Make your first step the decision to become
healthy and fit.
Once you have firmly made that decision you are on your way. Now take the
time to evaluate your lifestyle and really look at it. Be honest with yourself
about your eating habits and activity level.
Changing your diet to eating healthy whole foods is a
good way to start.
It'll not only help you lose weight and help you feel better, but it will
enhance your quality of life. You'll have more energy and life just feels better
when you are healthy.
There are many popular diets out there.
The Zone, the Blood Type Diet, Atkins, the South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers
and the list goes on. They all have had their share of successes so it is hard
sometimes to know what to do. I can only say, do your homework.
You will find the right one that works for you and you will be more likely to
stick to it.
If you want to do it on your own you can be just as
successful if you know some basic rules.
1) Portion control.
Cutting down to smaller portions can help tremendously. A
great way to eat less food at one sitting is to drink a glass of water before
you eat and then drink more water with your meal. Water takes up a lot of space
in your stomach so you will feel full faster and water won't give you any extra
calories. Awesome!
2) Water, water, water. Drink lots of clean pure water.
Your body needs it and more than you think. Most North
Americans are in a state of semi dehydration. Water flushes out toxins, gets
your bowels moving. (Did you know that the amount of pain you feel from injury
or minor aches and pains are directly proportional to how dehydrated you are? An
interesting tid bit)
3) Eat raw fruits and vegetables as much as you can
especially dark greens.
Cooked veggies lose some of their nutrients so eating a
salad every day would benefit you. Most of your vitamins and minerals are going
to come from fresh fruits and leafy green vegetables. And try to stick to
organic on this to avoid the pesticides and chemicals.
4) Fiber.
You need to keep the bowels moving and the combination of
water and fiber will do the trick. The best fiber comes from fruit and whole
grains. But consider this: You would need to eat 10 bran muffins to get the same
amount of fiber as in a half cup of raspberries.
5) Protein.
The best source of protein is from meats such as beef,
chicken or turkey. But do limit the amount you eat at one time. You don't need a
10 or 12oz piece of meat at one sitting. You can get protein from dairy and
cheese but consume only small amounts because they digest too slowly. Nut is a
source of protein but they are high in fat so consume small amounts.
6) Sugar, confectionary treats, soda's, junk foods and
some processed foods are your enemy.
Nothing gives you weight gain and that sluggish feeling
quite like this grouping. I am not saying you should never partake of them, but
do so only occasionally. We do after all need our cheat days once in a while.
Just make them small portions.
7) Find an exercise regimen that you like and will
stick to.
Pretty much any exercise program will help you lose weight
if you stick with it. You will see on TV all the equipment people want to sell
you but after watching for a bit you usually know what appeals to you or not.
You may just want to pop in a video and exercise with that.
8) I can't say enough about sticking with your program.
It takes time and you can experience losses in the
beginning when it seems it is not going fast enough, but if you stick with it,
you will get your reward and you will reach your goal weight and have energy to
burn.
9) And finally,
because some of food is deficient in nutrients from
growing in poor over used soil it might be a good idea to get some good vitamin
supplements to assisting in getting our daily requirements in. Getting it in
food is the best but that is hard to do these days so find a qualified
nutritionist to help you in selecting what's best for you. Good luck and good
health!