Healthy Eating Guidelines
What you eat is the single most important factor in weight loss and yet knowing what to eat is really hard. There's so much contradictory information out there, often driven by the author's own agenda.
With so much confusion, the easiest thing to do is nothing. Keep on doing what you're doing and keep on piling on the pounds. But I know that's not what you want.
So here are top 10 healthy eating guidelines that will help you lose weight easily and forever.
No. 1 - Portion Size is Key
Reducing your portion sizes is the easiest and fastest route to weight loss. You don't have to think about trying out new foods or tracking down new recipes, just cut down your portion sizes by 20% and you will lose weight. A great starting point on your journey.
No. 2 - Eat Low GI Foods
Low GI foods are foods with a low Glycaemic Index which essentially means they help to keep your blood sugar levels even, stop cravings and sustain you for longer. These tend to be unrefined foods/complex carbohydrates like most fruit, vegetables, pulses, oats, wholemeal breads, wholemeal pasta and brown rice.
No. 3 - Snack Between Meals!
Eat a healthy snack such as fruit, nuts, seeds or oat biscuits with hummus mid morning and mid afternoon. This helps to keep your blood sugar levels even and prevents those classic energy dips where you crave something sweet and hence fattening.
No. 4 - Balance Your Plate
A well-balanced plate for weight loss would consist of 50% fruit and/or vegetables, 25% lean protein and 25% complex carbohydrates. Divide up your plate at every meal, not just supper, and follow these healthy eating guidelines.
No. 5 - Have Protein With Every Meal
Research has proven that combining lean protein-rich foods with slow-burning (complex) carbohydrates is best for fat-burning.
Good sources of protein are fish, lean white meat, duck breast, beans, lentils, chickpeas, eggs, nuts and seeds. In fact, beans and lentils are outstanding as they combine both protein and complex carbohydrates.
No. 6 - Restrict Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates like white bread, white pasta and white rice are fast-releasing carbohydrates and high GI. Restrict these and go for wholegrain breads like rye, wholemeal pasta and brown (ideally basmati) rice instead. These will help keep your blood sugar levels even and sustain you for much longer.
No. 7 - Pick & Choose
When you're about to buy a food product, ensure you compare and contrast food labels to find the healthiest option. Look specifically at kcals (calories), sugar content and fat content and ensure you're comparing like with like.
No. 8 - Watch Out For Hidden Calories
We all know that things like cakes, crisps and fizzy drinks are highly calorific. But what about dressings, soft drinks such as squash, low-fat or light options (often full of sugar), ready meals and alcohol? All of these need to be carefully monitored when seeking to lose weight.
No. 9 - Lead A Colourful Life!
Combining foods with different colours will provide more nutrients, speed up your metabolism and burn more fat. Ensure you have a rainbow of colours on your plate at every meal and include white foods like onions, garlic and leeks which are also extremely good for you.
No. 10 - Drink Lots Of Water
Yes - I know you've heard it before but drinking 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day is essential to healthy weight loss. Water is fundamental to every bodily function including fat burning. Water, herbal and fruit teas/infusions are the ideal drinks to go for.
So, 10 top healthy eating guidelines to help you lose weight easily, healthily and for life!
What you eat is the single most important factor in weight loss and yet knowing what to eat is really hard. There's so much contradictory information out there, often driven by the author's own agenda.
With so much confusion, the easiest thing to do is nothing. Keep on doing what you're doing and keep on piling on the pounds. But I know that's not what you want.
So here are top 10 healthy eating guidelines that will help you lose weight easily and forever.
No. 1 - Portion Size is Key
Reducing your portion sizes is the easiest and fastest route to weight loss. You don't have to think about trying out new foods or tracking down new recipes, just cut down your portion sizes by 20% and you will lose weight. A great starting point on your journey.
No. 2 - Eat Low GI Foods
Low GI foods are foods with a low Glycaemic Index which essentially means they help to keep your blood sugar levels even, stop cravings and sustain you for longer. These tend to be unrefined foods/complex carbohydrates like most fruit, vegetables, pulses, oats, wholemeal breads, wholemeal pasta and brown rice.
No. 3 - Snack Between Meals!
Eat a healthy snack such as fruit, nuts, seeds or oat biscuits with hummus mid morning and mid afternoon. This helps to keep your blood sugar levels even and prevents those classic energy dips where you crave something sweet and hence fattening.
No. 4 - Balance Your Plate
A well-balanced plate for weight loss would consist of 50% fruit and/or vegetables, 25% lean protein and 25% complex carbohydrates. Divide up your plate at every meal, not just supper, and follow these healthy eating guidelines.
No. 5 - Have Protein With Every Meal
Research has proven that combining lean protein-rich foods with slow-burning (complex) carbohydrates is best for fat-burning.
Good sources of protein are fish, lean white meat, duck breast, beans, lentils, chickpeas, eggs, nuts and seeds. In fact, beans and lentils are outstanding as they combine both protein and complex carbohydrates.
No. 6 - Restrict Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates like white bread, white pasta and white rice are fast-releasing carbohydrates and high GI. Restrict these and go for wholegrain breads like rye, wholemeal pasta and brown (ideally basmati) rice instead. These will help keep your blood sugar levels even and sustain you for much longer.
No. 7 - Pick & Choose
When you're about to buy a food product, ensure you compare and contrast food labels to find the healthiest option. Look specifically at kcals (calories), sugar content and fat content and ensure you're comparing like with like.
No. 8 - Watch Out For Hidden Calories
We all know that things like cakes, crisps and fizzy drinks are highly calorific. But what about dressings, soft drinks such as squash, low-fat or light options (often full of sugar), ready meals and alcohol? All of these need to be carefully monitored when seeking to lose weight.
No. 9 - Lead A Colourful Life!
Combining foods with different colours will provide more nutrients, speed up your metabolism and burn more fat. Ensure you have a rainbow of colours on your plate at every meal and include white foods like onions, garlic and leeks which are also extremely good for you.
No. 10 - Drink Lots Of Water
Yes - I know you've heard it before but drinking 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day is essential to healthy weight loss. Water is fundamental to every bodily function including fat burning. Water, herbal and fruit teas/infusions are the ideal drinks to go for.
So, 10 top healthy eating guidelines to help you lose weight easily, healthily and for life!
Theresa Coligan created http://thinkingthin.co.uk/
to help people solve one of the biggest and most challenging issues in
their lives - how to lose weight and keep it off. Thinking Thin focusses
on the missing link in weight loss - mindset change. Change your
mindset and you easily change your behaviour; change your behaviour and
you easily lose weight.
If you want to lose weight easily and enjoyably, sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter at http://thinkingthin.co.uk/register.php and get our e-book 'Insider Secrets To Simple, Sustainable Weight Loss' absolutely FREE as well.
(C) Copyright - Theresa Coligan. All worldwide rights reserved.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Theresa_ColiganIf you want to lose weight easily and enjoyably, sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter at http://thinkingthin.co.uk/register.php and get our e-book 'Insider Secrets To Simple, Sustainable Weight Loss' absolutely FREE as well.
(C) Copyright - Theresa Coligan. All worldwide rights reserved.
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