Healthy Weight Loss

It’s around this time of year that we start thinking of how wonderful it would be to shed a few pounds before the summer months. Or we may be feeling guilty about how quickly we abandoned our New Year’s resolution diet. The multi-billion dollar weight-loss industry is always ready to provide you with, fast weight-loss plans, tricks, and gimmick diets. Knowing a few facts will help you stay on track and choose the right plan. Never skip a meal Some people think that if they skip a meal they can lose weight. Actually, just the opposite is true. The body has many ways to protect itself to survive. When you skip a meal, your metabolism slows down to preserve energy. Not only that, to further protect itself, your body will store its next meal almost entirely as fat just in case you choose to skip another. How to handle cravings Cravings can be caused by a lack of water or a nutritional deficiency. Sometimes we tend to eat when we are simply thirsty. So, before you reach for that snack, have a drink of water. Drinking pure water also eliminates toxins from your body. If you or your children crave sweets it could be an indication you are lacking protein in your diet. To curb sweet cravings, decrease sweets, increase protein and ensure you are eating whole grain, good quality carbohydrates. A reduced calorie diet where you deprive yourself of foods can actually increase your cravings, and as soon as you go off the diet you may put the weight back on. It is best to eat a balanced, varied, healthy diet, with plenty of fresh, whole foods. Glycemic ups and downs The concept of the glycemic index is quite deceiving as there are so many factors that change the glycemic index of foods. For example, the ripeness of a fruit changes the glycemic index. Peeling and cooking food and length of cooking time also affect the glycemic index. Noodles cooked al dente have a lower glycemic index than noodles that are cooked longer. The glycemic index also changes depending on what other foods are eaten at the same time. Your glycemic levels won’t rise drastically if you have a dessert at dinner time, but they will skyrocket if you have that same dessert in the middle of the afte oon. A personalized plan The old adage, “Eat a big breakfast, medium lunch, and small dinner,” is definitely not a good idea. It depends entirely on your metabolic type and dominant glandular type. Each person is different and requires a personalized plan. While a big breakfast might be a good idea for those who consider themselves “morning people,” someone who is slow in the morning would do best with a very small breakfast. Many of my clients agree that a big breakfast triggers them to be very hungry and eat more all day long. Instead, a good-sized dinner is best for them as this is when their metabolism is highest, so they easily burn off the calories and lose weight. A consultation with a naturopath can guide you to find what works best for you, so that you can look forward to bathing suit season! www.health-and-natural-healing.com