Diets Don’t Work, but healthy eating does.

Its time to get off of the teeter totter and get on the balance beam.  What does this mean?  It means we must find balance in our diets versus eliminating or drastically reducing some of the vital nutrients our body requires to function effectively and efficiently.  The magical one food diets, low carb high protein, high fiber low calorie, very low calorie liquid diets, fasting, and other gimmicks are hell on our body and stressful for our brain and mental well being.  Remember, were going for the LIFE STYLE CHANGE that will stick with us for the remainder of our lives and possibly prolong our existence.

Let’s focus on the Low carb diets.  Yes reducing your carbs from the normal is likely a “must,” especially when the norm was 200-400 each day.  In this case carbs are the enemy or at least your appetite for them.  In general we like to keep women between 100-150 carbs per day and men between 120-180 per day.

The negatives of low carb diets:

• These diets do promote rapid weight loss-at first. Their diuretic effect promotes loss of water weight, not body fat. The psychological lift offers a false sense of success that’s quickly gone when water weight returns.
• Depending on the foods consumed, a high protein, low-carb diet may be high in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. Inconsistent with sound nutrition advice, this weight loss regimen over time can increase the risk for heart disease and perhaps some forms of cancer.
• A diet that restricts many starchy foods is often low in fiver. The possible result? Constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders. A low fiber diet isn’t consistent with guidelines for health.
• A condition called ketosis (increased blood ketones from incomplete fat breakdown) can result with these regimens. Ketosis suppresses hunger and thus contributes to lower calorie intake. Some popular diets claim that ketosis hastens weight loss. In truth, muscle also breaks down due to lack of carbohydrate for energy. In addition, ketosis can cause weakness, nausea, dehydration, light headedness, and irritability. It can be fatal to people with diabetes, and during pregnancy may cause birth defects or fetal death.

Moral of the story:  a good diet is a balanced one.  Visit this link for guidelines http://missionpossibledp.com/pub_html/?p=635 If this plan doesn’t work then take 5-10% points from the carbs and place them in the proteins.

I Forgot My Lunch!

Arghhh!!! I forgot my lunch!  Or I didnt have enough time to pack my luch! Is this a common thought of yours?  I know I’ve had it more times that I can recall,  It probably happens to me 2-4 times a month and it is usually when I run low on food or food that I prefer.  Typically I will consume my protein foods faster than veggies and fruits, if this happens to you then be optimistic and consider it a three day system flush.  A couple of days consisting primarily of veggies and fruits with protein bars, powders, and that salmon (or other fish) in the back of the freezer you have been putting off will do you a lot of good.  This clean diet  may be better than the one your on when your refrigerator was fully stocked, so be sure to eat all of your food, you bought it for a reason and the reason wasn’t to “piss” away $20-$40 on healthy foods because its rewarding.