Dieting
The
word "diet" is often associated with eating significantly less,
or in some cases not eating at all. You have probably heard about fads
such as "the cabbage soup diet" that promises to shed the fat
at a faster rate than other diets, or maybe you have heard of the rice
diet that suggests the same. These diets are not only a farce but they
are dangerous to your health.
You need more than 40 different nutrients daily for good health and no single food supplies them all. When you significantly limit your food intake you are denying your body of very important vitamins and nutrients essential to the body's health. Some may say they lost five pounds in a few days when using the cabbage soup diet, however after the soup was gone the pounds probably took about the same time to pile back on when they reverted back to their regular eating habits.
The word diet means
- Eating a balanced blend of the four food groups in moderate portions.
- Eating three times a day,
- Eating at appropriate times of the day.
If
you make a few key modifications to your lifestyle you will see an immediate
change. There are many low-fat products on the market that can allow you
the pleasure of still eating what you want but eliminating the fat content.
Below are a few tips you can use to balance your diet.
Do not try to be perfect by denying yourself the pleasure of foods high in calories, just make sure to eat them less frequently and eat them at the beginning of the day instead of in the later hours. Chances of burning fat at the end of the day are probably less likely. Many diets are sabotaged because of cravings for foods high in sugar. There is a smart way to satisfy cravings; if you usually have a large piece of cake cut yourself half the size the next time. Eating half portions of high calorie foods will make a big difference in your diet.
Tips
- If fruit does not appeal to you make it more enticing by creating a fruit salad.
- Salt is the enemy! It causes water retention. Try using a salt substitute like Mrs. Dash.
- Ice cream can be substituted for frozen yogurt.