Nutrition Essentials – What The Correct Way To Eat For Weight Loss and Maintenance
When your pounds have piled up and your pants have gotten too tight, it is time for you to watch what you eat. By viewing foods and nutrition essentials correctly, you will be able to maintain your fitness and health. Therefore, you need to know the nutritional information of each food item you purchase from the supermarket. Bear in mind that knowledge is power.
When you know the truth behind a food item, you will be able to determine if it is an enemy or not. However, when you are ignorant, you will just get surprised at how the foods you eat will take a toll on you. See how important knowledge in weight loss is?
Basic Information
If you are sick and tired of your plump body, don’t worry because there is still hope. By knowing the correct way to eat for weight loss, you will not just achieve a to-die-for body, but maintain it for years as well, no matter what hormonal changes occur in your body.
However, knowing they would not be enough if you are not going to apply them in your daily life. To do this, you need to have truckloads of patience, determination, and motivation. Take note that weight loss, all starts in the mind because it is the root cause of the problem. When you think right, you act right. Thus, before you decide to follow any type of diet, you should condition your mind first. Always remember that what your mind can conceive, your body can achieve.
In the succeeding chapters, the nutrition essentials will be discussed. You will be able to uncover the meaning of the right way to eat, how to make healthy food choices, and which foods are your friend and which ones are your enemy. Plus, you will also be able to understand how proper nutrition plays a vital role in safe and healthy weight loss and why a lack of nutrition will play a trick on your body.
Are you now ready for an exploratory reading that will feed your mind with complete information about the relationship between nutrition and weight loss? Then brace yourself and start now.
The Food Pyramid
Everyone is aware of the Food Pyramid, as it is taught in schools, advertised in media, and featured in magazines and journals. It is a comprehensive guide designed to help people eat healthily and make healthy food choices every day. Because of the fact that it is very popular, several people make use of it as a tool for them to lose weight. But wait. Is it a good idea or not? To satisfy your curiosity, continue reading.
The Truth
Recently, the food pyramid has been redone by The Agricultural Department. However, it is still not sufficient for those who are attempting to control and maintain their weight. This is due to the fact that it is not mainly designed for losing weight.
The truth is, it is just a nutritional guideline to help people keep in constant health. Its main purpose is only to make your nutrition balanced, and not to provide a guide for diets and weight loss. Sad to say, this is one of the many reasons why it is not a great option for people who want to get slim and shed pounds fast.
In order to ascertain the safety of people, The Agricultural Department has created the food pyramid as non-specific as possible. Well, this is the best you can ever get in the system of government. Many people argue that it is for weight loss because it offers a food quantity guide for what an individual should eat based on his age, gender, and weight and it is designed for staying healthy. However, the government rebuts it.
Lessening the food amounts in order to lose weight is total guesswork and not the purpose of the publication. Pointing out the estimation of the needed food consumption is not just impracticable and tedious, but hard as well. Due to the various intentions and potential danger, anyone aiming to shed pounds fast must not use the newly improvised food pyramid.
However, once an individual has attained his desired weight, then sure, he may consider the food pyramid as a great tool to stay fit and healthy. It also serves as a good indicator of the proper balance of foods in the diet. However, people should first have something that will help them create a meal plan to enable them to shed pounds fast.
The Meal Plan
In order for weight loss to be easy, the meal plan must be simple to use. As much as possible, you need to have a menu that is specially generated to go through every day. No one would surely bother to look at the food labels over and over again and work out calories, right? These days, people are always busy and have better things to do, and that time commitment and effort do not fit into their lifestyle and time schedule.
If you are planning to use the food pyramid as your guide to losing weight, just forget about your plan. Now that you have already discovered the truth about it, just look for another method to help you eat right. More will be disclosed in the succeeding chapters, so you don’t have anything to worry about.
Correct Proteins For Weight Loss
Proteins are one of the most essential elements of the human diet as it is responsible for muscular development, and in losing weight, lean protein is an important component of dietary intake. But wait. Have you ever asked yourself what the correct proteins for weight loss are? Well, you can only get them from the right foods.
Healthy Proteins
The following foods contain proteins that will speed up your body’s metabolic rate, thus leading to healthy and safe weight loss.
Whey Concentrate
The great thing about whey concentrate is that it comes with multiple unique properties that can help you with your weight loss and maintenance goals. This food has high levels of cysteine, which effectively promotes glutathione production, and thus helps the body in combating inflammation and oxidative stress.
Research has shown that inflammation and oxidative stress can cause weight gain by simply damaging the metabolism of sugar. Whey concentrate has also been discovered to enhance the function of insulin. It is also designed to relieve those who experience stress eating, as it can boost your serotonin levels. However, make sure that your whey concentrate is examined in order for you not to get too much lactose.
Eggs
Most people think that eggs have high fat content. Well, this is partly true, but when you eat it in isolation, i.e. one egg at a time, it can be great food for weight loss. It can also increase glucagon production, a hormone that functions to boost blood sugar while increasing the body’s fat-burning ability.
Egg Whites
Egg whites come with multiple properties, making them a great food for weight loss. The body uses up a lot of energy in digesting them, and thus you are able to burn calories. In addition, when egg whites are consumed without carbohydrates, your body is forced to secrete high levels of glucagon, which are known as effective fat loss promoters.
Turkey
Another food rich in protein for weight loss is turkey, which releases tryptophan, a sleep-promoting hormone. People with weight gain and weight loss problems often suffer from sleep disorders. By incorporating turkey into your diet, you will not just be able to improve the quality of your sleep but lose weight as well.
Fish
Fish is also a great source of protein because it is lean and comes with a great amount of fat. Experts say that fish is an indispensable component of any weight loss or weight control program.
Grass Fed Beef
This is also considered a great food for weight loss. It cannot just enhance cholesterol ratios which help blood sugar metabolism to keep you lean but also aids hunger and satiety.
Now that you have discovered the best foods for protein, why don’t you include them in your diet? You will be surprised by the results later on.
Correct Carbs For Weight Loss
Carbohydrates obtain their fair share of exposure in the world of health and diets; good carbohydrates vs. bad carbohydrates and one kind of low-carb diet over another. The heart of the matter is that carbs provide the human body with essential energy in order to keep your muscles and brain supplied with adequate fuel in order to function optimally.
Even though your primary goal this year is to lose weight, your body needs some carbohydrates in order for you to have energy. Learning how to balance your intake of carbs can keep your body fueled while you manage to lose weight.
How To Have Proper Carb Intake
In order to ascertain that you have proper carb intake, you have to set up a journal for counting carbohydrates and weight loss. On your journal’s first page, write when you want to lose weight. For now, just leave the rest of the page blank. Write the date today on the upper right-hand corner of the next page.
You also need to draw a vertical line down the mid-part of the page. Label the right column with “carbohydrates” and the left one with “foods eaten”. At the start of every day, make another carbohydrate and foods eaten page.
It is also very important to track your weight, so you have to use a weighing scale. After obtaining your starting weight, record it with a corresponding date. Put your very first weight entry under your target goal for weight loss. Every week, you have to weigh yourself and record the changes in the journal. Don’t ever get tempted to step on the weighing scale more than once a week considering the fact that weight varies on a daily basis.
Reading the nutrition labels of the food you consume is also an important thing to do. Consume good carbohydrate foods like whole grains, vegetables, and fruits instead of carb-carbohydrate foods like cupcakes, cookies, and white rice. For your information, good carb foods have a high content of fiber while bad carb ones are refined and highly processed with low contents of fiber.
You also have to set your target carb count daily. For instance, if you prefer to follow a particular low-carb diet that recommends consuming 30 grams of carbs per day for the initial 2 weeks and gradually raising carb counts over a period of time, utilize these limits to set your daily count. If you want, you may also lessen your intake of carbs by 6 grams per day and check your development from this starting point.
Also, don’t forget to split up your target carb count between dinner, lunch, and breakfast by splitting up your carb allotment by 3. This gives a guideline for the number of carbohydrates that you may consume for every meal. If you prefer to include a small snack in between your meals, lower your cab count for every meal a little in order to build sufficient carbs for a snack or 2 depending on your level of hunger.
Jot down the foods you have consumed and their carb count in your journal. In order for you not to go over your goal, you also have to keep a total of the carb amount you consume. Exercise for at least 3040 minutes a day three times a week. In the journal, note your exercise time and kind of activity. Three 10-minute power walks each day equates to a 30-minute exercise.
To know your progress, you have to monitor how many pounds you have shed. During the initial weeks of a low-carb diet, you can have a chance to drop 5 or more pounds. After the first 2 weeks, you should seek to lose not more than 1-2 pounds every week for a successful weight loss. If you notice that you lose weight quickly, increase your intake of carbs by 5-10 grams each day to achieve a healthy weight loss pace.
Correct Fats For Weight Loss
In the world of weight loss, many people consider fats as their enemy. However, this is not always the case. In fact, weight loss and good fats are closely related. Did you know that a no-fat diet can gravely damage your health and may result in death? Yes, you’ve read it, right? So, if you are planning to exclude all fat-containing foods from your diet, you will just find yourself six feet below the ground someday. The human body needs fatty acids every single day in order to feel contented and full.
The following are some of the benefits of good fats:
• Maintenance of the immune system
• Preservation of digestive health
• Optimal organ functions
• Optimal nervous system and brain function
• Regulation of hormones
If your body does not receive the right amount of essential fatty acids it needs, it can lead to health conditions and diseases such as obesity, stroke, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, cancer, ADHD, and depression.
The Truth About Bad Fats
Now that you know why good fat is great for your weight loss goal, it is about time to know the ugly truth about bad fats. One of the most detrimental bad fats is the hydrogenated one, which is also referred to as trans fat or trans-fatty acids. When shopping in the grocery store, read labels carefully. If you spot some foods containing hydrogenated or trans fat, don’t purchase them.
Trans fat can increase bad cholesterol in the body, which can result in diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries. Since the human body does not process trans fat, it will be considered a toxin and will be stored in the cells. Worse, trans fat consumption can also increase your cravings for food, so you have to make healthy food choices.
In order for you not to experience the negative effects of hydrogenated fats, you have to avoid shortenings and margarine. You should also not consume convenience foods such as snacks, cookies, popcorn, chips, and crackers.
See that? Weight loss and good fats work hand in hand while weight gain and bad fats also go together. To achieve your weight loss goals, it just takes saying “no” to what you must avoid and saying “yes” to what you must consume.
Good Fats – The Solution
If you want to lose weight the healthy way, then you need to consume foods rich in essential fatty acids also known as EFA. This type of fatty acid comes in two kinds –Omega 6 and Omega 3. These are commonly found in walnuts, eggs, salmon, vegetables, sunflowers, corn, grains, and meats. It comes with lauric acid, which is known for its ability to prevent heart diseases, improve the immune system, and increase the metabolic rate, which enables you to boost your energy levels. Since weight loss and good fats are intertwined, you have to go to this fat group.
The following are some of the foods containing good fat for weight loss:
• Avocado – This fruit is not just high in monounsaturated fats, but also comes with a double whammy. It contains mannoheptulose, a starch that inhibits the secretion of insulin. This can greatly benefit individuals with insulin resistance, which is one of the major causes of metabolic syndrome. To date, the said syndrome affects over 40 percent of the United States population.
• DHA/EPA oil – DHA and EPA are made from 100% omega 6 and omega 3 fats. Numerous types of research and studies have shown that these oils have significant effects on hormone balance, mood, cortisol control, and inflammation.
• Grass-fed beef – Research has shown that grass-fed beef has various effects on the omega 3/6 ratios and LDL/HDL ratio when eaten by humans. It has also been shown to enhance blood lipid profiles, which implies that it promotes the health of the cardiovascular system.
• Virgin coconut oil – This is considered the king of good fats. Research has shown that it can increase the body’s fat-burning rate after ingestion. This oil acts as a potent antioxidant by lowering inflammation and thus helps the metabolism of blood sugar. It also comes with brown fat-burning properties.
Contrary to the belief of many people, fats are the underlying cause of weight loss. What they don’t know is that good fats exist, which aid their body to burn bad fats quickly. If you were surprised by what you have discovered in this chapter, be a good friend to others by telling them the truth so that they do not lose weight improperly.
What About Organic And Raw Foods
The USDA, which stands for the United States Department of Agriculture Approved, sets the standards defining the labels for organic foods that pertain to processed foods, animal products, grains, and produce. Any food that is approved organic by the United States Department of Agriculture Approved, regardless of its origin, is free of genetic and hormone modification, antibiotics, irradiation, and pesticides.
Rules that govern water and soil conservation procedures, as well as the kindly animal treatment, also apply to growers of organic foods. While the terminology “organic” means “healthy” to most people, the terminologies are not essentially interchangeable.
Basics of Weight Loss
Proper calorie intake is important for the promotion of long-term weight loss and the maintenance of a healthy weight. In order for you to lose 1 pound of fat, you have to burn up to 3,500 calories more than what you consume. Considering the fact that you can lose up to 2 pounds per week, you can surely burn around 1,000 calories from your diet every day.
A diet plan promoting vegetables and fruits, whole grains like oats, quinoa, and rice, low-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins can provide you with various minerals and vitamins you need, even when you limit your intake of calories.
Organic Benefits
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 30% of insecticides, 60% of herbicides, and 90% of fungicides are carcinogenic or can cause cancer. Organic produce is free from chemical residues, making it a great choice if you prefer to feature veggies and fruits in your diet without increasing the pesticide load of your body.
