Re: Should You Give Up Dieting?
Diets and dieting.
No matter what we eat - it is our "diet". To me - a diet is what you eat to sustain yourself - whether it is "good" or "bad" for you. And with today's lifestyles - it's very easy NOT to eat a healthy diet.
There are more fast-food restaurants and grocery stores selling "fast" foods than there are place to work lately! Maybe it would be nice to send some of our fast food restaurants to other countries and keep more businesses here so that we have better jobs!
Two parents working full time jobs makes it very hard for a family to have good wholesome and nutritious meals. There seems to be no time anymore for so many. And that forces us into eating a lot of "empty" calories.
There are so many diets out there. The one that may work for me may not work for you and vice versa. Lose the weight and gain it back - with a bit more to boot. After a while - yo-yo dieting is not good for you.
The best thing to do - is to choose healthy foods - eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and although there has been a lot of talk about low-carb diets - all that meat is not good for you. Smaller portions of meat and a lot of fruits and veggies are much better for you. And don't forget portion control. Do you know how big your stomach is??? Isn't it supposed to be about fist-size?? Take a look at your plate. Is all that going to fit in that small stomach of yours??? And remember - you will never shrink your stomach - but you can shrink your appetite.
How is your food prepared?? Watch all those fats and oils and deep fried goodies that taste so good. Instead of deep frying - bake them in the oven - it is just as good and healthier for you. Can you eat a green salad with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cukes, radishes, etc. WITHOUT any dressing? Try it. You will find some really good tasting veggies there. Instead of pouring on the dressings - allow yourself a tablespoon or two in a separate dish and lightly dip just a bit of each forkful in the dressing. I have seen people pour on enough dressing for a dozen salads! Or try lemon juice or balsamic vinegar with some herbs. That is very good.
Watching portions very closely will allow you to enjoy sauces, breads and even desserts - all in moderation. If you haven't got the time to count each calorie you are ingesting and track your daily exercise to see if you are using as many as you think you are - then take a few days and actually measure your portions and track your exercise. Look up calories. Look up portions. It may surprise you.
And move. Walk more. Get up and change the channel instead of using the remote. Don't sit too long - get up and walk around the house or take a walk outside. Pop in those old Sweatin' to the Oldies tapes. Even 5 or 10 minutes is better than nothing. Touch your toes. Stretch. Do deep breathing. It all helps.
Do you eat breakfast?? You should. It helps to get your metabolism going. Many have lost weight by eating 4 meals a day instead of 3; some by eating 5 or 6 smaller meals. Personally - I could see 4 - making one of the meals fresh fruit after dinner and before bed.....but 5 or 6 meals to me is like telling my body I can eat all day!
Well all of this is just my opinion. I'll hush for now.
KW
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