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Lose Weight in a Healthy Way
Seek out restaurants that have a varied menu with healthy items. Look over a menu and see what they have, then ask them to make up something special for you out of what you know they have. Most restaurants are happy to accommodate your requests. Our overindulgence in carbohydrates, even good whole grains, is the theme of the highly popular Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, and the 30/40/30 diet. Whole grains, which contain the b-vitamins necessary to metabolize them, are preferable to refined starches such as white rice and refined wheat, which are just a step away from pure sugar. Still, there needs to be a balance, and regardless of which approach you use, you need to find what works best for you. Consulting with a knowledgeable physician or dietary specialist can help you tailor your program to your needs. Consume more healthy fats such as olive oil (extra virgin, first cold pressed) and flax seed oil. Avoid trans-fats like the plague - they're everywhere - and are usually referred to on food labels as partially hydrogenated. Stevia is a sweet herb native to brazil and Paraguay and most popularly used in Japan. Indeed, it is 40% of the sweetener used in Japan: they use it in sugar-free Wrigley's gum and Diet Coke. Pure stevia has no calories, and is usually considered safe for diabetics and hypoglycemics. Since it does not feed yeast, it is safe for persons with candida. It is very sweet, and has a light licorice-like taste that some people enjoy, and others grow to like, and some simply can't stand. It can have some bitterness to it, depending on the quality and quantity of the herb used. Usually the more pure it is, the less bitterness it has. Use it sparingly and if you don't like one brand, try another. (See if your health food store has single packets as free samples or for sale, and read the ingredients to see exactly what you're getting.) It is available as green powdered whole Stevia leaf, certified organic green leaf powder, pure white stevia, and in liquid form, extracted with alcohol or glycerin. If you want to try some recipes, Stevia Sweet Recipes by Jeffrey Goettemoeller is a good stevia cookbook. Exercise is a healthy part of any weight loss program. It doesn't have to be strenuous. A brisk walk is good, but if you are very physically limited, you may be able to get your blood pumping through breathing exercises! Other healthful practices include yoga and/or meditation for feelings of tranquility, satisfaction, and balance. Your mindset is a powerful aspect of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Imagine yourself at your desired weight: looking the way you want to look, feeling successful, comfortable, happy - whatever it is you desire for yourself. (Take two or three calming breaths, close your eyes, and ask yourself, "How would I look? feel? what would I see as I looked at the world around me? what would I hear? Note that you may actually imagine some people reacting negatively to the new you. This is important for you to understand and deal with, because it can be an unrecognized source of self-sabotage!) Achieving and maintaining your chosen body weight is most effective when it incorporates every aspect of your being. You can change your entire approach at once, or pick one aspect, then add another as you get the hang of the first one. If using the one at a time cumulative approach, start with your mindset - your beliefs about your weight and health - rather than with food or supplements. If you start by improving your thought patterns, the physical aspects will fall into place more easily because your mind and body will be in agreement about making the changes you desire.
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