NoMU Talks Daily Dietetics: This Month – Heidi Lobel
Heidi Lobel
This month on our NEW Dietetics feature, we spoke to Heidi Lobel who has been closely involved in doing research for Weigh-Less and is focussed on the weight loss aspect of dietetics which she explains to us is only one of many branches of dietetics. Having graduated from UCT with an Honours degree in dietetic Heidi has been running her own private practice in Sea Point, Cape Town specializing in weight loss, heart disease and diabetes.
To make an appointment with Heidi contact her at bookings@nutritionist.co.zaor call 082 227 7310. Read on to see what Heidi says about the role that emotions and attitudes play in eating behaviours and habits.
Each dietitian has their own opinion about the greatest causes of unhealthy eating but Heidi believes that the biggest problem in South Africa is not having access to balanced meals and eating on the run. She says that many South Africans are too busy to sit down and have a balanced meal and are rushing meals or taking the quickest easiest option which tends to be fatty take-aways.
NoMU Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate
Another problem she found that people struggle with is defining foods and food portions. Heidi explains that portion control and defining portions can be incredibly difficult and can be the downfall of many trying to lose weight. The problem is that most people don’t know how big a ‘portion’ is. It is particularly difficult with something like chocolate for example - it becomes hard to measure one helping or portion which is why Heidi suggests an alternative such as the NoMU Sugar-free Hot Chocolate which is less fattening has a defined end, once the 250ml cup is finished you’re unlikely to have another because you have had your ‘portion’.
Heidi believes that unhealthy eating habits are a result of a series of factors – environmental, physiological, emotional, and psychological as well as genetics and learning behaviour patterns and attitudes from our parents. She maintains that healthy eating is not just about what you are putting in your body and has a lot more to do with your relationship with food. Even though you might be putting healthy broccoli and steamed vegetables into your body if your attitude is one of deprivation and avoiding food groups to lose weight this can lead to very unhealthy habits. So while the food might be considered healthy, the attitude is not.
The opposite attitude can also be a problem – many use food as a comfort or treat to make themselves feel better, but this can lead to dependency which is also not healthy. Heidi explains that comfort eating has a lot to do with misreading or not identifying the the difference between physiological hunger and emotions.
‘The reason most people comfort eat is because they don’t know how to deal with or identify their feelings of loneliness or anger or depression, for example and use food to numb these emotions. The key is recognising the difference and learning how to cope with these emotions otherwise food can become an addiction in the same way that drugs and alcohol can be used to numb emotion.’
Because of this, Heidi gauges success with a client not just by weight loss but if their relationship to and behaviours with food has changed to a healthier one. She focuses on the long term trends of behaviours and attitudes rather than merely what her clients eat or how much weight they lose.
“If we truly are what we eat, our food choices then also involve a complex interplay between physiological, environmental, psychological, social and emotional factors”
As we all know, it’s not the easiest thing to stay on a healthy eating plan and there are the inevitable times when one slips off the diet bandwagon and gives in to the cravings and before you know it you’ve stopped the diet completely because what is the point now right?
Heidi believes that one shouldn’t feel bad for breaking the diet every now and then, it’s ok to do the 80% as long as you don’t make yourself feel so guilty about cheating that you stop the diet completely. Heidi’s philosophy is to take the diet one day at a time, deal with each day as it comes and try to make the healthier choices in the moment.
We are very grateful that Heidi could spare some time from her busy schedule to discuss the importance of attitudes towards food rather than just what you are putting inside your body.
Heidi’s Healthy Habits:
Eat healthy balanced meals
Try not to eat on the run
It’s OK to slip off the diet bandwagon from time to time – no one is perfect!
Your relationship towards food is as important as what you are putting into your body
Take it one day at a time
The key to controlling comfort eating is to understand the difference between hunger and emotions and learning to cope with those emotions in a healthier more constructive way
This space is where Tracy and I get to share our thoughts and experiences as entrepreneurs, business- people, brand owners and parents. We hope you’ll enjoy the evolving story of NoMU, and we’d love to receive your comments.
NoMU Talks Daily Dietetics: This Month – Heidi Lobel
Heidi Lobel
This month on our NEW Dietetics feature, we spoke to Heidi Lobel who has been closely involved in doing research for Weigh-Less and is focussed on the weight loss aspect of dietetics which she explains to us is only one of many branches of dietetics. Having graduated from UCT with an Honours degree in dietetic Heidi has been running her own private practice in Sea Point, Cape Town specializing in weight loss, heart disease and diabetes.
To make an appointment with Heidi contact her at bookings@nutritionist.co.za or call 082 227 7310. Read on to see what Heidi says about the role that emotions and attitudes play in eating behaviours and habits.
Each dietitian has their own opinion about the greatest causes of unhealthy eating but Heidi believes that the biggest problem in South Africa is not having access to balanced meals and eating on the run. She says that many South Africans are too busy to sit down and have a balanced meal and are rushing meals or taking the quickest easiest option which tends to be fatty take-aways.
NoMU Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate
Another problem she found that people struggle with is defining foods and food portions. Heidi explains that portion control and defining portions can be incredibly difficult and can be the downfall of many trying to lose weight. The problem is that most people don’t know how big a ‘portion’ is. It is particularly difficult with something like chocolate for example - it becomes hard to measure one helping or portion which is why Heidi suggests an alternative such as the NoMU Sugar-free Hot Chocolate which is less fattening has a defined end, once the 250ml cup is finished you’re unlikely to have another because you have had your ‘portion’.
Heidi believes that unhealthy eating habits are a result of a series of factors – environmental, physiological, emotional, and psychological as well as genetics and learning behaviour patterns and attitudes from our parents. She maintains that healthy eating is not just about what you are putting in your body and has a lot more to do with your relationship with food. Even though you might be putting healthy broccoli and steamed vegetables into your body if your attitude is one of deprivation and avoiding food groups to lose weight this can lead to very unhealthy habits. So while the food might be considered healthy, the attitude is not.
The opposite attitude can also be a problem – many use food as a comfort or treat to make themselves feel better, but this can lead to dependency which is also not healthy. Heidi explains that comfort eating has a lot to do with misreading or not identifying the the difference between physiological hunger and emotions.
‘The reason most people comfort eat is because they don’t know how to deal with or identify their feelings of loneliness or anger or depression, for example and use food to numb these emotions. The key is recognising the difference and learning how to cope with these emotions otherwise food can become an addiction in the same way that drugs and alcohol can be used to numb emotion.’
Because of this, Heidi gauges success with a client not just by weight loss but if their relationship to and behaviours with food has changed to a healthier one. She focuses on the long term trends of behaviours and attitudes rather than merely what her clients eat or how much weight they lose.
“If we truly are what we eat, our food choices then also involve a complex interplay between physiological, environmental, psychological, social and emotional factors”
As we all know, it’s not the easiest thing to stay on a healthy eating plan and there are the inevitable times when one slips off the diet bandwagon and gives in to the cravings and before you know it you’ve stopped the diet completely because what is the point now right?
Heidi believes that one shouldn’t feel bad for breaking the diet every now and then, it’s ok to do the 80% as long as you don’t make yourself feel so guilty about cheating that you stop the diet completely. Heidi’s philosophy is to take the diet one day at a time, deal with each day as it comes and try to make the healthier choices in the moment.
We are very grateful that Heidi could spare some time from her busy schedule to discuss the importance of attitudes towards food rather than just what you are putting inside your body.
Heidi’s Healthy Habits: