No one should start on a weight loss program by trying to follow a fad diet that is not sustainable in the long run. This leads to a cycle of weight loss and weight gain, leaving you with more extra pounds than when you began. However, the secret to losing weight and keeping it off is much simpler than a restrictive fad diet. For weight loss, a balanced diet is key to success.
Eating Healthy
It’s critical to choose what is healthy. Rather than reaching for junk food, select healthier foods that support weight loss and protect against illness. It’s never too late to change your lifestyle. You can promote better health while melting away excess body fat.
There’s no magic formula for successful weight loss and good health. Instead, simply try to incorporate the following few suggestions to help eliminate diet imbalances and begin a dietary habit for living a long and healthy life!
Incorporating these suggestions, no matter which diet plan and exercise regimen you choose to follow, can go a long way in helping you achieve your weight loss goals.
Balanced Diet Nutrition
- Eat an 80% plant-based and a 20% lean animal protein-based diet.
- Eat only lean meats. Free-range poultry and grass-fed beef are leaner choices than conventional counterparts. Fatty fish are also healthy choices. Look for sustainably sourced fish for the best nutrients.
- Use juicing to fill-in the missing servings of fruits and vegetables. A healthy ratio for juicing is 3:1 – that’s 3 vegetables for 1 fruit. You can drink you vitamins and minerals while staying hydrated and on-the-go.
- Eat more fiber. Some experts believe that we should consume 40 grams a day. Fiber slows digestion, keeping you full longer. It also keeps your gut bacteria happy, leading to better health and better absorption of nutrients. Nuts, fruits, seeds, whole grains, and, of course, vegetables are all good sources.
- Add some fermented foods, in small amounts, to your daily diet. Fermented foods are full of good gut bacteria that help keep you gut microbiome healthy and well-balanced. This can include yogurt, cheese, fermented soy, and kimchi (fermented vegetables with a variety of seasonings).
- Eat more salads with mixed greens and different types of lettuce. Use creamy dressing sparingly. Basic olive oil and vinegar dressings are healthier choices.
- Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. The colors of fruits and vegetables show the different nutrients and phytonutrients they offer. By eating a variety of color, you feed your body the diversity of nutrients it needs to thrive.
- Choose fresh produce when available. Fresh produce typically has the most nutrients and benefits. If fresh is not an option, then choose frozen fruits and vegetables over canned varieties. Canned vegetables and fruits have often lost a good portion of the nutritional benefits in the canning process.
- Eat what’s in season. During the fall, eat more root vegetables and take in lots of ripe berries and white-flesh fruits. If it’s springtime, go with Chinese yam, bamboo, and mushrooms. Summer is good for just about anything, but leafy greens, tomatoes, and cruciferous vegetables are at their peak. Lentils and beans are good in any season.
- If you’re hungry, eat! Never starve yourself. And never deny yourself a small, healthy snack. You’re more likely to overeat and overindulge at your next meal if you try to skip meals or keep yourself hungry.
You can achieve success in a weight loss program when you follow a balanced diet! Rather than starve yourself, pay for expensive meal kits, or follow strange recipes and food plans, apply these simple principles. You will find success in your weight loss journey and better health along the way!
