Diets have come and gone and a new one will be invented tomorrow promising you everything and delivering very little. That is because they are considered something you go on and then go off. In other words, they are temporary. That is not to say they are useless just that they will never give you continued success unless you change some things permanently.
What is a Diet Good for?
Diets have their place in your weight loss goals. First of all, they can be beneficial to jump starting your metabolism. Kind of a fire starter if you will. A jump-start will give you more energy and the initial weight loss can boost your self-confidence.
However, you will need to be ready to make some whole life changes if you want the results to be permanent. What are some changes you will need to make? Well a lot of that depends on you.
Lifestyle Changes- Fast Food
Are you a fast food junkie who eats out at least a couple of times per week? If so, you will find that you have plenty of company. Many people are so busy that the drive through is a perfect solution for dinner, lunch and even breakfast. The problem is many have no idea that one meal from a fast food restaurant can contain nearly a whole day's caloric intake.
One popular fast food joint has a burger that is 750 calories! The burger alone is a third of your recommended daily allowance; add the fries and a drink and you are done for the day.
Does this mean you can never have fast food again? Not necessarily, but it will mean that you have to be aware of what you are eating. Most fast food places have a website that contains all the nutritional information for the foods they serve. Check them out then make you a list of "safe" fast foods.
Exercise Changes
If you never move your body more than from the house to the car to work and back you will have a hard time losing weight and keeping it off. The human body functions best when there are periods of exercise. It increases mood stabilizers in the blood stream and best of all burns calories.
While you are on your diet, take the time to incorporate exercise into your life. You will feel better and increase your weight loss rates exponentially. Start with a walk, park further away from the store or your office. Then as you progress, find time to walk more or jog. Whatever you can comfortably fit in your schedule will be a great place to start.
Healthy Eating
This is absolutely the most important part of all. While you are on your chosen diet, you will want to become familiar with healthier food choices. Find ways to make your favorite foods better for you. Can you substitute ground turkey for ground beef in some recipes? Learn new recipes that include fresh fruits and vegetables.
You see your body needs several things to function at a healthy level. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals just to name a few. You also need certain fats to cushion joints and protect your vital organs. Create a lifestyle eating plan that brings all of these elements into play and you will feel amazing and best of all you will be able to lose weight and keep it off.
Your Motivation to Lose Weight
The weight loss market, as a niche market, is huge and growing ever bigger. You would assume that, with the amount of advice freely abounding, people would be able to follow instructions and lose their excess weight. In the majority of cases, however, this simply does not happen. But, why?
When Enough Is Enough And Too Much Is More Than Enough
Your weight loss plan is doing well but 'you must take more water with it' you frequently hear. Well, yes. You should drink adequate amounts of fluid because your body is made up of 98% water. Every cell in your body is bathed in fluid. By the time you start to feel thirsty your body is already starting to dehydrate - which is why it sent out that 'thirsty' signal to your brain.
Success At Dieting Is Treating Yourself With Kindness
You need to be realistic and learn to listen to your body. An exercise plan does not have to be so rigorous it would challenge an Olympic athlete; simply building up a bit more muscle would help to speed up your metabolism as muscle is more efficient at burning fat than body fat is. If you don't want to go to the gym, heft a couple of baked bean cans around - there are plenty of exercises online that show you a few calisthenics with weights. Take the dogs for a walk and get some fresh air - at best, it will get you away from the kitchen and the refrigerator door.
