By Shane Allen
Personal Trainer Food Certified Weight Loss Specialist, Sports Nutritionist and Personal Trainer
As the year comes to a close I want to reflect back on my favorite health and fitness-related stories of 2015. We’re constantly bombarded in the headlines with studies that conflict one another. These only add noise and confusion to understanding what truly is and isn’t healthy.
I’ve taken the time to go through all those headlines this year and give you my seven favorite. Hopefully this will simplify things and give you direction heading into 2016– even if you’re not one of the 70 million Americans who will resolve to lose weight, exercise more or live a healthier lifestyle
#8 Probiotics & Gut Health: Why Your Microbiome Matters
Shape Magazine – The foods you eat can not only alter your mind, but can also alter your waistline. Look for emphasis on probiotic health to start trending even more in 2016.
#7 4 Weight-Loss Trends That Spell Trouble
Vitacost – Some Americans unfortunately still rely on a pill to lose weight despite all the headlines and studies on the dangers of these diet supplements.
#6 Diet Myth: Calories In Does Not Always Equal Calories Out
AOL News – Stop counting calories and points! Simplify your life by just avoiding bad foods. Focus instead on eating meats, vegetables, eggs, cheeses and nuts.
#5 Lose 75 Pounds by Cutting Carbs, Sugar and Alcohol from Your Diet
Closer Weekly Magazine – We’ve been telling you for years that cutting starchy carbs, sugar and alcohol will make you lose weight. This national magazine took notice with two features on our success stories.
#4 Here’s the Skinny on the Scary Dangers of the ‘Dad Bod’
Huffington Post – For a brief time this year men started embracing their “Dad bods.” Thankfully this trend was short-lived after guys realized a trim waist is much healthier in the long run.
#3 Don’t Let Your Activity Tracker Make You Forget About the Most Important Part of Your Fitness– FOOD
Eye Opener TV – Activity trackers were all the rage in 2015. Higher tech ones like GoBe help you remember that food is the most important part of your health and fitness routine– not exercise. This was one of my favorite pieces as a diet, health and fitness contributor to this syndicated Tribune Broadcasting morning show.
#2 Low-carb beats low-fat in a meta-analysis of 17 clinical trials
Journal PLOS ONE – This headline speaks for itself. Stop being afraid of fat. The fat you eat doesn’t turn into fat on your body. Eating starchy carbs and sugars does.
#1 Blame Starchy Carbs and Sugars for Obesity and Type II Diabetes– Not Lack of Exercise
British Journal of Sports Medicine – I probably reference this headline the most when interviewing with journalists. It speaks to exactly what we’ve been saying at Personal Trainer Food since 2010: You can’t outrun a bad diet.
About the Writer
Shane Allen is a certified weight loss specialist, personal trainer and sports nutritionist. He joined Personal Trainer Food™ after 12 years in television news where he worked both on air and behind the scenes in news management. Shane is an EMMY®, Edward R. Murrow, National Society of Professional Journalists and Texas Associated Press Broadcasters award-winner.
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