Weight loss requires persistence, patience, lifestyle changes and diet modification. Any diet that promises to shave off ten pounds in a week is probably not safe. To eat healthy, numerous studies show merit in a balanced mix of fruits, vegetables, protein, carbs and dairy. One needn’t necessarily cut out his or her favorite foods to lose a few pounds. Instead, portion control and moderation, combined with exercise 3-5 days per week, are the keys to improved fitness.
Losing weight begins with a good breakfast. This is a message Americans are told from childhood through educational campaigns, commercials and from their parents. Yet somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many people lose this most basic lesson amid the hustle and bustle of a busy day. One study of 4,218 adults found that women who ate breakfast were much more likely to have a body mass index less than 25, which puts them in the healthy weight category.
Additionally, it was discovered that women who had at least one serving of whole grains each day weighed less and had slimmer waistlines than those who ate none. Cereal is one of the best ways to start the day, particularly ones that offer 5 grams of fiber per serving. Nature’s Path, Kashi and Barbara’s Bakery are all nutrient-packed cereals to look for. Add skim milk and fruit, then enjoy the health benefits of protein, complex carbohydrates, calcium, antioxidants and fiber. Eggs are a surprisingly beneficial breakfast too. The protein leaves people feeling fuller longer and keeps blood sugar at an even keel all day long.
Dinner is a difficult area for weight loss because many thought patterns can sabotage eating healthy. Some people come home after a long day’s work and think, “I deserve this steak, loaded baked potato and wine. In fact, I deserve two helpings.” The steak isn’t so bad if portioned correctly and paired with smart vegetable choices but it’s so easy to keep eating. Other people may come home from a long day’s work and say, “I don’t feel like making anything. I’ll just microwave some of these frozen foods.” While it’s tempting to assume a South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig entrees, which are perfectly healthy, many of these dishes have extremely high sodium content, sugar or far fewer nutrients than raw foods. A UCLA study found that the average home-cooked meal takes about 10 more minutes of prep time than “instant foods,” so cooking at home using a variety of vegetables, protein and dairy is ideal.
Some people need a jumpstart to help them reach a healthy weight. High protein diet weight loss is basically like the Atkins No-Carb Diet. In a normal diet, protein accounts for 10%-15% of one’s daily caloric intake; however, a high protein diet derives 30-50% of one’s daily calories from protein. This kind of diet is said to change a person’s metabolism, as well as leave the dieter feeling full longer and less prone to snacking. While ingesting lots of steak, chicken, pork tenderloin, fish, eggs, soy, beans, low-fat milk, cheese, yogurt and energy bars will drop the pounds, dieters could be missing out on a lot of the essential disease-fighting fruits and vegetables. Often, when the diet is over, people gain the weight right back too, so the balanced approach is much wiser.