Food just isn’t what it used to be anymore. This lament is based on the fact that many people populate their diets with processed foods and an excess of carbohydrates. This is not the fault of the consumer, it is the fault of a lack of education. How can you get on a diet for real weight loss, when you have no idea how to eat in the first place? You are not dieting to lose weight, you are changing your diet for a better life and that starts with not listening to anything the food pyramid has to say.
This paragon of nutritional intervention is nothing but ill informed nonsense. To tell people that most of their calories should come from processed grains, like those found in bread is patently untrue and is not conducive to wanting to whittle your waist. An excess of carbohydrates like these will only help you gain and stay overweight. If you were to break down a meal it should consist of only 25% carbohydrates, 50% vegetables, and 25% meat.
Why? It all comes down to your insulin levels and how certain things impact what is called your glycemic index. The glycemic index measures the effect of foods on your blood sugar levels. This is not to say that all carbohydrates are bad, but some are definitely better than others.
Some carbs are better than others and have lower glycemic indexes. When a fast digesting food causes a spike in blood sugar it can send the body’s appetite controls haywire.
Better carbohydrates with a low glycemic index, like those found in sweet potatoes, break down slowly and gradually and thus have a lower impact on blood sugar. This has the added benefit of keeping you fuller longer. Cheap processed foods, with their sugar spikes, wreck havoc on your body’s ability to monitor its appetite.
The base of the food pyramid should be full of leafy greens and vegetables. These power foods are full of vitamins and minerals that are important, like iron which can protect against diseases like anemia. If you feel like vegetables don’t taste good, you haven’t had them in their best form!
Spices can work wonders on all kinds of foods, and many people do not have a handle on the more exotic spices. This is where the internet can open an entire world to you in terms of recipes. Boiling vegetables is the default for many, but it makes for a soggy and unappealing mess of food. Pan cooking in olive oil, lemon, and garlic can take something you hated to eat and transform it into your favorite meal.
So you’re eating vegetables and limiting your carbohydrates, what about everything else? Meat is still a healthy part of your diet, but thinking about meat in a different way needs to happen. While meat can be the centerpiece for some meals, they should be the garnish for most. Not relying on just meat to satisfy you will help in appreciating other foods.
As for fruits, well they are nature’s desserts and limiting them certainly has no point. When it comes to alcohol and desserts, it is okay to indulge but don’t lose yourself in excess. Rework the way that you approach food and you will be on your way to a diet for real weight loss.
Throwing out the food pyramid will give you real weight loss results. We’ve got the low down on Strugglerling Dietersguide