Friday, October 31, 2008

Healthy Diet Results in Weight Loss

By Christopher Fitch

Losing weight never happens overnight. Over time, if you introduce more calories than you burn in a day, this caloric surplus forms fat, which can ultimately lead to obesity if not caught early. This fat lingers until a weight loss program is put in place. This program or routine must involve three vital areas: lifestyle, exercise, and probably most importantly, a healthy diet.

In fashion terms, a healthy diet accentuates the immune system. It does not mean starving yourself as you count calories (how boring!) or settling for bland foods that are void of spices and flavor. Instead, a healthy diet aligns your calorie intake with your lifestyle, while meeting the requirements of your physical and psychological needs. With this in mind, a healthy should be different from one person to the next as each person arguably has different calorie needs.

The most successful diet plans promote the consumption of anti-oxidants. These work as anti-aging agents and also help to keep the skin youthful by rejuvenating tissue that has been damaged over time. Some vitamins contain these elements and are strongly recommended as part of your overall diet. The same holds true for fiber. Most fruits contain both anti-oxidants and fiber and as such are a vital element to a healthy diet.

Even after Atkins' no-carb diet has been proven more harmful than beneficial, a lot of people still believe that they need to eliminate their carb intake. This is untrue. Again, remember the lifestyle factor! What you should normally see happen is a reduction of carb intake, not full elimination. This means balancing your carb intake with your protein intake. Ideally, you should give preference to animal and plant protein, which can serve as a carb replacement or supplement. Now, as a caveat, this doesn't mean going crazy with a high-protein diet. In fact, some protein like most red meats should be avoided altogether as a result of their high fat content (as a catch-22, leaner meats are an important component to your diet).

Most people overlook dairy intake when planning for a healthy diet and are shocked to find that dairy needs to be restricted. Dairy has a direct link to obesity as a result of high fat content. Now, low-cal yogurt and non-fat cottage cheese are exceptions and can be incorporated into your meal plan. Another alternative would be health shakes or protein shakes, but you should consult the dietary guide before purchasing -- keep carbs low and protein high on these products.

Finally, a proper exercise routine eliminates that extra fluid in our bodies. But exercise alone won't do the trick -- you need to either increase your water intake or maintain it (8-10 cups). This keeps your muscles, skin, and body properly hydrated and as a result reduces the chance of cramping (keep in mind that cramping is one of the main reasons we skip out on regular exercise... so drinking that water keeps our routine on track).

As you may have noticed here, a healthy diet does not include fasting. In fact, it sounds like a cliche, but weight loss really comes down to a lifestyle change, including changing (or starting) your exercise routine and upgrading your diet. Enjoy tasty but healthy meals that match up with your individual calorie requirements. And incorporated friends and family in your exercise routine -- if you encounter resistance, don't call it exercise, call it an after-dinner walk or "spring cleaning" that involves moving heavy boxes around. Once it becomes a routine, you will find it addictive (and successful) for everyone involved. - 16003

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