Likewise, traditionally farmed animal products have antibiotic residues and growth hormones. In accordance with The Organic Food Shopper’s Guide, 90% of non-organic United States beef has 6 different growth hormones—all of which have been barred in the European Union because of health concerns. Animal products and organic meat don’t contain antibiotics or growth hormones.
Nutritional Comparison
While several organic food proponents have suggested that it comes with more nutrients than traditionally farmed foods, the proof of science suggests that the organic and non-organic foods’ nutritional profiles are significantly the same.
When weighed against equal traditional produce, some organic vegetables and fruits may have higher polyphenols and antioxidants, in accordance with Ph.D. Christine McCullum-Gomez registered dietician and author of the book entitled Perspective on the Benefits of Organic Foods.
Considerations
As there is a great demand for organically grown products, manufacturers have acted in response by providing processed foods that are purely made from organic ingredients which include frozen dinners, sugary cereals, crackers, and cookies.
As a result, food consumption simply because it has an organic label, does not necessarily enhance or produce weight loss. You can possibly maintain a high-calorie diet full of sugar and sodium, while stringently eating organic food.
Since your main concern is to lose weight, you have to select nutrient-dense foods first and keep an eye on your calorie intake. If you wish to minimize your chemical residue, antibiotics, and growth hormone intake, you need to consume animal products, grains, and organic products that fit your diet.
The Correct Foods To Help With Endurance For Exercise
Eating prior to conducting aerobic exercises is all about quality and timing. Choosing the most favorable low-calorie meal to consume before performing any workout exercise can be done instantly without purchasing costly specialty foods. You need to educate yourself well about the foods that fuel your body for workouts in order for you to have strength and endurance throughout the exercise.
Fuel – You Need it for Workout
Whether you like it or not, your body needs fuel in order for it to perform any physical activity optimally. Glucose is the favorite sugar of your body as it is a major energy source. To tell you the truth, most of the fuel your body utilizes during exercise originates from the glucose stored in your muscles as glycogen. To put it simply, the foods you consume on Tuesday and Wednesday could fuel your workouts on Friday and Saturday.
The pace at which foods are converted into energy greatly depends on the food type. This pace is also called the food glycemic index. Foods that rank high on the glycemic index will quickly be converted to fuel and can give your body energy for workouts.
Low-calorie Complex Carbohydrates
Never skip a workout or meal on an empty tummy. Without adequate energy to fuel your workout, you will become exhausted quickly. In order to boost your performance and nourish your muscles, it is important to consume low-calorie foods prior to performing any exercise.
Choose foods with complex carbs in order for you to obtain the best energy source. Don’t forget that your goal is to have 100-200 calories around 30 minutes before performing any physical activity.
Sample Snacks
The following are some of the most ideal low-calorie foods that you can consume prior to performing any exercise:
• Cereal
• Yogurt (fat-free)
• Pretzels
• Fruit Juice
• Sports energy bar/sports drink
For you to consume an adequate amount of calories prior to performing an exercise, all you have to do is mix and match these foods. Also, take note that eating fewer than 100 calories may lead to poor exercise performance.
Protein
Protein is significant for tissue and muscle regeneration, which in turn boosts muscle strength, lessens recovery periods, and prevents injuries. If you would like to ensure any physical activity for weight loss, you should eat about 1 oz of protein/lb of body weight. The following are some of the best protein sources that should be part of your diet: fish, turkey, chicken, and meat.
Fat
Fat supplies a secondary source of energy and body fuels. However, make sure that you only consume those good ones. In the previous chapter, you learned that there are two kinds of fats—bad and good. By simply consuming foods that contain good fats, you will be able to have sustained endurance throughout your workout.
Keep Your Body Hydrated
Diet plans that don’t have adequate water intake and hydration can impede excellent workout performance and fast recovery. Dehydration can lead to muscle fatigue and cramping. In accordance with Hal Higdon, an experienced endurance coach, one of the most important factors to ensure your endurance in any physical activity is hydration.
Nutrients
The total calories you need per day differ and can be adjusted in order to match your requirements. The following are some of the nutrients used in producing energy: B vitamins, riboflavin, and thiamin. To prevent muscle cramping and fatigue, your body needs minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and sodium.
Are you now ready to perform physical activities to lose weight? Then don’t forget to incorporate the foods mentioned in this chapter into your diet.
Maintaining Your Weight With Diet
In just a blink of an eye, weight gain may happen. However, the ironic thing is that it may take months or even years to lose it. If you are on a weight loss plan right now, you should not stop when you have achieved your desired body weight. Just like any beauty regimen, weight loss requires maintenance.
