Sunday 22 January 2012

Dieting is a Big Fat Joke


How many times have you started a “diet” just to end up hungry, frustrated, and not seeing results? The truth is dieting doesn’t work. Then what does work? The answer to that question is a life style change. Most people don’t realize they are already on a diet and have been on one all their life. The technical definition of diet is what you eat from day to day. There are three types of diets associated with this definition a high calorie high fat diet, a low calorie starvation diet, and a moderate calorie well balanced diet. The question is which diet are you on?
High Calorie High Fat Diet
This is the type of diet most overweight Americans are on. Over 4,000 calories per day are consumed on a high calorie high fat diet. That is double the prescribed 2,000 calories per day. Eating hamburgers, french fries, pizza, doughnuts, fried chicken, and other “normal food” very easily accounts for the 4,000 plus calories. The health effects of this type of diet are disastrous. It leads to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Let’s not forget about how the high calorie high fat diet makes you look with an oversized gut and butt. To be healthy and love the way you look in the mirror this is definitely not the type of diet you want to be on.
Low Calorie Starvation Diet
A starvation diet is the other extreme to the high calorie high fat diet and can be just as dangerous. The National Institutes of Health’s Medline Plus puts the calorie intake for a starvation diet at between 500-800 calories per day and should not be done unless medically supervised. Low calorie starvation dieting causes, low energy levels, headaches, malnutrition, eating binges, and possibly even weight gain. Stay on a starvation diet long enough and you will start to look like a walking skeleton. The only time anyone wants to see a walking skeleton is at Halloween. To be healthy and have plenty of energy definitely keep your daily calorie intake above 900 at the very least.
Moderate Calorie Well Balanced Diet
As you might expect the moderate calorie well balanced diet is the best type of diet to be on, and is considered a healthy life style diet. The recommended daily calorie intake for this type of diet that still allows you to lose weight is between 1,200 and 1,500 per day. A balanced diet will include a healthy blend of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and heart healthy fats. This translates to plenty of fruits and vegetables, meat that isn’t fried, and plenty of fish. You will have plenty of energy, feel great, and look great. Just think of all the compliments you will get and how you will feel when you look in the mirror.
As we have already stated earlier everyone is on a diet. The only question is what type of diet are you on? Do you diet to the extremes that are unhealthy and lead to health and psychological issues, or do you have a balanced diet that gives you plenty of energy, makes you feel great, and look great? The extremes will continue to make you frustrated and do yo-yo dieting. The balanced diet will be able to be used as a life style that keeps you at a healthy weight and no longer a prisoner to the unhealthy extremes. So, what kind of diet is right for you?

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