When you prepare yourself to diet, can you really prepare yourself? After all, the concept of dieting in our society has been so misconstrued that most people think they have to completely starve themselves, or drink a strict liquid diet that deprives your body of essential nourishment.
Our bodies, and our metabolism more specifically, is designed to help us burn fat by taking in essential food groups. In order to burn fat and weight loss effectively, we must have balanced portions of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat in the foods we eat. Most people don’t realize that you can have a good weight loss plan that provides you with essential goals and good food!
Rightly Portioned Protein
Good food and bad food are obviously different, but what foods are good when it comes to a healthy weight loss diet? A protein-based diet doesn’t automatically put you in the category of eating foods that will make you body-builder big. This is one of the biggest myths about protein.
Many people have false ideas about what protein can do. They think that if a little is good, then a lot must be better. Most people don’t know that the body can only utilize four to eight ounces of protein at a time. The rest will either be converted into carbohydrates or stored as fat. This is why it’s important to have high quality proteins in your weight loss diet that are proportioned the right way.
Aminos are Your Amigo
What makes a quality protein? Well, most proteins have aminos as an amigo. Proteins are made from chains of amino acids, of which 20, have been identified so far. Nine of these are called “essential amino acids.”
Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are considered complete proteins, also called high-quality proteins. Those containing less than 9 are called incomplete proteins. Most animal proteins fall into the category of complete proteins. This includes meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products. Except for soy, proteins from plant sources are incomplete.
Why is it that some vegetarians have a good healthy diet, you ask? This is because you can also combine foods that supply all nine essential amino acids. For example, rice is low in lysine but high in methionine, both of which are essential amino acids. Beans are low in methionine but high in lysine. Served together, they provide a complete protein meal.
Planning your “Plan”
A good weight loss plan is only as good as the goals that reinforce your ability to keep pushing onward. Although a good weight loss plan gives you essential foods and healthy information, the choice to stick with a healthy new lifestyle is completely up to you.
Staying enthusiastic about your weight loss goals is key if you want to have success. One of the reasons why many people end up quitting on their plans is because they have lost their original enthusiasm.
Although it may sound cliché, imagining yourself as a thinner person truly works wonders on your enthusiasm. When you look in the mirror, imagine yourself 10-20 pounds lighter. Imagine how much better you will feel knowing you accomplished something that seemed impossible.
It’s important to cleanse your mind and body by taking part in exercises like yoga, pilates, or deep meditation. This will renew your concentration and take some of the stress away from keeping track of your weight loss. This will also energize your spirit and renew the original energy you once felt when starting this process.
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Once you have been re-energized, look at your original goals and see how you can keep your dream alive. Encourage yourself to incorporate these exercises between your meals on a regular schedule so you don’t become consumed by the word “diet.” Think of your “diet” instead as a healthy lifestyle change. A change that will help you lose weight and live a healthier, longer life.
