When it comes to diet, you don’t have to be your own worse enemy. Usually, a bit of study and practice can lead to dieting that is not only effective but safe and sane.
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Misconceptions About Diets
There seems to be a diet guru for every neighborhood. You’ll see these people selling their special diets that promise to do everything to get you to lose weight to finding romance.
It’s all bull.
The only diet you need is the one your doctor and certified nutritionist prescribes. Your doctor will have collected enough data about your eating habits and its effects on your body and mind and sharing that with your nutritionist, you’ll have a plan tailor made for you.
People will come up with all sorts of ridiculous diets. The ‘Apple’ diet where you eat only apples. Or some idiotic ‘Fish Only’ diet. These trendy diets are orchestrated for one reason, to get money out of you.
The FDA is aware of these scams and diligently tries to keep them in tow, but every other week a new one comes out. The unsuspecting public, desperate for any cure will jump on these diets and end up either sick or losing money.
The legendary showman P.T. Barnum said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”, and he was right. Our innate nature to be gullible is why these guru or celebrity diets are hawked 24/7.
Raising Your Nutritional Awareness
Believe it or not, it doesn’t take long to learn the basics of nutrition. Take into account that your body and mind already know what’s good for you. Cravings are a part of this. If you have a craving for a food that isn’t loaded with sugar and salt, it means your body and mind are trying to tell you something.
If you just take a week to study basic nutrition you’ll gain a thousand-fold. You’ll see why certain foods are recommended and why certain physiologies should have more or less of something.
You’ll learn the nutritional content of various foods as well as their fiber content. In no time at all you’ll be able to put together your own combinations of foods and beverages that will establish a regimen that you’ll find not only healthy and tasty but highly enjoyable.
Quick Results
If you eat right you will see changes within a day or two. One will be easier digestion and the other more clarity of thought. The old saying that we are what we eat could be changed to we are what we eat like.
Our bodies and minds need specific types of nutrients in the right ratios and combinations. It calls for study and testing and following doctor’s orders. Once the body realizes that you’ve changed your dietary regimen to provide it with what it needs, you’ll see your hearing, eyesight, and other senses sharpen up quick.
This is because the body and mind are getting what they need, not what you want. Choose to study nutrition. Choose to follow a nutritional regimen that benefits you and you’ll end up happier than you imagine.
Changing Old Habits
The toughest thing to do regarding dieting is the changing of old habits. Many people cram food down their throats all day, not even realizing what they’re doing. At the job, people bring in doughnuts and other sweets. They’re irresistible at times and before you know it, you’ve maxed out your daily caloric intake and that means fat.
If you’re the kind of person who eats on an unconscious level, you’ll need outside help. Ask friends and family to intervene when they see you with that humongous piece of chocolate cake or when you’re downing a two-liter soda loaded with sugar. Do your best not to bite back at them, but realize they’re only there to help you.
If things get too bad, make sure your local store doesn’t sell you the lacking in nutrition but high in calories goods. Take the extra time and effort to visit that fresh produce section of your local supermarket or local farm. You can eat a ton of lean meats, fruits, veggies, nuts, and grains and not gain a pound. This is the big misconception people have that if they diet they have to starve. No such thing to get that out of your head right now.
Read some success stories from others who were in your shoes. See how they overcame their bad eating habits. You’ll probably find out you’re nowhere near as bad off as they were. You may realize you’ve caught yourself in just the right time to prevent disaster.
After a while, you’ll be able to determine which nutritional experts to follow. Take their advice to your doctor so that they can determine if you’re getting sound advice.
All in all, it’s up to you to put the leash on yourself and your wild dangerous eating habits.
Timing, Ratios, And Portions
The three key behaviors you’ll need to modify involve your timing, ratios, and portions. This might seem too much of a chore, but in reality you can comprehend and apply this easily.
Eating right means more than eating the right foods. It also calls for eating at specified times during the day. Small meals spread out over the day will allow your digestive system to make the most of each meal. On top of that, it will increase your metabolic rate so that you’ll be burning off calories even while at rest. This is the optimum way to eat.
Ratios come in regarding the ratios of proteins, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Eating too much of anything can throw your body off balance. You want to make sure that during the day you’ll be eating foods that supply the right ratios so that your body can best assimilate them. This will take some study and trial and error. Your nutritionist will evaluate this for you and once you’ve tried their prescribed regimen for a while, you’ll know what works and what doesn’t.
Portions are the kicker. If you eat too much at every meal you’ll only get fat. It’s that plain and simple. Instead of piling on a plate of food that looks like a skyscraper, just take enough food to battle hunger but will stay with your for several hours. If your family and friends complain you’re not eating enough and are insulted you’ll have to stand your ground and explain to them.
If they can’t or won’t comprehend this, then you’ll know you’re in dangerous company and you may have to change things up socially. It’s either make other people happy and die or make people uneasy and live. It doesn’t take much math here.
The End Results Are A Healthy You
Changing your dietary habits may call for an upheaval or two regarding yourself, family, and friends. It’s tough enough that you’ll have to put in so much discipline, but having to argue with people is a no-no.
They’re either with you or not. Your team will be you and your medical professionals. So set your sights success and forge ahead with a smarter and healthier diet regimen. In no time, you’ll be thanking yourself and that’s all that matters.
