It is a common misconception that “dieting” and exercising are the keys to achieving your best body. In fact, “dieting” could quite possibly be the worst thing you can do for your body if you want to achieve a life-long, lean, toned body.
Diets often lead to omitting certain food groups or even skipping meals. These fad diets only lead to more weight gain, and omitting certain food groups could leave you with nutrient deficiencies that will take a toll on your hair, skin and longevity. You may lose some weight at the beginning of a diet, because you will be consuming fewer calories, but this is not sustainable! You will eventually “cheat” and end up eating everything in sight which will lead to rapid weight gain of fat that is much harder to lose than the fat you previously lost. This is why “dieting” is often described as having a “yo-yo” effect. You might lose a little weight, but you gain it back plus more and have an even harder time trying to lose it next time. This wreaks havoc on your metabolism.
The key to success is eating and exercising. The “undiet” if you will. Athletes eat to perform; they don’t diet to lose weight.
The most important thing to do is to eat a wide variety of the right foods at the right times. Eating a healthy breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning will leave you fueled up and ready to take on the day. An example of a healthy breakfast is bowl of oatmeal made with low-fat milk with almonds and blueberries! Then 2-3 hours later, have a piece of fruit and a protein source like an apple with one hard boiled egg. At lunch, enjoy a big, fresh salad with lots of vegetables and your favorite lean protein and whole grain pita bread. Some research suggests that eating fish at lunch leaves you feeling more satisfied which will prevent you from overeating later. Then a couple of hours later eat another snack like a yogurt or veggies and hummus and a glass of milk. Eating this way leaves you with plenty of great nutrients and energy circulating your body before you even get home for the evening!
For dinner, I like to load up on veggies and lean protein. For example, I’ll have baked chicken, asparagus and roasted cauliflower. Or perhaps I’ll rotate the protein with grass fed beef or fish with sautéed kale and a side salad. I almost always make sure to keep a bar of dark chocolate around to satisfy those sweet cravings after dinner and I like to pair it with a cup of herbal chamomile tea. In other words, eat several times throughout the day, enjoying a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat or fat-free dairy. Make sure to keep your metabolism fueled with healthy snacks that incorporate protein and fiber. And don’t ignore your sweet cravings! If you need a little something sweet, nibble on some really good, expensive chocolate that leaves you feeling satisfied and decadent. Does this sound like dieting to you? No way. But it works. It’s a sustainable, life-long UNDIET that works.
So next time you think about dieting, just remember how many delicious foods you can enjoy throughout every day as part of your lean-body routine, and just say “no!” to fad diets.
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