Yes, you read it right?no diets!
The first step in this weight management program is to gather all of your old fad diets, quick weight loss remedies, and "magic cures". Once you have them all together in a nice, neat pile- throw them into the trash! One thing we have learned in the last 20-30 years is diets don't work and actually can make things worse. Fad diets may provide short term weight loss but they are generally too difficult to stick with for a lifetime. The majority of people who lose weight on fad diets regain that weight within 3 to 5 years. Over time this yo-yo dieting effect can slow your metabolism, the way our bodies burn the calories from the food that we eat. Most fad diets require you to significantly restrict your caloric intake by limiting or even eliminating specific foods from your diet. They lead you to believe that it is these specific foods that are causing you to gain weight. The fact is; a cookie or a slice of French bread is not responsible for weight gain. It is the total number of calories that you consume in a day compared to the amount of calories you use as energy. The calories you don't use as energy turn into stored fat and over time this translates into more body weight.
Yes, its true consuming excess carbohydrates can result in large insulin spikes and cause you to store fat more readily and stimulate your appetite. However, does this mean that everyone in America is eating too many carbohydrates? Not necessarily. Does this mean we need to completely eliminate all carbohydrates from our diet? Absolutely not. It means we need to learn how to eat the right kind of carbohydrates and the right amount.
It's also true that eating excess fat can make us gain weight because fat carries more calories than protein and carbohydrates, but does this mean that everyone's issue is too much fat? Once again, no. Therefore, we must approach weight management on an individual basis because not everyone is eating too many calories from bread. Just the same, not everyone is consuming too many calories from cookies. We are all individuals and our eating habits are all unique which is why the one size fits all diet plans don't work. The ultimate key to success is balance.
Balance is providing the appropriate amount of calories, nutrients, and (don't forget) enjoyment from our meals. In a balanced diet, there are no perfect days, no foods are omitted, and you don't have to starve yourself. It may simply be that you've been eating too many starchy foods and too little fat. This may have stimulated your appetite and caused you to consume more than your body needs. Or vice versa, it may be that you are consuming too many fats and too little fruits and vegetables which can cause you to have a high calorie level with a fairly small intake of food. Perhaps you've been eating the right balance but with too large of portion sizes. These are the kinds of things that throw us off balance and cause us to consume more calories than we utilize for energy.
Let's take an example
Unbalanced Day
Breakfast: skip (too busy)
Large latte
Snack: chips from vending machine
Lunch: (restaurant) hamburger and large French fries
Dinner: 8 oz steak and 2 cups mashed potatoes
Dessert: large bowl of ice-cream (1-2 cups)
Meal Makeover
Breakfast: bowl of oatmeal with blueberries, 1 cup low fat milk
Snack: apple, 1 oz peanuts
Lunch: (restaurant) turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with a bowl vegetable soup
Dinner: 3 oz steak (size of a deck of cards), 1 cup mashed potatoes, and a large salad w/1 TB vinaigrette dressing
Dessert: small bowl of frozen yogurt or sorbet (1/2- 1 cup)
The original meals were heavy in high fat foods, large in portion sizes, (beef, French fries, chips, and ice-cream) and low in fiber. The balance was off. By making these changes we saved approximately 800 calories while still enjoying steak, mashed potatoes, and dessert! Not to mention you get to eat more when you incorporate more plant based foods since they are much lower in calories. We also improved the nutrient content by adding more fiber/vitamins/minerals/and antioxidants with increased fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
So, stop fad diets and start balancing your meals for lifelong weight loss. You have nothing to lose but lasting results, improved energy and better health!
? Meri Raffetto, 2004
About The Author
Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She offers individual nutrition counseling and has developed one of the only non-diet online weight management programs available on the internet. For more information or to sign up for Real Living's free nutrition newsletter, visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.
same day cleaning service Des Plaines ..Weight loss can be one of the most difficult things... Read More
Diet tips for losing weight abound. Some are good, some... Read More
One of the biggest misconceptions about exercise is that there... Read More
Burn fat while you sleep! Eat whatever you want and... Read More
Ever heard of the expression, "Getting up on the wrong... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not... Read More
Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and... Read More
One Reality TV show, The Swan, thrives on makeovers. Often... Read More
It's definitely no fun to lose weight -- put it... Read More
The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse... Read More
Ah the ever present battle to lose those unwanted pounds.... Read More
In the early weeks after having weight loss surgery almost... Read More
With all the excitement regarding high protein diets, one area... Read More
Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about... Read More
A state of emergency has been recently put on European... Read More
Eighteen or twenty years ago, I was into high protein,... Read More
Ever notice how your best friend can lose weight on... Read More
Fighting obesity has become one of the most important issues... Read More
We in the diet and exercise industry have our own... Read More
Here are 5 solutions to slimming:1. Set Mini-Goals: Try setting... Read More
I know, I know. What a crazy question!Considering that we've... Read More
A distorted body image is one of the symptoms that... Read More
Are you dieting your way to bone loss?Are you aware... Read More
The holidays are definitely a special time of year. These... Read More
home cleaning services Mundelein ..Yes, there is more to the Mediterranean than sun, beach... Read More
WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness... Read More
There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
Do a little people-watching, next time you're in the grocery... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose... Read More
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
You have been on diets before. You probably have lost... Read More
Do you know the name of that one disease which... Read More
You are the GREATEST, aren't you? You are focusing on... Read More
Are you one of those who hate dieting? Well, you... Read More
Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that are added to certain... Read More
Over the last twenty five years the most common questioned... Read More
How would you like to eat all you want and... Read More
I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More
Did you say there's a way I can eat what... Read More
Every weight loss surgery patient I've met said they at... Read More
Remember that movie with Jim Carey, "Dumb and Dumber?" And... Read More
Perhaps you've had them too, nightmares about rice cakes, granola,... Read More
For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More
This is a very important topic that needs to be... Read More
The incidences of deseases like obesity, diabetes, colon deseases etc.are... Read More
The vast majority of postpartum women will not return to... Read More
Weight Loss |