someone has asked you, “isn’t all that pounding bad for your bones?” (right after they asked about your knees, I’m sure).  Well, here is just a bit more evidence to tell them that high-impact exercise is actually good to strengthen your bones.  Even study participants that simply hopped 20 times per day showed great gains in hipbone density! bones
  6. The link between happiness and weight loss.  Not only does the article remind us of the fact that our emotions are so intricately connected to our health (and weight loss, if that’s your goal), but it also reminds us to drink water, disconnect, eat chocolate and salmon, and exercise for mental health benefits.  What more could you ask for in one article? happiness running
  7. How to beat your excuses and learn to cook.  Every week, Michael and I inevitably choose some of the same links for these posts, and when I went to check his post out last night, I confirmed we overlapped here.  Despite the overlap, I still want to share it, because one of the most common things I hear from potential health coaching clients is that they don’t have time to cook.  Yes, I do believe you can be healthy while eating out, but it is SO much easier (and cheaper, and healthier, in most cases) to prepare some of your own food when possible. Screen Shot 2014-03-22 at 9.03.26 PM

(All pictures are sourced from the article linked in the titles).

So tell me in the comments … What do you think about the Cookie Monster article?  Do you cook?  If so, do you think it makes you healthier?  Do you have a burning running question that I should be sure to ask the trainers during my last day of training today?

6 Comments

  1. Michael Anderson

    Great bunch of links – I love the 89 swaps. I had that somewhere last week in a post, but I clicked again and found more great stuff! I think the important point is to always be looking for these swaps – when I look at how Lisa and I ate 25 years ago we had many habits brought forward from our parents, and over time have totally evolved our thinking.

    The cookie monster one is interesting – personally I have absolutely no doubt that I would wait. Chances are I would have built something out of the plate as well. And had they offered an apple instead for an additional wait … all over it. 🙂 But willpower for me was never an issue – I learned that for sure when I chose to lose weight.

    But you mention the concept of ‘health in the future’. That is a wonderful idea, but you have to think about the world we live in. I remember from the Bush-Clinton election era that one topic coming up was environmental protection, and many held the idea (this was a recession) that “If I had to choose between extinction a species and saving just ONE job, I’d choose the job.” And today the topic of hydrofracking, basically trading the future, our environment and so on for a quick buck today … and to quote 2008 ‘drill, baby, drill’!

    So yeah, expecting people to think about the future might not work so well! 🙂

    Great post and I hope training went well!

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Once again, you and my mom are on the same page in pointing out that considering the future might be a bit of a stretch. I hear you both and agree with your points – while it might work for some people, we can’t expect everyone to be motivated by what might happen in the future.

      I laughed at your story of you as a child waiting, because again, it was similar to my mom’s hypothetical story of me (we both did something nerdy while waiting and were able to successfully wait).

      Training was great, thanks!

      Reply
  2. Karen

    Yep – thats me. I have read all those conflicting confusing health tip books which leads to being allowed to trick yourself into ……..gaining rather than losing weight. Thankful I have YOUR guidelines and attention to detail of what works for me. #I’mLucky #DaughtersWho Care
    The problem with “considering the future” is that when you’re in the heat of the moment and you are tired or depressed or just lacking willpower momentarily, its not realistic to think that you are going to have a rational discussion with yourself about what REALLY matters and whats best for your future.
    I’m just saying’
    All I could think about during the marshmallow experiment was that YOU would have TOTALLY waited. You would have thought through the scenario, made up your mind, probably recited the Gettysburg address and then asked if you waited another 15 minutes could you get 3 marshmallows.

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Like I said to you earlier, your hashtags made my day, Mom. So did the hypothetical story about me as a kid. You’re too funny!

      You’re also doing GREAT, and I’m really proud of your progress.

      I get your point about considering the future while you’re in the heat of the moment. In cases like that, distracting yourself with a walk, painting your nails, running up and down the stairs twice, calling someone on the phone, etc., are all good solutions!

      Reply
  3. Lisa @ Running out of Wine

    I thought the article about Cookie Monster was really interesting! I work with elementary school kids teaching them self-control strategies, and some of the things talked about in the article are similar to the strategies I use in therapy. I wonder if Sesame street took into account teaching these skills to kids with ADHD:) But I like your point about Cookie Monster thinking about his future health rather than getting to eat all the cookies!
    I cook all the time! I find it so much easier to eat healthy when I have full control of the ingredients in my meals. When I eat out I am always asking for different sides, no butter, no cheese, etc. and I know its for the best but I always feel bad being “that person” with the difficult order!

    Reply
    • Megan Lyons

      Lisa, I just have to say that you must have the patience of an angel. Keep up the good work – you’re making such a difference! And yes, I completely relate to your feelings about being “that person” in restaurants. It’s such a toss up between doing what’s right for YOU and being too annoying/ obsessive about it. Cooking at home is a great way around that 🙂

      Reply

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Megan Lyons Headshot

Hi! I'm Megan Lyons,

the voice behind The Lyons’ Share. I love all things health, wellness, and fitness-related, and I hope to share some of my passion with you. Thanks for stopping by!
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