If you’re like many others, you may be wondering how you can lose weight. And the sooner the better. But one thing many people don’t think about is whether losing weight quickly will improve their overall health or cause problems.
Don’t be one of those people.
There are several approaches that can help you lose weight quickly. For example, low-carbohydrate diets have that potential. The Atkins diet, very low-calorie diets, and several other diets can help you lose weight quickly (though they don’t work for everyone). But are these approaches right for you? They may be fine for short periods of time for very healthy people, but you should make sure your body is comfortable with these approaches before taking these extreme measures. You need to know if you can cope with it. After all, isn’t your overall health more important than the number on the scale?
Work with a competent health care professional when using any short-term weight loss methods.
As most of us are aware, obesity rates in America are at an all-time high. Harvard Health Publishing shares that the CDC reports that the majority of Americans are overweight. In fact, we spend so much time and money on diets that it’s clear how difficult it is to lose weight. After all, how many of us have lost weight only to gain it back? (I’m one of those unfortunate people.) Here’s a fresh idea. What if a great side effect of eating to be healthy could (and should) be losing weight?!
What is the cause of this “obesity epidemic”?
First, let’s get real. Remember, delicious junk food isn’t exactly helping you improve the number on the scale. Well, it doesn’t help promote or maintain health either. Therefore, it makes sense to start reducing the consumption of carbonated drinks, both sugar and diet, donuts, fast food hamburgers, fried chicken, etc. And if you’re sensitive to starch like I am, even pizza can be a problem. (Sometimes I also end up eating the toppings and leaving dough on my plate…) Once you start cutting back on junk food, you can also start eating healthier foods. Don’t like vegetables? They don’t hate you! Add it to stir-fries or experiment with different recipes. You can get creative. It’s easy to fold vegetables into meatloaf, bread, smoothies, and juices. Just mix it with some sweet fruit and it will ease your throat.
Any food, including junk food, can be made healthier by using higher quality ingredients.
Don’t worry if you fail, just get back on track. Perhaps your taste buds will start to change and you may want more fruits and vegetables. Yes, it can happen. Something incredible happened to me. Try making a list of all your favorite foods. Next, list all the foods you dislike. Chances are both lists include healthy foods. This way you can see more clearly what you can change. Alternatively, you can keep a food diary for a few weeks to see how you were eating and if it was healthier.
Let’s talk about inflammation!
I want you to know that there are foods that tend to cause inflammation in your body, and foods that have anti-inflammatory properties. Here is a short list.
Foods that cause inflammation (reduce these foods)
processed food
sugary drinks
pizza
refined grains
fruit juice
margarine
vegetable oil
heat treated oil
pastry
cookie
cake
ice cream
french fries
potato chips
Popcorn
gluten free junk food
sugar
low fat foods
low carb junk food
candy bar
processed meat and cheese
fast food meat
high calorie coffee drinks
Anti-inflammatory foods (eat more of these)
Fruits (apples, berries, avocados, tomatoes, cherries, etc.)
Fats (minimally processed oils)
cold pressed oil
extra virgin olive oil
coconut oil
Any monounsaturated oil
Any polyunsaturated oil
butter
Herbs (parsley, coriander, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, etc.)
Protein (seafood/fish, preferably natural), Beef (preferably grass-fed),
Chicken (free range) etc.
Nuts/seeds (chia seeds, nuts)
Spices (turmeric, ginger, etc.)
Drinks (green tea, water, preferably spring, coffee in moderation, etc.)
Snacks (dark chocolate and cocoa without added sugar)
Please remember. Many people can lose weight simply by starting to eat healthier.
To a healthier and happier you!
