Some (not so) Silly Diet Tips and Why They're Not
At first glance some of these diet tips may seem downright silly. You may find yourself thinking, "That's couldn't possibly make enough of a difference. Plus I'd feel silly doing it." I have a response to those negative thoughts. First, the longest journey begins with a single step. And second, would you rather feel silly being overweight and unfit or doing something about it?
Diet Tip 1: Fidget
Every little movement burns calories. Twiddle your thumbs. Squeeze one of those little exercise balls while you watch TV to burn calories and tone your arms at the same time. Take that more distant parking spot. Walk wherever possible. Even if you have physical limitations, you can tailor a program to your needs. Move whatever you can, whenever and wherever you can. And just think - laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
Diet Tip 2: Portions and Proportions
Pay attention to portion sizes according to the eating plan you choose. Use a normal size plate ? don't supersize it! One plan suggests that ? of the plate should contain protein and the rest should be fruits and vegetables. You can weigh your food, at least until you become attuned to proper portion sizes or use some of the simple guidelines like "3 oz. of protein is about the size of your palm or a deck of playing cards" or "one serving of rice is the size of a tennis ball".
Diet Tip 3: Eat More Slowly
This allows your body the several minutes it takes to signal your brain that it is full.
Diet Tip 4: Substitute Low Calorie Density Foods for High
Choose foods with a low calorie density ? foods that have fewer calories relative to their weight. "If you decrease the energy density of your diet,
caloric intake will decline", says Barbara Rolls, professor of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University and co-author along with Robert Barnett of The Volumetrics Eating Plan.
Think lower cal fruits, vegetables like salad greens and broths. What these foods have in common is the magic diet ingredient, water! Water has zero calories, so the more volume represented by water, the less room there is for calories. Water also creates a feeling of fullness, helping one to eat less.
Fiber is another low calorie density food. In this category, we again find many fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, such as whole wheat bread or pasta, whole grain cereals and brown rice. A study at Tufts University in Boston found that increasing daily fiber intake by 14 grams resulted in a
10% decrease in total calorie intake and a weight loss averaging one pound a month. This is a very small diet change to make. Substitute about 28 calories of fiber for some high calorie density food you have been eating.
Diet Tip 5: Be Aware of What You Eat
Keep a food diary (and be brutally honest ? no one else needs to see it). Don't forget the spoon that you licked while putting away the leftovers or the sampling(s) you had while adjusting the seasoning. The purpose is not only to monitor your food intake but to identify what circumstances tempt you to overeat or eat unhealthily. Keep a food diary long enough and patterns will start to emerge.
Diet Tip 6: Try New Spices and Herbs in Place of Butter and Salt
Try some new spices and herbs and cut back on the butter and salt. You might be surprised to learn the antioxidant strength of some herbs ? another reason to add more to your diet. When food tastes different or more flavorful, we tend to savor it more and eat more slowly.
Diet Tip 7: Add Variety
Along the same lines, The American Dietetic Association recommends increasing variety. Occasionally adding a single new food to your routine can end monotony and increase nutrition.
This year's ADA "Get a Taste for Nutrition" campaign suggests adding a new fruit, vegetable or grain to your shopping list each week. Among its suggestions: kumquat, passion fruit and pomegranate for fruits; kohlrabi, bok choy, jicama and parsnip from the vegetable aisle; and quinoa, flaxseed, amaranth and bulgur for new grains.
This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.
Jean Bowler is a life long fitness freak. She was a ballet dancer and teacher, a private fitness trainer and more. Visit her site, http://www.ageless-beauty.com for advice on diet and nutrition, skin care and more.
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..Your Can Turn Fat into Muscle......Fact or Fiction???Completely False!!!!First of... Read More
Are you weighted down with delusion, depression and on the... Read More
Did you know that what you're eating could be making... Read More
I'm sure you have heard it before, but one of... Read More
According to Veronica Atkins, the widow of Dr. Robert Atkins,... Read More
Many Americans include health improvement in their New Year's Resolutions.... Read More
Understanding the theory of adaptation (see previous article, Adaptation I)... Read More
More than any other time in history, people are all... Read More
There is only one way to lose weightThere really is... Read More
To upgrade the current software in your brain you can... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
Well, with the success of my article, "Wrinkle Remover That... Read More
More likely than not a diet with end up a... Read More
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor; nor do I play... Read More
I recently received the following email:Q. Five weeks ago, I... Read More
A question from one of our readers:Dr. Mericle,With respect to... Read More
Building a Perfect Body for Body Perfect Fitness and Health... Read More
Sometime, during the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric... Read More
You have finally decided to tackle weight management and lose... Read More
Reading labels is an essential part of any weight loss... Read More
For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More
Plan to eat two to three hours and pack health... Read More
Debunking The Ab MythAb training has been done to death... Read More
This is the second article in the series, Weight Loss... Read More
There are certain eating habits that can make you gain... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..Most Americans do not get enough calcium in their diets;... Read More
What the Diet Industry Does Not Want You To Know:... Read More
Although it is obviously not possible to turn the clock... Read More
Have you ever wished for a diet where you ate... Read More
Adverse Events with Volumetrics Dr. Barbara Rolls is a well... Read More
America loves fast food. Last year, consumers spent billions of... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
To say that dieting rarely leads to sustainable weight loss... Read More
Dr. Hagglund's Healthy Eating Tips(All wheat products, bananas*, breads, rice,... Read More
1.The first step to living a Glycemic Diet Lifestyle is... Read More
Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More
A frequent question brand-new gastric bypass patients ask is "How... Read More
If you have been dieting and haven't lost weight, stop!... Read More
Getting Started on The Clean DietIf you want to lose... Read More
We all know it's hard to begin losing weight, no... Read More
Dealing with your sweet-tooth can be one of the greatest... Read More
There is no doubt about it; Americans are eating in... Read More
As we look around at the current generation of children,... Read More
You gain weight when your calorie intake is more than... Read More
In order to identify hunger, you must first understand what... Read More
Do calories matter or do you simply need to eat... Read More
Abdominal fat is now seen as a growing health hazard,... Read More
According to the American Obesity Association, an astounding 64.5 percent... Read More
Recently, I was reading about a diet plan where you... Read More
There's a two hundred year history of people prescribing both... Read More
Weight Loss |