10 More to Go, But No Progress! Part 3: Nutrition
|
|
on 11/10/2008
|
|
|
Exercising is great. It helps you to get in shape, tone those muscles, and keeps your heart healthy. But that is only part of the formula. To really reach your goals you can’t just focus on your workouts to get off those last few pounds but also what you are putting in your mouth.
Take a look at what you’re eating. You may already know the areas that are causing you trouble. For many of us it’s getting too many sugary and fatty foods into our diets. Cookies, doughnuts, potato chips, sodas, and alcohol are all foods or drinks containing minimal nutrition with lots of excess calories. So make a list of those unhealthy foods, throw them out, and find a replacement. Instead of grabbing for those cookies, why not eat some fruit or cut up vegetables. Instead of drinking a soda why not try reaching for some water or some green tea. These small changes will make big differences in your waist line.
How many of you are skipping breakfast or eating only 1-2 meals per day? Well these are two of the biggest mistakes you can make. Anytime you go long periods without eating your body goes into starvation mode, basically, your body sends a signal to hold on to any and all fat since it doesn’t know when it will be fed again. Fat storage is the opposite of your goal here, so what can you do? It’s simple - eat more often! Eat when you wake up and then every 3-4 hours. Even a small snack is better than eating nothing at all; just be sure you are choosing healthy snacks and meals.
Furthermore, many of the clients I work with do not eat enough protein, nor do they realize the importance of doing so. Protein is more satisfying and should be included with every meal. It helps you to feel full and to stay fuller longer. It also helps to preserve that muscle mass you’ve been gaining so that you can keep that metabolism roaring. Just be careful and focus on eating low fat versions of protein including chicken breast, turkey, lean beef, venison, or buffalo, egg whites, low fat dairy products, or protein shakes.
Lastly, pay attention to your portion sizes. Eat until you are no longer hungry, not until you are so stuffed you must unbutton your pants. By overeating you are giving your body excess calories which in the long run will just turn into fat. Start by putting less on your plate or opting to only fill that plate up once (not two or three times). Another option when you are eating out at a restaurant is to have the waiter wrap up half of your meal so you aren’t tempted to eat the whole thing. So choose healthy foods and smaller portions and eat your foods slowly and enjoy them. You will get those last ten pounds off. Just keep working at it!
|
diet, nutrition, weight loss, weight loss plateau
|
|
|
|