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View Full Version : How to eat healthy and lose weight


lyisala20
Aug 2, 2008, 06:19 PM
I'm trying to lose weight and do it right. I want to know what kind of food will help me lose weight and get all the nutrition I need.

DoulaLC
Aug 2, 2008, 06:35 PM
Fill up on a wide variety of fruits and veggies... but watch out for dips as they can have plenty of hidden calories and fats in them. Eating foods as close to their natural state as possible is the ideal. Whole grains... not enriched or bleached, but actual 100% whole grains. You can find this in breads, cereals, and many pastas now. Cut back on most "white" foods... not as many nutrients for the calories. Get some protein at each meal... in the morning will help curb your appetite later on, as will some healthier choices of carbs. Having healthy snacks between meals will also help keep blood sugar levels fairly constant throughout the day. This can help you avoid binge eating or going over board on the goodies. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day as well, but do your best to avoid, or at least limit, empty calorie beverages, such as soda... tastes good, but has no nutritional value at all. Don't cut out fats completely... for example, some nuts now and then (particularily walnuts and almonds) can give you a good boost of many nutrients even though they may have a high fat content. Some fats are better than others... avoid trans fats, try and stick more with monosaturated and polysaturated fats. A good rule of thumb... read the label and look for no more than 3 grams of fat per 100 calories... along with good nutrient content. Watch for hidden sugars... high fructose corn syrup is one that shows up in many processed foods. The farther down the list of ingredients the better.
If you prepare your own meals and snacks more, and eat out less you will have better control over what you eat and how it is prepared. Have some easy, healthy snacks with you throughout the day to avoid vending machines or unhealthy snack choices if you get hungry while out and about.
If you feel your diet could be better as you are working at improving it, consider a multivitamin as extra insurance.

ISneezeFunny
Aug 2, 2008, 06:36 PM
If you really want to lose weight... and be serious about it, you're going to need to change your diet. First off... need some info about you. Male/female... how old are you... are you physically fit to actually change diet/exercise?

First off, need to cut back on junk foods. I mean no chips, cookies, chocolate, candy, ice cream, etc. etc. etc. need to cut back.

Next, tailor your diet so that you eat better food.

Chicken breast
Turkey
Fish (I personally prefer tilapia... relatively cheap and makes it a better "dinner meal")
Mixed vegetables
Spinach

I just listed the things that are currently in my fridge. Out of those things, you can make yourself a decent meal... just be a little creative about it. As far as snacks...

Almonds
Fresh/dried fruits
Trail mix (REAL... trail mix with nuts and dried fruits... not popcorn and M&Ms)
Yogurt
Cottage cheese
Peanut butter

Are some good snack foods. I usually eat these in between meals (2 - 3 hours apart)

Of course, you have to also adapt an exercise routine. Walking/cycling/jogging/running are all very good and will help you lose weight... 30 min a day three times a week.

DrLang
Aug 7, 2008, 03:57 AM
The above answers are good. Remember that regular exercise will keep your metabolism up which will burn more calories in general throughout the day. Try to get most of your protein from plant sources and heavily cut back on meat (fish is the best meat option). Cut red meat out entirely.

If you're eating the right things (lots of vegetables, grain, and legumes), you do not need to reduce how much you eat. A diet of proper things is a diet of abundance.