Lose Weight Without Starvation!
Whether it be for medical reasons, or just to feel better about themselves, many people at one point or another in their lives need or want to loose weight. Deciding on a weight loss plan is not as easy as it sounds. There are literally thousands of plans and products on the market today designed to help those who are overweight shed a few, or many unwanted pounds. Of course, some of these plans are more effective than others, some more cost-effective or cost-prohibitive, and some just complete fads and myths, designed to do nothing other than to make a buck off of you, the bewildered consumer!
Nowadays, there is really no reason to feel deprived, when working on eating to lose weight, or for good health. The foods which were put here on earth for us can be prepared in many delicious fashions, with myriad accents and sides, and can never be boring. Especially with the internet, and its literal millions of recipes from all corners of the globe there is no shortage of information on food preparation. One can sample a different country's flavor every time he or she eats, with a little planning and preparation. While there are many dishes to choose from, there are a few really HEALTHY, LIFE-LONG DIETS which a medical professional would recommend.
The "Low Carb Plan" is one of them. On this plan, one would limit his or her carbohydrates to a few grams per day, forcing the body to burn its stored fat for energy, thus helping the dieter to see results within a few weeks. Foods that should be avoided include anything containing white flour such as white bread, rolls, bagels, pasta and white rice, along with candies, and other "goodies" containing refined sugar, which is really not healthy, and may contribute to pre-diabetes or diabetes, if it is eaten indiscriminately. Also to be avoided would be sweetened soft drinks, or refined sugar in coffee or tea. It helps to add either honey, agave nectar or Splenda to drinks instead of white sugar. While it may seem a lot to give up, cutting back on these foods, and opting for whole grains wherever possible, even in pasta, already leads to better health, and is a must for those suffering from diabetes. It is fairly unanimous among medical professionals that excesses in refined sugars and starches (simple carbohydrates) can lead to Pre-Diabetes, or full blown TypeII Diabetes, while decreasing intake of these foods has a direct effect of lowering blood glucose Managing your diet as described above will help you to maintain a healthy weight, can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, give you more energy and better concentration, and an all-around healthier lifestyle. This is especially true of those with a family history of Diabetes TypeII, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Stroke, etc.
There are good carbohydrate choices. Meat is naturally low in carbohydrates. Liver is the exception to this rule. Eggs, poultry, fish and shellfish are good menu choices. They are easy to prepare and are full of vitamins. Green vegetables that are low in carbohydrates include broccoli, asparagus, spinach and other leafy green vegetables, cauliflower, green beans, brussels sprouts and celery. If the recommended daily servings of fresh fruits, veggies and lean proteins (don't forget your legumes for protein - they're wonderful sources!) are consumed regularly, it is difficult for one to be hungry, and soon, the cravings for sweets are a thing of the past! I promise you that this is true, from personal experience. There are so many good choice foods to choose from, and so many ways to prepare them that the bad choice foods will not be missed when on a proper, well-thought-out, low carb diet.
Fiber is another essential part of a proper diet.. Fiber helps one to feel full longer as well, and helps to keep the digestive tract from being "clogged", if you will. This can lead to toxins building up in your body, inflammatory diseases, chronic pain, and a host of other health issues, often serious.. When you do not get enough fiber it defeats the purpose of trying to eat a proper diet. Also just as important to anyone's health and well-being is water. One needs to remember to keep hydrated, as this is what ensures the body's absorption of all of those good vitamins mentioned above. If we eat the right foods, but they are not properly and thoroughly assimilated, then we've really not done all we need to do in order to maintain our healthy weight and other important levels already mentioned. It is generally recommended that an adult drink at least 64 ounces of water each day for proper hydration and digestion. .
If you're not one who likes to plan and prepare a lot, there is always the simple salad with leafy greens, and perhaps some grilled poultry or fish, both of which will add to the benefit of the fresh vegetables, loaded with important vitamins, minerals and trace minerals. One important thing to note is that more often than not, processed foods have been prepared such that much of the important stuff is changed or destroyed, and the best way to get all of the body's much needed trace elements and phytonutrients is to eat the whole fruit or vegetable, raw. This is what is lacking in many diets today, and our health is showing this more and more. SO, toss a nice green salad, with some fresh tomatoes (also very important for cancer prevention), lean meat, and perhaps some whole-grain bread for added fiber and flavor, drizzle some olive-oil vinaigrette over it, and eat hearty!
