5 Steps to weight loss (part 4): the importance of eating sensibly
It may sound silly, but eating sensibly is an important factor when structuring your weight loss plan.
The foods you choose, the way you cook, the methods you use to burn off these calories… all can have strong influence upon the amount of weight loss your experience.
At Slimming.com we understand your temptations to follow the latest binge diets such as the cabbage diet, the 5 factor diet, the macrobiotic diet or the wellness diet. Yet the problem with all these diets is that they each teach you to deprive your body of essential nutrients PLUS consume dangerously low calorie intakes…
To experience credible weight loss it is essential that you gradually modify your eating habits, changing one food choice at a time. Change your diet too quickly, and in the long run you will regain this weight loss.
Below we have accumulated a list of tips to help you avoid the temptations of fad diets, and focus on eating sensibly.
What foods should you eat?
There is much controversy surrounding the amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats you should include in your diet.
Some dieticians believe following a low fat diet will help you to lose weight fast, whilst others prefer the idea of consuming high quantities of protein… yet the sad reality is you need to eat a healthy balance of all 3 of these nutrients to ensure you have a healthy functioning body.
The majority of nutritionists suggest incorporating a diet of 40% proteins, 30% carbohydrates and 30% fats.
- Proteins – opt for a diet of lean proteins including poultry, meat, fish, nuts, legumes (beans) and soy
- Carbohydrates – avoid starchy carbohydrates and opt for beef, chicken, whole grain bread, whole grain rice and non starchy vegetables
- Fat – choose plant sources over animal sources, for example olives, olive oil, peanuts etc
- High antioxidants – boost your weight loss by cleansing your body of toxins. Try eating berries, red grapes, broccoli, spinach, carrots and garlic
Deciding meal portions
One the biggest mistakes a dieter can make is to snack between meals. Aside from upping your overall daily calorie intake, over time this can increase your appetite and make you more inclined to eat larger portions.
Similarly putting too much food on your plate can introduce gradual appetite increases and weight gain.
When determining your meal sizes, try one of the following techniques:
- Split your meals into 5 equal 300 calorie portions and space them out over the day – this will keep your metabolism running at peak capacity and prevent sugar dips which sugar food cravings
- Halve your meal portions – at home or in a restaurant halve the amount you eat
- Eat from smaller plates – this psychological trick makes your brain believe you are eating the same quantities of food when you are not
- Take a sip of water – if you begin feeling hungry between meals, resist the temptation to snack and instead drink half a glass of water. Often what we mistake as hunger is our bodies way of telling us we are thirsty
Sensible use of slimming pills
Slimming pills can prove to be the perfect weight loss tool for helping you to reduce your appetite and remove fats from your diets. Appetite suppressants and fat binders in particular can help you to naturally modify your diet and introduce sensible eating.
- Appetite Suppressants – appetite suppressants such as UniqueHoodia are 10,000 times more effective than glucose at helping you to reduce your meal portions. Enriched in P57, this ingredient works by sending signals to your brain that trick it into believing you are full when you are not.
- Fat binders – organically formulated for complex fibers, fat binders such as Proactol can help to cut your dietary fat intake by up to 28% by binding with fat molecules and making them indigestible. Too large to be absorbed into your digestive tract, these fat molecules pass out of your body naturally.
Finally
Your dietary choices can have a detrimental influence upon the rate at which you lose weight, so avoid the temptation of binge diets such as the cabbage, cookie and wellness diet and instead focus on introducing the right balance of foods into your diet.
Be sure to remember to:
- Stay hydrated and drink 6-8 glasses of water every day
- Eat in moderation - foods only become a sin when you make them one
- Exercise regularly – even a 30 minute walk every day can make a difference to your weight loss
- Eat regularly – split your meals down into 5 equal 300 calorie portions
