Eating Healthy to Lose Weight

What we eat determines our health. A known fact, an important fact, and mostly an ignored fact. We are all aware of the consequences poor eating habits has on us, but we rarely bother, unless we fall sick, or get too fat. To check whether one is overweight, underweight or just the right weight, many doctors recommend the use of body mass index (BMI) to asses weight. A BMI of 18.5-25 is healthy, less than 18.5 is underweight, more than 25 is overweight, more than 30 is obese, and more than that needs immediate dietitian and nutritionist attention. Food is a major contributor to our health. And presently what we eat is full of fat, mostly processed and refined. Most people resort to crash dieting, or decide for themselves without consulting a dietitian about what food to avoid. This generally results in disaster. Fad diets deprive the body of vital nourishment, making it weak and vulnerable to illnesses. Eating healthy to lose weight is easy and doesn't require lot of planning.

Healthy Eating Tips to Lose Weight

Our body needs energy, which it sources from the different foods we eat. Foods full of calories do not add to the body's energy level, but only to the fat. To lose this fat, one needs to cut off its supply by eating lesser calorie laded foods and by increasing activity levels. Burn the fat!

Eat Less Calories
Calories are essential for the body, and complete and sudden elimination from the diet will make one weak. The idea here is to reduce the intake and supplement it with healthy foods. Cut down on fatty foods and concentrate more on healthy foods. Eat in small quantities, at least five times in a day. There are only two things that have no calories in them. Water and foods full of fiber, protein and vitamins. Replace all aerated drinks with water, and healthy drinks like herbal tea, iced tea, lemonade, or fresh fruit and vegetable juices. The cooking medium is what puts calories in the cooked food, use unsaturated oil for cooking. Wherever possible eat food that has been grilled, baked, steamed or boiled.

Have assorted raw vegetables and fruits as salads. Avoid salad dressings made of mayonnaise. Replace all in-between snacks of biscuits, cakes, burgers, chips, etc with a fruits, or even skimmed milk products like yogurt. Eat brown breads, and products made of whole grains and cereals. Incorporate the habit of drinking healthy homemade soups and broths. Adding pasta or brown rice with loads of vegetables, or chicken to the soups will make it a whole meal which can be added to the diet plan. Cut down on alcohol intake. It is perfectly fine to indulge in a few rich foods, but spread the habit right across the week. Nutritious foods have less calories and do not allow accumulation of fat in our bodies.

Increase Activity
Physical fitness is imperative. It helps the body to stay fit, flexible, cause resistance to injuries, and helps in speedy recovery. Anyone exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet will lose weight and gain strength. Some prefer to join gyms, but for all those hard pressed for time, a change in lifestyle will also help. Take the stairs instead of the lift, leave the car behind a couple of blocks and walk the distance, avoid using transport for short distances, walk, walk, and walk wherever and whenever you can. Activities such as swimming, running, cycling, walking, aerobics, games, and consistency in doing them will go a long way to improve your fitness levels.

Never skip breakfast, or any other meal. People trying to lose weight falsely assume that less food will help them shed weight. It does not, all it does is that it depletes the body of its nutrients and energy. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For the body to get its metabolism energized, after a gap of six to seven hours, a healthy, low-carb, and minimum calorie diet is required. The above information clearly show that eating healthy to lose weight, with the combination of staying active is the key to lose weight and gaining strength. Losing weight the healthy way will not only ensure that you stay fit, but will also ensure that you do not regain the lost weight easily!