The word "Diet" would only come second to "Exercise" as one of
the most hated words by many people. We are not going to talk dieting to
lose weight. We are going to discuss how to get "Diet Fitness".
You need to focus on training your body to eat healthily. This will be accomplished through a new way of eating that has a permanent goal not a temporary one that you move on from.
Before you start to panic and assume that we are going to put you on some restrictive approach that will make you unhappy. A diet should not be taxing, troublesome, limiting or boring. It should be full of possibilities, and be open and free as well as adventurous, with all the comfort that you need, too.
Where Am I Now?
Before you begin any journey you need a starting point and to know where you are right now.
The average person should be consuming anywhere from 1600-2000 calories per day. You must know how much you are consuming before any further steps can be taken.
Before you embark on any plan to do with your health you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor and get their advice.
What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? What is your calorie intake per day?
You need a clear picture of what's happening in your health with the foods you are eating. Follow these steps to find out how healthy your diet actually is and where you could improve.
• Spend one or two days recording the foods you eat in an average day. Please be brutally honest!
• There are free calorie counters online that will calculate your daily calorie consumption.
• Cast an eye over your list of foods and look for things that are processed, high in sugar and calories.
• How many serves of fruits and vegetables are you eating? Are you eating any protein? Are their whole grains? Did you drink soft drink/soda?
• How often do you eat without feeling hungry but because of emotional cues like stress, boredom or anxiety?
Being honest with yourself is important as this can highlight the areas that need attention. This sort of exercise can really bring home the reality of your current situation.
By now you are thinking, "What Am I going To Have To Give Up?". Here comes the part where I'll be told to throw out most of the food in my pantry. Well you can forget about that kind of thinking.
The first thing you need to discover is why you feel you can't give things up. Do you have an emotional attachment to the food in question? For example it may be a favourite from when you were growing up. Or is it because you just love the taste, which is a different story altogether.
Identifying why you have to have a certain food is crucial so that you can actually know the benefits of that food. If you need it to make you feel safe or comfortable then that emotional reason has to be addressed. If on the other hand it's just all about the flavour then there are ways to get a similar taste but without the same amount of calories.
If you love the creaminess of mashed potatoes could you try sweet potato instead. Small changes to recipes can still allow you to get the flavour and texture but without adding saturated fats and sugars that are contributing to your less than healthy state.
Another approach may be to use the food you crave as a reward at the end of the week for staying on track. You can still have your cake and eat it to but in smaller quantities and enjoy it more.
A limiting factor here can be when the food itself has a negative impact on an existing health condition. If you are diabetic, then consuming overly sugary foods can cause some catastrophic damage to your brain and heart with how quickly blood sugar levels rise. Be aware of the foods you can and can't eat. Your doctor will be the best person to talk to regarding this.
The first step in any decision to improve your body and in particular your diet will involve having a clear picture of your starting point.
Knowing what you eat and why you eat it will allow you to make informed decisions going forward. The best person to speak to any time it concerns your overall health will be your doctor.
Once you have all the information you need then the path to your goal will be much clearer and easier to navigate.
You need to focus on training your body to eat healthily. This will be accomplished through a new way of eating that has a permanent goal not a temporary one that you move on from.
Before you start to panic and assume that we are going to put you on some restrictive approach that will make you unhappy. A diet should not be taxing, troublesome, limiting or boring. It should be full of possibilities, and be open and free as well as adventurous, with all the comfort that you need, too.
Where Am I Now?
Before you begin any journey you need a starting point and to know where you are right now.
The average person should be consuming anywhere from 1600-2000 calories per day. You must know how much you are consuming before any further steps can be taken.
Before you embark on any plan to do with your health you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor and get their advice.
What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? What is your calorie intake per day?
You need a clear picture of what's happening in your health with the foods you are eating. Follow these steps to find out how healthy your diet actually is and where you could improve.
• Spend one or two days recording the foods you eat in an average day. Please be brutally honest!
• There are free calorie counters online that will calculate your daily calorie consumption.
• Cast an eye over your list of foods and look for things that are processed, high in sugar and calories.
• How many serves of fruits and vegetables are you eating? Are you eating any protein? Are their whole grains? Did you drink soft drink/soda?
• How often do you eat without feeling hungry but because of emotional cues like stress, boredom or anxiety?
Being honest with yourself is important as this can highlight the areas that need attention. This sort of exercise can really bring home the reality of your current situation.
By now you are thinking, "What Am I going To Have To Give Up?". Here comes the part where I'll be told to throw out most of the food in my pantry. Well you can forget about that kind of thinking.
The first thing you need to discover is why you feel you can't give things up. Do you have an emotional attachment to the food in question? For example it may be a favourite from when you were growing up. Or is it because you just love the taste, which is a different story altogether.
Identifying why you have to have a certain food is crucial so that you can actually know the benefits of that food. If you need it to make you feel safe or comfortable then that emotional reason has to be addressed. If on the other hand it's just all about the flavour then there are ways to get a similar taste but without the same amount of calories.
If you love the creaminess of mashed potatoes could you try sweet potato instead. Small changes to recipes can still allow you to get the flavour and texture but without adding saturated fats and sugars that are contributing to your less than healthy state.
Another approach may be to use the food you crave as a reward at the end of the week for staying on track. You can still have your cake and eat it to but in smaller quantities and enjoy it more.
A limiting factor here can be when the food itself has a negative impact on an existing health condition. If you are diabetic, then consuming overly sugary foods can cause some catastrophic damage to your brain and heart with how quickly blood sugar levels rise. Be aware of the foods you can and can't eat. Your doctor will be the best person to talk to regarding this.
The first step in any decision to improve your body and in particular your diet will involve having a clear picture of your starting point.
Knowing what you eat and why you eat it will allow you to make informed decisions going forward. The best person to speak to any time it concerns your overall health will be your doctor.
Once you have all the information you need then the path to your goal will be much clearer and easier to navigate.
Darren is a fitness professional with over 10 years experience
and has helped hundreds of people to reach their health and fitness
goals. His interest lies in strength training and in particular
maintaining muscle as we age.
Visit my website at: http://musclegainingsecretshonestreview.weebly.com/
Article Source:
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Visit my website at: http://musclegainingsecretshonestreview.weebly.com/
