You've got questions...
Q: What is your stance on breakfast? I am just not hungry in the mornings and have read multiple opinions on the subject. Some doctors say you need to eat breakfast to jumpstart your metabolism for the day while others say there is no need to eat breakfast and that you should eat when you are hungry.
A: I have had clients who lost weight eating breakfast and clients who lost weight and didn't eat breakfast. I have had clients lose weight that ate 3 meals a day, 5 meals a day, one big meal a day. At all different hours, etc. I find it doesn't matter what time of day my clients eat as much as WHAT they are eating, and HOW MUCH. With skipping breakfast (or any meal) many people run of the risk of ending up super hungry, which means they will either A) eat too much when they finally do eat or B) they put anything in their mouth -- whatever is fastest, and then don't they make healthy choices which derails their efforts. It's always come back to diet more than anything -- even exercise has often mattered little with weight-loss. Can't recommend the meal plans enough!
Q: I have beenusing vegetable broth to replace oil but I feel that my food turns out kind of bland. Am I also supposed to increase my spices if I replace the oil?
A: Food should be more flavorful without oil, since oil coats your tongue (it's like tasting with a glove on your tongue). It could be that you just miss the grease taste (fat is very addictive) or your taste buds are still healing (fat and salt damage them). You should be tasting food normally in 3-4 weeks (but you must be diligent during that time to reprogram and repair your taste senses). You can, of course, increase spices in the meantime.
Q: I am a vegetarian and am considering going plant-based. I have read so much and seems to be so many diet plans listed as plant-based. Can you tell me what the difference between vegan and plant-based? What is a good way for me to start?
A: Check out this post: What is a Plant-Based Diet? (The Difference Between "Plant-Based" and "Vegan")
I also recommend the meal plans or the 10-day immersion for beginners.
Q: What’s a good substitute for anchovy paste in cooking?
A: Try mashed up kalmata olives.
Q: I downloaded your Couch to 5k program a while ago (it was at the back of ameal plan). I'm in week 4 right now. I walk/run on a treadmill and I was wondering when I jog should I increase the speed? I usually walk and jog at 3 mph. I was wondering if for those 30 seconds should I make it faster.
A: Congrats!! It really depends on your fitness level and comfort level, but generally, you do want to jog at a speed faster than you can walk, though you don't want to go all crazy warp speed :)
