Everyone has been on a diet. A diet is a word meaning a group of certain foods that you eat on a regular basis. These foods can be consumed as a healthy way of eating, to co-exist with lifestyle, or to lose weight. Not all diets are safe.
When it comes to dieting to lose weight, there seems to be endless advice. From magazines piling up on the rack, each proclaiming the next magic pill, to books written specifically on weight loss and diet. As a result of the infinite array of dieting advice, how do we know which ones are safe and which are not?
Prior to going on a weight-loss program, it is important to talk to your GP, naturopath or nutritionist. They can review your medical history and take a full check up in order to assess your current health as well as set weight loss goals for you. In some cases, an undiagnosed medical condition can hamper weight loss. This can therefore be dealt with.
In this day and age, where everything is fast paced, it is easy to buy into the promise and guarantee of rapid weight loss with one easy magic pill. These quick weight loss diets can be unhealthy and don't always allow for maintenance of your goal weight. A slow and steady approach to weight loss is usually safer for the long term, as well as keeping the weight off.
The most important thing to remember with any weight loss diet is to opt for real food and avoid the packaged and processed foods. You have evolved in such as way that your bodies know what to do with real, whole foods. Your body can't always relate to packaged and processed foods (modern foods), and often store it as fat as a last resort of where to put it!
The four keys to successful, healthy weight loss:
- Be flexible. Search for a plan that enables you to be flexible in your food choices. A plan that doesn't restrict foods from the major food groups. A healthy diet will include fruits, vegetables, protein sources such as meat and fish, some dairy products and nuts and seeds. It is important also to allow yourself a very occasional treat food;
- Be Balanced. A safe and healthy weight loss program should include all the nutrients such as minerals, vitamins in appropriate amounts.
- Be Active. A healthy diet plan should include physical activity. This is needed for healthy physical, emotional as well as mental well being. In order to maintain weight loss, physical activity and endurance is needed.
- Enjoy. A diet is a way of life and therefore should include all the healthy foods you enjoy. After all, this is the way you will be eating for the rest of your life. The harder the diet is to follow and the more unrealistic it is for a long term way of life, the more difficult it will be to stick to.
To learn more, contact a dietitian near your area.
Originally published on Oct 01, 2014
