Eating healthy foods will not only help you lose weight and feel fit but will also help you keep the Des Moines weight loss in the long run. Staying slim and trim is all about making the right choices where your diet is concerned so that your calorie intake is enough for the amount of energy you expend on a daily basis. Women need at least 1500 calories a day, while men about 2000. Here’s how you can maintain a balanced diet:
• Stay away from diets that are either very high in protein or very low in carbohydrates. Your body needs both protein and carbs to function so this means having to balance things out. Eating high-protein foods like eggs, cheese and meat on a daily basis can lead to fat and cholesterol build-up which can cause heart problems. So you need to cut down on these and add fruit and vegetables to your diet.
• At the same time, you need to eat meats. Pork, fish, red meat and chicken do have fats and cholesterol but also contain zinc, iron and protein. Small portions of lean meat – that is cuts that have little or no fat around it – in your diet can help your weight-loss plan. These include sirloin, beef round steak, lean mince beef, flank steak and pork tenderloin. Portion-wise, the size of the piece of meat should be about that of a pack of cards.
• Dairy products have nutrients like proteins and calcium that help keep your organs working properly, strengthen bones and build muscle. Switch to low fat cheese, milk and yogurt which have fewer calories and fats but have the same nutrients your body requires. If you are lactose-intolerant, you could include alternate foods rich in vitamin D and calcium like salmon, broccoli, lentils, spinach, beans, tofu and soy (soy milk is a good substitute for milk) in your diet.
• Don’t cut out starch from your diet. Starch is a source of energy and is not fattening when eaten in small amounts. So go ahead and have bread, rice, cereals and pasta but keep portions small and leave off the butter and mayonnaise; and try switching to whole wheat versions of these foods.
• Though nuts are very high in fat and calories, most of them contain omega-3 fatty acids which are good for cholesterol control, and are a good source of fiber, minerals and proteins. A handful of mixed nuts daily is healthy.
Healthy meal plans that include food low in calories with the correct amounts of fat, protein and carbs will help you lose weight and keep it off. This way you will be able to eat everything, in moderation, and get all the nutrients your body needs. Eat your meals slowly so that your brain gets the time to process when you are full. Wolfing down your food will only confuse the brain and you will end up overeating. Avoid snacking in between or before meals. If you do, don’t tank up or you will feel full before your meal, which will once again lead to overeating.
• At the same time, you need to eat meats. Pork, fish, red meat and chicken do have fats and cholesterol but also contain zinc, iron and protein. Small portions of lean meat – that is cuts that have little or no fat around it – in your diet can help your weight-loss plan. These include sirloin, beef round steak, lean mince beef, flank steak and pork tenderloin. Portion-wise, the size of the piece of meat should be about that of a pack of cards.
• Dairy products have nutrients like proteins and calcium that help keep your organs working properly, strengthen bones and build muscle. Switch to low fat cheese, milk and yogurt which have fewer calories and fats but have the same nutrients your body requires. If you are lactose-intolerant, you could include alternate foods rich in vitamin D and calcium like salmon, broccoli, lentils, spinach, beans, tofu and soy (soy milk is a good substitute for milk) in your diet.
• Don’t cut out starch from your diet. Starch is a source of energy and is not fattening when eaten in small amounts. So go ahead and have bread, rice, cereals and pasta but keep portions small and leave off the butter and mayonnaise; and try switching to whole wheat versions of these foods.
• Though nuts are very high in fat and calories, most of them contain omega-3 fatty acids which are good for cholesterol control, and are a good source of fiber, minerals and proteins. A handful of mixed nuts daily is healthy.
Healthy meal plans that include food low in calories with the correct amounts of fat, protein and carbs will help you lose weight and keep it off. This way you will be able to eat everything, in moderation, and get all the nutrients your body needs. Eat your meals slowly so that your brain gets the time to process when you are full. Wolfing down your food will only confuse the brain and you will end up overeating. Avoid snacking in between or before meals. If you do, don’t tank up or you will feel full before your meal, which will once again lead to overeating.