Whether it be for medical reasons, or just to feel better about themselves, many people at one point or another in their lives need or want to loose weight. Deciding on a weight loss plan is not as easy as it sounds. There are literally thousands of plans and products on the market today designed to help those who are overweight shed a few, or many unwanted pounds. Of course, some of these plans are more effective than others, some more cost-effective or cost-prohibitive, and some just complete fads and myths, designed to do nothing other than to make a buck off of you, the bewildered consumer!
Nowadays, there is really no reason to feel deprived, when working on eating to lose weight, or for good health. The foods which were put here on earth for us can be prepared in many delicious fashions, with myriad accents and sides, and can never be boring. Especially with the internet, and its literal millions of recipes from all corners of the globe there is no shortage of information on food preparation. One can sample a different country's flavor every time he or she eats, with a little planning and preparation. While there are many dishes to choose from, there are a few really HEALTHY, LIFE-LONG DIETS which a medical professional would recommend.
The "Low Carb Plan" is one of them. On this plan, one would limit his or her carbohydrates to a few grams per day, forcing the body to burn its stored fat for energy, thus helping the dieter to see results within a few weeks. Foods that should be avoided include anything containing white flour such as white bread, rolls, bagels, pasta and white rice, along with candies, and other "goodies" containing refined sugar, which is really not healthy, and may contribute to pre-diabetes or diabetes, if it is eaten indiscriminately. Also to be avoided would be sweetened soft drinks, or refined sugar in coffee or tea. It helps to add either honey, agave nectar or Splenda to drinks instead of white sugar. While it may seem a lot to give up, cutting back on these foods, and opting for whole grains wherever possible, even in pasta, already leads to better health, and is a must for those suffering from diabetes. It is fairly unanimous among medical professionals that excesses in refined sugars and starches (simple carbohydrates) can lead to Pre-Diabetes, or full blown TypeII Diabetes, while decreasing intake of these foods has a direct effect of lowering blood glucose Managing your diet as described above will help you to maintain a healthy weight, can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, give you more energy and better concentration, and an all-around healthier lifestyle. This is especially true of those with a family history of Diabetes TypeII, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Stroke, etc.
There are good carbohydrate choices. Meat is naturally low in carbohydrates. Liver is the exception to this rule. Eggs, poultry, fish and shellfish are good menu choices. They are easy to prepare and are full of vitamins. Green vegetables that are low in carbohydrates include broccoli, asparagus, spinach and other leafy green vegetables, cauliflower, green beans, brussels sprouts and celery. If the recommended daily servings of fresh fruits, veggies and lean proteins (don't forget your legumes for protein - they're wonderful sources!) are consumed regularly, it is difficult for one to be hungry, and soon, the cravings for sweets are a thing of the past! I promise you that this is true, from personal experience. There are so many good choice foods to choose from, and so many ways to prepare them that the bad choice foods will not be missed when on a proper, well-thought-out, low carb diet.
Fiber is another essential part of a proper diet.. Fiber helps one to feel full longer as well, and helps to keep the digestive tract from being "clogged", if you will. This can lead to toxins building up in your body, inflammatory diseases, chronic pain, and a host of other health issues, often serious.. When you do not get enough fiber it defeats the purpose of trying to eat a proper diet. Also just as important to anyone's health and well-being is water. One needs to remember to keep hydrated, as this is what ensures the body's absorption of all of those good vitamins mentioned above. If we eat the right foods, but they are not properly and thoroughly assimilated, then we've really not done all we need to do in order to maintain our healthy weight and other important levels already mentioned. It is generally recommended that an adult drink at least 64 ounces of water each day for proper hydration and digestion. .
If you're not one who likes to plan and prepare a lot, there is always the simple salad with leafy greens, and perhaps some grilled poultry or fish, both of which will add to the benefit of the fresh vegetables, loaded with important vitamins, minerals and trace minerals. One important thing to note is that more often than not, processed foods have been prepared such that much of the important stuff is changed or destroyed, and the best way to get all of the body's much needed trace elements and phytonutrients is to eat the whole fruit or vegetable, raw. This is what is lacking in many diets today, and our health is showing this more and more. SO, toss a nice green salad, with some fresh tomatoes (also very important for cancer prevention), lean meat, and perhaps some whole-grain bread for added fiber and flavor, drizzle some olive-oil vinaigrette over it, and eat hearty!
SO, you can get really creative, try a different international flavor for every meal, if you like, or you can do it "Back to Eden" style. It's up to you, but be creative, try different things, and enjoy the wide variety of foods that are healthy for you to eat, and without limitation! Watch the weight drop, your glucose and blood pressure drop, your energy levels rise, along with your self-esteem and confidence that you've made a life-long, life changing choice!
Happy Eating!
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