It has long been known that diet and weight control go hand in hand. What is not so certain is exactly how it works. Sure, we know that less calories usually means less weight and that we need to work off more calories than we consume however there has been much debate over what constitutes a healthy diet.
Weight control is a combination of decreasing calories and increasing activity and exercise. There are many different popular diets being tried that try different approaches to what should be eaten and what should be avoided. Some diets say you should avoid carbohydrates and some say limit or eliminate protein. Both of those methods can claim victories among some members, but certainly not all. That seems to be the key; not everyone will respond to trend diets in the same way.
Weight control and diet should involve moderation in all things. You should be sure you are getting enough healthy nutrition to fuel your body and your mind and be using up energy in the form of physical exercise. Beyond that, most health care providers will recommend a sensible diet that includes protein, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and grains. If the body is deprived of nutrients especially if the calories are radically reduced, the body can go into starvation mode and actually slow down the metabolism even more. There is no healthy diet that completely cuts off foods and only encourages beverages (and even those are limited in ingredients.)
When attempting a diet, restrict the sugars, but do not starve yourself of them. Denying cravings all together can cause binging. If you are craving a candy bar, but your goal is weight loss, and then only eat one square of the candy bar, then take a walk around the block. Try to curb cravings for sweet foods by drinking a glass of water, occupying your mind or taking a hot bath. If the craving is still there, you can indulge it, but in moderation. You may want to try a square of dark chocolate, which is actually healthy for you.
Increasing fruits and vegetables is always part of a good diet and a weight loss diet is no different. There are natural sugars in fruits but they are no where near the amounts seen in candy, cakes and cookies. It is much better to achieve weight loss, therefore, by eating an apple rather than a piece of pie. Vegetables and fruits should be the largest part of any meal and the meats and carbohydrates should be limited but not completely abandoned. Try whole grained breads and cereals and leaner meat which are part of a healthy diet.
Limiting calories alone is normally not enough to provide weight loss. The diet is only part of the equation. You must also increase your activity. There are many ways you can do this without it seeming like a chore. Even walking around the block a couple of times a day will help you with weight loss. That is especially true if you were not active before you started your diet.
Comments
No comments.