Over the last year, I’ve devoted time to learn as much as I possibly could about improving my overall health from an array of different sources. These sources included friends, doctors, books, podcasts, YouTube videos, news articles, and of course….blogs. Before I dove in head first into something new, something so different than I had ever done before (especially something that goes against conventional wisdom) was to learn as much about it as I could, first!
First thing I did, and the best thing I did, was to just come out and say it…..”I have a problem.” Admitting this to not only yourself, but to others will open the first door for you to change. This doesn’t just pertain to being overweight, this applies to all areas of our health, mental and physical. It’s amazing how many people are experiencing the same problem as you, and that person just might hold the key to unlock that next door. I know this from personal experience. I went years believing my problem was somehow “normal”. Finally, I opened up. I asked and sought for help. First with my spouse, then my doctor, my friends, and even talked about it with people I just met. In fact, it was a conversation with a total stranger that got me on the right path.
After opening up and having those conversations, I was able to better identify what the underlying root my problems were. If you’re new to my posts, the quick version of my issues were rapid weight gain, acid reflux, gastrointestinal distress, bloating, fatigue, brain fog, along with succumbing to stress and anxiety. I didn’t know how to handle these issues, and I self medicated with alcohol and food to “suppress” those feelings…only to make things worse.
Second thing I did was learn as much as I could. I read, and I read A LOT! From here, I’m going to share with you the resources I used that best helped me to identify my underlying issues, and get to where I am today.
Books To Read
The Keto Reset Diet: Reboot Your Metabolism in 21 Days And Burn Fat Forever
by Mark Sisson with Brad Kearns
This was the first book I read when I began my journey to better health. I was already adapting basic principles when it came to my diet, such as less sugar and carbs, lean meats, etc. However, this book helped me to better understand how my new way of eating (WOE) works. It was the perfect starting out point.
Why is this book so important? The Keto diet is so popular now. There’s recipes, blogs, videos, and social media pages just about everywhere you turn. There’s good reason for that, but so many people want to just jump to the middle of the book (metaphorically speaking) without learning the back story. I like to use the analogy about starting a new job, being shown a couple of videos of what the job entails, and then being told to go “do your job” but you haven’t actually been given a proper training. You’ll likely do it wrong, ultimately fail or get frustrated, and quit.
This book does a very good job of explaining exactly how a proper Keto diet will work, and why it works. The book breaks down how important the first 21 days are to get you acclimated to the new way of eating so one wont experience any type of illness or burnout. This is a perfect first read to anyone who is deciding to go Keto.
The Obesity Code: Unlocking The Secrets Of Weight Loss
by Jason Fung, MD
This was a perfect followup read to “The Keto Reset Diet”. I might argue that this book is better to read first as it really delves into a complete breakdown of why we become overweight, and why is such an epidemic today.
Why is this book so important? While things such as “fasting” and “insulin resistance” are briefly talked about in the previous book, this book gives a full rundown on what they are backed by science and research, which are referenced right in the chapters as it is being discussed. It highlights why so many of us fail when it comes to weight loss, even with initial success in losing weight, but can’t keep it off long term (this was true for me on so many occasions). Breaks down the myths about “snacking” or the “5-6 smaller meals a day” philosophy. This book is a great place to start learning about the inner workings of our dietary health to maintain a healthy weight.
The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain
by Steven R. Gundry, MD
While I had already become “somewhat” familiar with Lectins, and identified them as being the main cause of my gut problems, I didn’t have a full understanding of exactly what they were and what their purpose is. Long story short, Lectins are the plants natural defense mechanism to prevent predators from eating the plant or its seeds.
Why is this book so important? Lectins have a way of attacking our gut leading to a laundry list of problems, most of which would include leaky gut. Common systems of leaky gut would be acid reflux, inflammation, gas/bloating, and GI distress (aka diarrhea). Fun right? Not really. Lectins can cause the body to be under constant attack, and killing the “Good” stuff we need along the way. This book breaks down the type of foods that are the worst offenders, and ways we can counter the effects of lectin containing foods.
Videos and Podcasts
Dr. Eric Berg
Dr Berg is well known in the keto and intermittent fasting community for his short, but very informational, YouTube videos. Dr Berg also has a podcast to subscribe to, along with a social media presence, that covers the topics he discusses in his videos. What makes these so great is you can gather a lot of information in a relatively short period of time. We all have 5 minutes we can spare somewhere, and with his videos/podcasts averaging that length of time, it’s easy to get information on just about any topic related to weight loss.
Here is a sample of Dr. Berg’s work.
Thomas DeLauer
Thomas DeLauer is a personal trainer and health coach. Like Dr Berg, he has a big YouTube presence with short informational videos. Along with meal and supplement information, Thomas provides and in depth look at how eating a ketogenic diet, coupled with exercise and intermittent fasting provide a healthy balance of nutrition and building strength.
Here is a sample of Thomas’s work.
Ben Greenfield
Ben Greenfield has a great podcast to subscribe to, which covers literally EVERYTHING pertaining to the health and fitness world.
While being well versed in both Keto and IF (Intermittent Fasting), it’s only a small portion of what he actually covers. He speaks with experts in every field to gain a broader perspective to his audience of pursuing the RIGHT course for them.
Here is a sample of Ben’s work.
Keto Connect
Megha Barot & Matt Gaedke
Keto Connect has a huge YouTube and social media presence, making it easy to find new ideas and information every day of the week. They have authored several cook books, and do a live Instagram feed every morning, allowing the opportunity for some Q & A.
Keto Connect is a great place for recipe ideas, whether you are new to keto, or an old pro! Often using themselves as guinea pigs, they offer a fresh perspective, and often humorous, to new ideas.
Here is a sample of Keto Connect.
I continue to listen, watch, and read to build on the foundation I have already created for myself. I find myself going back at times to re-read, or reference these novels, or listen/watch certain podcasts and videos; and I will pick up things that I didn’t quite understand or catch the first time around. I find this incredibly helpful for my continuing education, and cement the knowledge that I already knew, but may have forgotten.
These individuals all benefited me when I first began my journey to greater health. Each one a champion in their own niche, but what you’ll find is there is a lot of similarity to what they discuss. Food is, more often than not, the underlying cause to our issues. Food should heal. Not destroy. Food should build strength and energize. Not weaken and slow us down. We rely too much on the quick fix pharmaceuticals to make us better, when so often, the problem or cure lies right in our food!
Just like that famous quote from Hippocrates “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”