Diet plans for weight loss or diet fads?
In this article I am going to share some information to clarify if you should be on a diet plan or is it just a fad? The weight loss industry would have us take pills every day, drink expensive protein shakes, and buy expensive exercise equipment. So the stakes are high when it comes to influencing HOW you should lose weight.
I have been on and off many of these diets. Some have worked, but shortly after I finished, of course, I was back to my usual eating habits.
You will see that losing weight is not really the problem, maintaining it is!
So I’m here to show you that you don’t need to spend a ton of money just to find yourself back where you started. Which I can almost hear you nod your head while reading this. But what is the answer to real success to lose weight and keep it off?
You will see that you do not need to follow a ‘low carb’ or ‘high protein’ or ‘low fat’ diet as you simply will not follow it for life. I will try to keep it simple. Ultimately, you need a lifestyle eating habit to help you lose that stubborn, flat stomach to uncover the abs you already have.
The best advice I can give you is to choose the foods with the least amount of processing. Select foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, as they will have the most nutrients and are therefore best for you.
Consider the following:
Quality protein – Now if you’ve been following my articles by now, you will find that I recommend that you select quality protein for your diet. The benefits of eating protein are that your digestive system takes longer to process, so you will feel full longer, and they are great for building and maintaining lean muscle mass.
Fiber – Foods high in fiber include fruits, vegetables, and unrefined grains. They are a great natural substitute for carbohydrate intake. Fiber keeps our intestinal system in check and helps reduce bloating. One of the main reasons people struggle with body fat is due to the amount of refined sugars in their diet. Low-fat products often contain higher levels of sugar, so start reading food labels. Try to consume 6g per 100g serving of sugar as a good indicator on food labels. Fiber will help you feel full and will also slow down your body’s blood sugar response to the foods you eat.
Healthy fats – Yes, you heard me! You can eat healthy fats. In fact, it is highly recommended by many nutritionists when planning a lifestyle diet, as it will make sure to keep your cravings in check so you don’t feel deprived. There are many good and healthy fats that you can include in your diet every day. Try nuts, seeds, avocado, eggs, coconuts, olive oils, and of course organic meats whenever possible.
Two foods to avoid – These have been covered by me in depth elsewhere, but I’ll briefly share the two main foods to avoid: Artificial trans fats (found in many processed foods) and High fructose corn syrup (found in most sweetened products).
By establishing a lifestyle eating plan that minimizes processed foods, you will by default avoid these two foods that I recommend you avoid.
If you can take these tips and incorporate them into the foods you eat, you will start to control your blood sugar, appetite, and hormone levels, as well as much more.
You will soon start to see those abs sitting behind belly fat!
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