What The Food Pyramid
Didn't Teach Me

by Stephanie Teskers
(Houston, Texas, USA)

I had never been a skinny person, but this was the first time I was uncomfortable with my weight. It was time to shed at least 20 pounds. I did some research on the Internet and came across the Discovery Health National Body Challenge.

It's a free program that, at the time, also included a free temporary membership at a large exercise facility. I joined up and discovered something that changed my eating habits forever.

Even though my teachers in elementary school taught me about the food pyramid, I never really grasped how to eat in a healthy way. Perhaps the types of meals we ate during my childhood are partially to blame; we essentially lived on starches.

Somehow it wasn't until I read some information related to the National Body Challenge that I came to this understanding: Food is meant to be fuel for the body.

I finally understood that our bodies, just like our cars, need a certain type of fuel to operate efficiently. If we eat the right balance of foods, our bodies feel satisfied with smaller portions, we're energized throughout the day, and we can maintain the correct weight without having to starve ourselves.

My understanding carried over into my actual eating habits. I began to drink more water every day than I ever had before, and at each meal I gave my body a balance of needed nutrients and kept the calorie count low. My diet included some healthy carbs and healthy fats, but in small amounts.

Actually, my diet had been almost protein-free before the change. I hadn't understood anything about protein or the need to have it in my daily diet. I believe adding protein to my meals was the most significant and helpful change I made.

Since I didn't dedicate enough time to exercise, the weight loss was slower than hoped. However, I did continue with my change of diet and over time lost those 20 pesky pounds.

Stephanie is a runner, blogger, and proud mother of the two greatest kids ever. When she's not watching Gray's Anatomy, she reads up on Velashape Cellulite Treatment .