weight loss information

Eating Healthy Diet Tips


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 ¼ 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.


MORE RESOURCES:

Weight-loss surgery won't "cure" sleep apnea
Reuters - 11 hours ago
By Megan Rauscher NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In people who are obese, weight-loss surgery will likely lead to an improvement in obstructive sleep apnea ...


Weight loss may cut risk of colorectal growths
Reuters - 10 hours ago
Yamaji and colleagues investigated the relationship between obesity and the prevalence of colorectal polyps and studied the effect of weight loss on the ...


Never skip meals! And other weight-loss keys
Canada.com, Canada - 11 hours ago
... schedule each day will significantly increase the likelihood that you'll stay on track with your nutrition program and reach your weight-loss goals. ...


Examiner.com

Weight Loss Examiner
Examiner.com - 16 hours ago
These websites were picked by the Weight Loss Examiner as useful resources. We cannot underestimate the power stress has on our health and weight loss ...


Examiner.com

Weight Loss Examiner
Examiner.com - 16 hours ago
These websites were picked by the Weight Loss Examiner as useful resources. Just because there's a storm brewing (OK, two!) in the tropics doesn't mean it's ...


Examiner.com

Weight Loss Examiner
Examiner.com - 16 hours ago
These websites were picked by the Weight Loss Examiner as useful resources. Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien has released her latest list of fave grocery items in a ...


Fitness, Even without Weight Loss, Good for the Heart
13WHAM-TV, NY - 13 hours ago
A new study of 40000 women shows that even if women never drop an ounce--fitting in fitness seriously expands the capacity of your heart. ...


The amazing Mazda weightloss plan
expressandstar.com, UK - 16 hours ago
It looks like it was a case of the right car at the right time for Mazda when it decided to mount a more aggressive presence in the supermini sector of the ...


Slim Shots Helps with Portion Control, Most Effective Behavior for ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 21 hours ago
While changes in all 5 behaviors led to weight loss, decreased portion sizes resulted to the greatest weight loss. More important, 38% of the participants ...


Coastal Center for Obesity Offers Hispanics Weight Loss Surgery ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 21 hours ago
"Our mission is to improve access to weight loss surgery to those who need it most in the Hispanic community." BLIS is similar to the concept of a new car ...

Weight-Loss - Google News

home | site map
weightlossetc.net © 2006 - 2007 weight loss