November 27th, 2008 — Weight Loss Journal, carbohydrates, diet, exercise, fats, proteins
When it comes to the trio of protein, fat and carbs, most people tend to focus on the last two. They are demonized, championed, reviled – you name it. But in this mess, protein is usually forgotten, or lumped into a category where it doesn’t belong. Protein is vital, especially if it is the right kind of protein. In fact, the right kind of protein can actually aid you in your weight loss efforts.
Body builders are probably the ones that are best informed about protein. They eat it in large amounts, especially after exercising and they know the value that it brings to their efforts to build muscles. What the average dieter may not know is that protein not only builds up lean muscle mass, but by doing so, it can help increase your metabolism. When you couple that with a plan for exercise and healthy eating, you are setting yourself up for success.
The key is finding the right kind of protein. The majority of Americans get their protein from red meat sources – and these are the same foods that contain a high amount of cholesterol. However, there are many other sources of protein that are quite good for you, and in fact, some of these can even help you prevent disease. When you are looking for the right kind of protein to eat, it is important to focus on these sources, especially the ones that are rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
These proteins are found in fish, lean chicken and even in soy. Consult with your doctor or a qualified nutritionist to see what types of protein you can safely eat and learn more about the different varieties that are available. You can easily start adding these foods in to your diet slowly. For example, you can eat salmon once a week, or try having tuna fish (canned in water only) for lunch instead of a hamburger.
The more you begin to replace bad foods with high quality protein, the more effective your weight loss efforts will be. Protein is especially helpful as a mid-day snack, and can provide the fuel you need to get through a tough day and make it until dinner. Low fat cottage cheese is a wonderful source of quality protein, and you can also find good proteins in soy nuts, and other fun snack food.
Try to stay away from pre-packaged protein bars, unless you carefully read the label. Many of these bars are laden with fat and carbohydrates and even though they may claim to be healthy, you may be stepping backwards instead of forwards in your weight loss efforts by eating them.
The right balance of protein will help you build up lean muscle mass, especially if you are exercising regularly. Try adding a few of these protein sources to your diet this week and see how much better you feel. Chances are, you’ll want to keep going and your body will definitely thank you.
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November 15th, 2008 — carbohydrates, fats, healthy eating, proteins
One of the best ways to ensure healthy weight loss is to find the right balance for your meals. Proteins, fats and carbs are all essential, but you need to have the right amount of each to make sure that your diet will work. It can be a little difficult at first, but once you get started it will become easier.
First, you'll need to discuss your options with your doctor or with a nutritionist. They can help you come up with a percentage of each type that will work for your own unique needs. Remember, we are not all the same when it comes to the type of fuel that we need for our bodies. Some people can get away with a diet consisting largely of protein, while others will not be able to do without carbs.
In order to avoid feeling deprived, you need to find this balance and the right percentage. Commonly, most dieters stick to the 40/30/30 percentage, but you may find that you need to tweak this a bit for your own needs. With the right balance you should not experience feelings of dissatisfaction or cravings.
One of the main reasons that we suffer from cravings and have a hard time handling a new diet is due to blood sugar. After years of indulging in sweets, our bodies become used to that influx of sugar. If you suddenly stop eating these foods, your blood sugar can get out of whack very quickly. The sudden lows can lead to dizziness or feeling light headed.
To avoid this, make sure that you are getting the right amount of good carbs in your diet to replace the bad ones. For example, instead of eating white bread, switch to whole wheat. Instead of a can of soda, have a piece of fruit. You'll be giving your body the sugar it needs with much less calories.
Protein is a very important part of building lean muscle mass which in turn serves to ramp up your metabolism. Once again, the key to finding the right balance is substituting high risk protein with foods that are good for you. Instead of having a fatty piece of red meat, eat a chicken breast or a serving of tuna. Your body won't feel deprived, because it is getting the right amount of protein, just in a lower calorie form.
Although you wouldn't think it made sense, our bodies actually do need fat to function properly. If you try to aggressively cut all fat out of your diet, your body is definitely going to suffer. However, you need to make sure that you are eating the right kind of fat. Stay away from saturated fats, like butter, and use the "healthy" fats such as olive oil.
It may not be as tasty at first, but you'll be providing your body with the fuel that it needs to survive and retraining your cravings with much healthier foods.
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September 17th, 2008 — Meals, Weight Loss Journal, food, healthy eating, nutrition, wellness
Most of are trained to recoil in horror at the mere mention of the word fat, and it automatically has negative connotations for most of us. However, there is such a thing as good fat, and if you’re trying to lose weight, it is important to make sure you are getting the right balance of this in your diet. Let’s take a look at the different kinds of fat and learn what you need, and what you don’t need.
We’ll break it down into healthy and unhealthy to make it easier to understand. Make sure that you are reading labels to determine what you are actually eating. In there lies the key to your successful weight loss and getting healthier.
Healthy Fats
Omega 3 Fatty Acids – These are the fats that are found in fish, some nuts and some oils. This is a fat that your body absolutely needs and it is actually very good for you. Omega 3’s reduce the risk of heart disease and help you stay healthy. If you’re eating fish, walnuts or using flax oil, don’t let the amount of fat grams scare you off – you actually need those.
Monounsaturated Fats – These are often found in olive oil, avocados and most nuts. Once again, they lower your risk for heart disease, bring up the levels of good cholesterol and lower the bad levels. Even peanut and canola oils are a good course of this essential fat.
Polyunsaturated Fats – This is mainly the type of fat that you’ll find in soy oils, corn oils and other vegetable oils. They carry the same benefits as the fats mentioned above.
Some healthy snacks.
Bad Fats
Cholesterol – This is found in most animal products and too much of it is a very bad thing. You’ll find cholesterol in all types of meat, but it is higher in red meat than in chicken. Eggs are one of the worst offenders but milk and dairy products are also very high in cholesterol. Eating a lot of these foods is a great way to clog up your arteries.
Saturated Fats – Once again, this is a fat found in animal products. It’s usually visible and will have a nasty, waxy appearance. If you’re eating these foods, cut off the visible fat. If you’re drinking milk, buy skim to reduce the overall amount of saturated fats in your diet.
Trans Fats – The most evil of all fats and the most dangerous. This is found in foods that contain modified vegetable oil. By forcing hydrogen through the oil, (often called hydrogenation) the oil is rendered more solid and will have a longer shelf life. It will also last a lot longer in your arteries! You’ll find this in most snacks, French fries and donuts. Limit your intake of this fat as much as possible as it is very deadly.
By eating the right fats, you can end up losing weight and getting healthier. Not all fat is bad, but it isn’t all good either. The key is knowing the difference.
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