There are lots of dieters, trying every sort of plan to lose weight and get healthier. But, rather than examine diet plans or the details of how and why low-carb diets work, here are some useful tips that can be used in any diet plan -- and, really, in any sensible approach to eating.
Tip 1: Drink 8 to 10 Glasses of Water Every Day
You've heard this one over and over. But, it isn't easy and too few people actually do it. Your body needs water to keep your system clean, to process food, to keep your skin in good shape and more. Sure, it'll use any liquid, but pure water works best. But - there's no taste, at least with pure water. This can be difficult since we're conditioned to want sweetness and flavors. But, it gets easier the more you do it. It's a matter of re-conditioning your taste buds, and yourself. Once started, you'll begin to crave water.
Drink a glass, or even two, as soon as you wake up. Especially in the beginning, those are the easy two. And they'll help you remember.
If you can't stand the taste of water, try a purifying pitcher or filter, or add a few drops of lemon or lime to your water - but no sugar or sweetener. Check out the flavored waters, too. Just keep an eye out for additives.
Tip 2: Eat Breakfast
Don't skip breakfast. If you need to go to bed earlier so that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning - do it! Breakfast is vitally important to good health and weight control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at Penn State University, "Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again."
Eating breakfast is good for overall weight loss and it helps you stay on track with your diet the rest of the day. Skip breakfast and you're more likely to binge.
Short on time? Keep hard-boiled eggs and high-fiber, low starch fruit in the fridge. If you plan to eat fruit during the day, breakfast is a perfect time to do it.
Tip 3: Eat 3 Meals and 2 Snacks Every Day
This could be a hard adjustment to make. Hey, you're busy! You already have a "full-plate". When are you going to eat more?
But, exactly like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will eating more often. This also helps you curb bad-carb intake by making sure that your snacks are planned and occur regularly throughout the day.
Tips 4: Avoid White Foods
This is an easy way to remember what not to eat. If it's made from sugar, flour, potatoes, rice or corn - just say no. Yes, those rice cakes are actually an unhealthy high-carb snack.
Look for color. Buy broccoli, lettuce, bell peppers, green beans and peas, brown rice (in moderation), leafy greens like kale and spinach, apples, melons, oranges and grapes.
Not only colorful, they're also high in fiber, nutrients and important antioxidants. Eating colorful fruits and vegetables will give your diet variety as well as give you added health benefits. Eat your veggies.
Tip 5: Prepare Your Own Food
While more restaurants offer so-called low-carb menu items, many of them are not ideal low-carb fare. There are many recipes for quick and easy meals that you can prepare yourself at home. Do this as often as possible.
Cooking your own foods, you know exactly what the contents are and you'll be able to better control hidden sugar and other processed junk.
This tip saves you money too. Even if you end up going to the grocery store more often, you'll save versus eating out.
Tip 6: Eat Some Protein At Every Meal And With The Snacks
In addition to everything that's been discussed before, eating protein helps you burn more calories. Jeff Hample, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association says that, "Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to breakdown, so you burn more calories getting rid of them."
Beautiful - eat a protein rich snack and lose weight. How about a few slices of turkey or ham or some string cheese?
Eating protein also helps you feel full so you're less likely to crave unhealthy snacks.
Tip 7: Invest In Good Cookbooks
Can't figure out what to eat? Need variety? Get a cookbook. Granted, not all recipes in a cookbook are low-carb, but you'll be surprised at the number of low-carb and low-carb friendly recipes you can find in your standard Betty Crocker Cookbook.
Cookbooks are great reference tools that contain handy tips on purchasing cuts of meat and preparing meats, fruits and vegetables in new and exciting ways.
Plus, new low-carb cookbooks are hitting the shelves all the time. So be sure to take advantage of these resources to try something new, different and delicious.
So that's the seven tips, but here's an extra. Stay out of the center of the supermarket. It'll be easier to stick with your low-carb lifestyle if you learn this common thread in most grocery store designs: the healthy foods are on the perimeter aisles.
Think about it, when you go into the grocery all the healthy stuff, fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products, tend to be around the stores walls. You only rarely need to enter the center aisle areas if it's a store that keeps butter and cheese in the center near the frozen foods. Usually all of the foods that you need for your low carb diet can be found on the perimeter of the grocery store.
Train yourself to start on one end of the outer aisle and work your way around. It will be much easier to avoid carb cravings and fill your basket with healthy items if you do so.
Just these few tips can make a significant difference in how successful you can be with your diet. Use them as part of your approach to dieting and a healthier lifestyle. You'll love your new self.
Copyright 2005 Richard Keir
Richard writes on a variety of health and e-business subjects. http://www.carb.werkz.org has recipes, articles, news and diet resources. For more tips, low-carb diet information, and books and manuals vist http://www.carb.werkz.org
shuttle to Midway Beardstown .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareYou could try one of the many sexual enhancement drugs... Read More
There's nothing more fun then being creative with food and... Read More
(Ailsa's Apple Crumble Diet)I'm Scottish, so it's not a big... Read More
Diet tips for losing weight abound. Some are good, some... Read More
Dear BMTers,Low carb this and low carb that?that's all you... Read More
Low carb diets can be classified as food plans that... Read More
There are several ways to manage cravings. You can: ... Read More
Running For Weight Loss??.Slow DownYou may be out running your... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More
Are you or your family members amongst the 65%?To help... Read More
One of the difficulties with dieting is the well known... Read More
Each month I receive hundreds of e-mails from consumers who... Read More
To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is an... Read More
Protein is an essential nutrient necessary for maintaining good health.... Read More
There is only one way to lose weightThere really is... Read More
Now that everything from a tan to pantyhose comes in... Read More
Weight Loss Axiom Number ThreeInsulin and GlucagonThese are the two... Read More
There are tons of fad diets and weight loss schemes... Read More
Weight loss information is often confusing and misleading. The more... Read More
Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting... Read More
Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
I bet you already know all the health benefits for... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
Have you seen the ditty below that's roaming the Internet... Read More
Green Bay Hummer H2 SUV rentals ..Stomach-Stapling Surgery ------------ There's no doubt that stomach-stapling surgery leads... Read More
Are you one of the 90 million Americans who are... Read More
There are several ways to manage cravings. You can: ... Read More
Which diet is the best? ALL of them and NONE... Read More
What is a calorie? The definition of a calorie is... Read More
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More
After weight loss surgery it is important to include as... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power.Your Inner... Read More
Cellulite is a condition for which cures are commonly sought.... Read More
Any weight loss or diet plan, including low-carb plans like... Read More
The diary is an essential help in reaching your weight... Read More
Ever wondered why some people manage to keep their weight... Read More
A common claim from gastric bypass detractors is that after... Read More
The government, nutritionists, doctors, and dietitians implore us to eat... Read More
Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More
We have missed the boat and your boat is sinking... Read More
Browsing one of the Russian websites I have recently found... Read More
Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health... Read More
Glycemic index ranks different carbohydrate foods depending on their potential... Read More
"I eat like a bird, why do I gain weight?"... Read More
How do we know what we know? Often, our knowledge... Read More
You have been on diets before. You probably have lost... Read More
Not everyone can handle hot food. But who said cayenne... Read More
The best way you can get rid of your pop... Read More
In our society of fast food and long hours spent... Read More
Weight Loss |