Nov
10
Written by:
KiwiFit
Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:52:00 GMT
To Diet or Not to Diet
For those of us in the Southern hemisphere it's that time of the year again. The sun is shining, our mood is improving and we want to fling away the layers of winter clothes and with them the extra kilos that have somehow managed to creep on again.
Suddenly we are all eyes and ears for the latest diet out there. We convince ourselves that this one will work for us. This time we are more determined, more motivated. So we start armed with books, magazine tips, gym gear, and calorie counting books and puffing our way to slimness. And we get weary and mentally exhausted - not so much from exercising or calorie counting but from having to think about food all the time.
Dieting can become very obsessive as well as mentally and physically exhausting. But the more we diet the less efficient our metabolism can become. So unless you plan on eating diet food for the rest of your life, research clearly shows that you are almost guaranteed to regain the weight and more. I am sure many of you reading this can attest to the fact.
By learning to eat truly healthfully, we give our metabolism the tools to effectively and naturally regulate itself. Lollies and chocolate, high fat cheese, chips, soda and processed foods and so on are not great choices, as we all well know. But what about the cravings, grumpiness and mood swings that can go hand in hand when you cut out the junk?
The best way to overcome junk food cravings is actually not to work so hard at resisting what you can’t have! The best way, is to place your focus on eating healthier, nutrient dense and real food. Give your body what it really needs and pretty soon you really don’t want the junk. Stayed tuned for future posts where we will explore the nature of healthy eating as a lifetime habit.
In the mean time, maximise your fruit and vegetables intake and incorporate as much variety as you can. Eat whole grains and low fat dairy, small amounts of lean protein and healthy fats and watch your portion size.
It is amazing how powerful it can be when you change the focus to health and wellness, instead of dieting.
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