Spring Weight Loss Tip

By this time in the year, many of us have not only broken but forgotten our New Year's resolutions. But if you still want to lose weight you shouldn't put it off until the next new year rolls around. Take advantage of the season and the recently arrived weather in the Northwest Ohio area to begin your diet and exercise program now. Conditions are prime for outdoor activities. And this is the time of year to begin getting excited for gardening and fresh local produce. It is a common misconception that dieting has to be a grueling experience. A study conducted by the American Dietetic Association found that 2 out of 5 people surveyed thought eating a healthy diet required giving up the foods they love. Actually nothing could be further from the truth. Avoiding your favorite foods will only lead to binging on that very food somewhere in the future. And there are countless recipes for tasty and healthy food both online, in magazine, and on television. This is a great chance to try new foods and adjust your lifestyle. There are three important guides to use when developing a healthy diet: variety, balance and moderation.

-Variety – You should select a number of different foods within a particular food group. When you eat the ‘same foods’ every day you miss out on important nutrients found in other foods within the same group. For instance, if you only eat carrots as your vegetable source, you get plenty of vitamin A but no folate. Folate is found in dark green vegetables like spinach, broccoli and asparagus. Another reason to add variety in your diet, particularly for fruits an vegetables, is that each color of fruit or vegetable contains different cancer retarding substances called phytochemicals.

-Balance –You should eat foods from all of the five different food groups. The different food groups are:
Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Milk
Meat and Beans

If you eat a bean burrito with salsa, an apple, and low fat glass of milk, you have covered all of the groups. Try to consciously consume balanced meals throughout the day. Overeating any particular group will cause you to miss vital nutrient found in other food groups.

-Moderation –You should use portion control at meals and not over consume any one food. Realize that there are no “good” or “bad” foods. All foods, even those that are high in fat, have there place in a healthy diet plan but must be controlled. By using these three pillars of a healthy food plan you can lose weight and adequately fuel your body throughout the day.