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.
housekeepers near Lincolnshire ...There's nothing more fun then being creative with food and... Read More
Getting to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More
WAHOO!!! for YOU!! You are the most AWESOME person alive!!... Read More
More than 70% of US adults are overweight and that... Read More
Life is great, isn't it? Stop and just look around... Read More
Many celiacs lose weight before they are diagnosed; indeed it... Read More
Recently, I won a family cruise on the Regis and... Read More
Any weight loss or diet plan, including low-carb plans like... Read More
Considering the US Center for Disease Control's advice is a... Read More
For many years, the experts, including our government have been... Read More
Once there were these two Nuns and they...just kidding! Do... Read More
Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet... Read More
Ever thought of, known someone, or gone on a diet?... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
Once in a while a good title comes along and... Read More
According to the American College of Surgeons, most severely obese... Read More
Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More
Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and... Read More
There are numerous ways to make a bad weight loss... Read More
Lose Weight - Get A Break ---------------------------------------- The American Obesity... Read More
Maybe you losing weight comes down to the simple question,... Read More
On the market at any given time, there are hundreds... Read More
More likely than not a diet with end up a... Read More
Atkins Nutritionals recently announced that they are filing for Chapter... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
eco-friendly cleaning service Arlington Heights ...If winter hibernation tends to pack on the pounds, take... Read More
Thinking about weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Over two-thirds... Read More
Body Mass Index (bmi) A Misleading measure of ObesityMany professionals... Read More
No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy... Read More
Hot dang! If a few hundred other folks can peddle... Read More
Acupuncture for weight loss is a modern application of this... Read More
Are you unhappy with your current weight but aren't "motivated"... Read More
How to Break the Weighing HabitFace it, if you weigh... Read More
Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie... Read More
Weight loss can be one of the most difficult things... Read More
How many of your New Year's resolution start out with... Read More
You've decided it's time to lose some weight. A lot... Read More
As our country gains weight at an alarming rate, we... Read More
Browsing one of the Russian websites I have recently found... Read More
Have you ever dreaded the idea of pulling weeds, planting... Read More
How many calories do you need? Well, that depends on... Read More
Permanent Weight loss is not about Diet. If you are... Read More
Fats are always looked at as a negative in a... Read More
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
This is a very important topic that needs to be... Read More
There are as many reasons you've given yourself to eat... Read More
Looking to avoid the dieting mistakes many of our weight... Read More
Have you seen the ditty below that's roaming the Internet... Read More
To really understand the impact of a protein diet, it's... Read More
Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
Weight Loss |