Every so often I cycle through diet related topics in these daily tips.
Diet can have a significant impact on your asthma and allergies.
It can also have a profound impact on your overall health. So it's important that
we cover it.
I bring it up today because of a conversation my buddy and I had last night.
We went out to grab a few cold containers of liquid refreshment and have a bite to
eat. We caught up with each other on work, family and so forth.
As we talked, she told me about her efforts to lose weight before she and her
husband went on a cruise. In fact, the last time I had seen her was her "last night
to eat what she wanted" before she went on some really radical diet to try to lose
weight in time for her vacation.
Unfortunately, her radical weight loss plan backfired, and she ended up gaining
weight before they left on their cruise.
Yet she was still in the same mindset when we met last night. She was planning
to go on yet another fad diet and lose a bunch of weight.
This diet would involve denying herself some of her favorite foods. She and I
placed a bet on how long she would last on it.
I couldn't blame her though. I think most of us, yours truly included, have fallen
prey to the promise of fast weight loss. Usually this entails suspending our
common sense and abandoning time tested and proven dietary principles in
order to (hopefully) blast the fat off our bodies.
These types of diets abound. Low carb, high carb, no meat, lots of meat, all
fruit, no fruit, food combination, and on and on.
Most of the time, people who go on these types of diets do lose some weight
in the early weeks or months. Losing weight quickly can be very positive
reinforcement. (Unfortunately, a lot of this early weight loss is water.)
Despite this early success, something happens to most people. They lose
interest in their diet and begin to cheat a little bit on it.
Pretty soon they are in full consumption mode as they make up for all the
foods and beverages they have denied themselves. Before you know it, they
have gained back the lost pounds and, even worse, packed on additional
pounds, most of it fat.
This is a very destructive cycle. It is devastating in terms of your
confidence and, more importantly, your health.
The truth is, diets don't work!
We keep getting heavier and heavier, even though we spend billions of
dollars every year on diet programs, special foods, and supplements.
I don't have my own "fad diet" solution to peddle. I actually recommend (and
follow) some very simple principles for healthy eating. And I recognize
the fact that a "one diet fits all" approach does not work.
There are three recommendations I make for everyone:
-Reduce the amount of sugar and overly refined and processed foods in
your diet;
-Put more emphasis on quality proteins and water-rich foods;
-Drink lots of water. Try to drink at least half your bodyweight (in pounds)
in ounces of water every day.
I also lay out in great detail a "can't fail" nutrition program in the "Fire Up
Your Metabolism" Program -
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/metabolism.html.
Notice I said nutrition - not diet. Because if you follow what I recommend,
you are eating in a way that supports and nurtures your body...rather
than suffering through deprivation or denial.
The real secret to sticking with healthy eating (and feeling better, and
reaching your best weight, and living longer) is to NOT deprive yourself
of anything.
The minute you say you can not have a certain food, you immediately
begin to crave it and want it. You become obsessed with it. You feel bad
until you can have it. Eventually you "cheat" and mess up on your diet.
Then you tell yourself, "Oh well, I blew it. I might as well really pig out for
the rest of the day (or week, or month) and restart my diet tomorrow."
Please don't think I'm lecturing, because, as I said, I have been through all
this myself more times than I care to remember.
When I analyze how I eat when I am in my best shape and feel my
healthiest, I realize that I eat healthy most of the time. But I don't
forbid myself any food or beverage. I can have it if I want it.
Because I know I can have it, I lose my cravings for it. I don't eat as
much of it and, when I do eat it, I really enjoy it. No guilt because I
"cheated".
And I begin to think less and less about food. I eat only when I'm
hungry. And I eat much less frequently for emotional reasons, or out
of boredom.
The other key is physical activity.
When you become more active, begin an exercise program, or even start
a deep breathing regimen first thing in the morning, your body will start to
tell you what it wants to eat.
And it usually doesn't want Twinkies or Ho Ho's.
Your body will lead you to healthy food choices.
So lose the diets. Listen to your body. Drink lots of water. And for Pete's
sake, use common sense.
You Can Do It!
Karen Van Ness
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com
P.S. In the "Fire Up Your Metabolism" Program, not only do I give you a
set of fat-burning, metabolism boosting exercises that virtually anyone can
do....I also map out a set of simple but effective strategies to help you eat
healthy and feel great. Invest in your health (and lose the diet insanity) by
getting your copy of the program today at
http://www.bestbreathingexercises.com/metabolism.html.
Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2007
**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered as medical
advice. Always consult a physician before beginning or changing any
health or fitness regimen.**