Weight-conscious individuals must not progressively modify their diet, but rather gradually. It is also not ideal to deprive yourself of food or undereat because it can take a toll on your health later on. It’s a good thing, there is a great eating pattern that will help you manage your weight properly and keep your energy levels high. It all begins by simply thinking about the nutrition basics.
Eat Fresh And Healthy
Cooking the foods that you just purchased is the most ideal way to know that what you are consuming is fresh. Also, if the food’s color retention is alright, then it is fresh. By planning your food on a weekly basis, you will be able to minimize the number of times you eat out. Plus, food preparation at home also helps you save a lot.
Eat Colorfully
Another way to maintain your weight loss is to try various shapes and colors when purchasing fruits and vegetables. Purchase violet, green, orange, red, yellow, and other colors. Did you know that colors determine the vitamins they contain? Thus, you have to balance what you purchase. If you are intending to make a salad, you have to experiment with the fruits and veggies you include.
Eat With Assortment
When it comes to food, you should always be creative. You can modify the taste of your fruit shake, tenderloin, or pasta. With food, there is no boring day. In order for you to lose weight effectively while giving your body the right nutrition it needs, you have to let your imagination work.
Eat Moderately
These days, several foods have unhealthy ingredients. In order for you not to fall into their trap, you have to read the labels. Admit it, you find most unhealthy foods delicious and addicting, so you get tempted to eat too much of them sometimes. If you really want to lose weight the healthy way, you should condition your mind that eating too much fatty, sweet, and salty food, in the long run, can only lead to serious diseases.
Just Eat Less
One of the major causes of unhealthy eating is huge servings whether at home or in a restaurant. You really have to watch your servings and cut back on them. Also, eat with your tummy and not with your eyes. You have to cook or order only what you can finish. This way, you will be able to save time, effort, and money.
Enjoy Your Meals With People
When you eat out with your friends or family, you will have more appetite to eat. You will also be able to communicate with others and have a good belly laugh. However, make sure that the foods served on the table are healthy.
If you want to maintain your weight, you have to keep an eye on what you eat.
How Important is Your View Of Food
When you hear the word weight loss, of course, the very first thing that will enter your mind is the word “food”. But how do you view it? Do you consider food as a means of survival, indulgence, luxury, pastime, or necessity? In order for you to stay in shape, you have to view food properly. But what does it mean?
Your View On Food
Your view of food reveals what kind of person you are. If you are obese right now, it means that you are a food abuser and a glutton. In order for you to be in the right shape, then you have to view food properly. This is the only way you can stay fit and healthy.
Your knowledge about food and how it can affect your health is influenced by your knowledge. The more knowledge you have, the more you are able to eat properly. Therefore, you should know what foods are the best and worst for you. This way, everything will be in balance, and you no longer have to be problematic about your weight and shape anymore.
To view food properly, you should take advantage of the internet. In just a few clicks, you will be able to know the truth about different foods. So, why don’t you conduct extensive research now? Always take note that little learning is dangerous.
The Advantages Of Correct Diet For Weight Loss
To lose weight, the solution is simple—diet. However, most people misinterpret this 4-letter word. They think that depriving themselves of food or starving themselves to death is the best way to shed pounds instantly. Yes, this is partly true, but the weight loss they experience is just a dirty trick.
Though they lose weight instantly, they may just find themselves gaining weight again after a few weeks. Worse, they may also develop serious diseases that may take a toll on them in the latter stage of their lives. This is the reason why the correct diet is important.
The Benefits
There is a huge difference between diet and the correct diet. If you know them, you will have a win-win situation. It will benefit you in ways you have never expected not just in the physical aspect. When you follow the correct diet, you will be able to bring out the best in your body and you will feel good inside and out.
Apart from these, following a correct diet has other benefits, but this guide is not enough to mention all of them. In order for you to experience thrill and self-fulfillment, why don’t you just discover them yourself?
If you believe that you are the most obese person in the world, don’t lose hope. As long as you are alive, you can still have a chance to change your life. By following the tips mentioned in this guide, you will just be amazed at the results.
Wrapping Up
After reading this guide you should have a good understanding of the importance of proper nutrition and healthy weight loss. Always remember that not all weight loss methods are good for your health or will yield any weight loss results at all.
In order for you to be successful with your weight loss goals, you must have a proper balance of exercise, motivation, health, and nutrition. One of these factors on its own will never deliver desirable results. I hope you can take what you have learned from this book and put it to good use by living a healthier and happier lifestyle. I wish you the best and good luck!
