Feb 03 2009
Weigh Less Without Dieting
Diets don’t work. They are not sustainable and don’t lead to long term success. The key to health is finding things that work for you and your lifestyle. Almost everyday we are hit with a new discovery or a new diet claiming to help us shed 10 pounds. The most important factor that most of these diets are missing is that we are all individuals and we are all different. There is no one way of eating that works for all of us. It wasn’t too long ago that humans existed without all this media attention on trendy diets. They relied on intuition and listened to the messages from their own bodies. Being healthy is not really complicated. Instead of running out to buy the latest diet book, start to foster a relationship with your body. It will naturally tell you what it needs by how it reacts to food. After eating, pay close attention to how you feel. If you feel nauseous after eating a bagel and cream cheese then maybe it’s not the best choice for your body. When it comes to your weight, there are a few things you can do to help slim down while paying close attention to how you react to different foods.
o Always eat breakfast. Skipping meals is never a good idea. It causes you to be calorie deficient and you will probably binge later in the day.
o Home cooking. Restaurant food is made with more salt, more fat, more calories and poor quality oils. Making your own meals puts you in control of the quality of your food.
o Keep track of what you eat and how you feel. Use a food diary to help analyze messages from your body. This will help you stay motivated at focused.
o Identify your temptation foods. You know your own downfalls whether its sugar, salt, or fat. Don’t keep these foods in your home or office. Ask for support from friends and family with this step.
o Take a high quality multi-vitamin. It’s a good habit to get into – everyone can benefit from this suggestion. Some evidence suggests that adding high-quality nutrients to a well balanced diet can improve your metabolism.
o Eat lots of veggies. Plant foods are so low in calories that they force the body to burn its own fat. They are also a nutrient dense food which helps in a healthy diet and can make you less hungry. Try to get organic and local vegetables whenever possible.
o Switch from simple carbohydrates to complex carbohydrates. Carbs have gotten a bad reputation. It’s not the carbs in general it’s just the simple or refined carbs you need to stay away from. Ditch the white bread and replace it with whole grain bread, brown rice, steel cut oats, and quinoa.
o Be a food detective. Read labels and don’t eat anything you can’t pronounce. Try to stick to eating whole foods – fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. If you must buy packaged foods choose ones with few ingredients. Artificial and package foods are part of the problem.
The one thing about a diet that is helpful is that it makes you aware of what you are eating but its important not to make it an all or nothing situation, like most diets suggest. This is exactly why they never work. Be mindful of what you eat and how it makes you feel. Start by using one suggestion at a time to gradually change your daily habits. Make the changes that feel the most natural and are not difficult changes for you to make. As you go through this process you will start to see a healthier and slimmer version of yourself.
