Bad food choices:Even though we say we are on a diet, we still tend to make bad food choices. The word diet on its own can be very daunting, because we think we have to deprive ourselves of the food we enjoy. Especially with bad food choices we are very rarely aware that we are making them. Most times it is a subconscious decision we make for instant gratification of a craving for a certain type of food or other times it is driven by how we feel.Bad food choices include eating:• Sweets/ chocolate• Potato chips• Greasy and oily food• Junk foodBad diets:A bad diet is anything which says you should eliminate any of the essential food groups. Carbohydrates, protein, dairy, fruit and vegetables and fats are all part of the essential food groups. Deprivation of any of these food groups will not allow your body to function optimally. You will feel tired and moody if you do eliminate any one of the food groups listed above. You will wonder what is wrong with you, but it is all due to not eating the correct nutrition. When you do come across any of the essential food groups you will tend to eat them in excess, because they had been previously banned from your diet. This will result in you gaining weigh instead, which is the complete opposite of your goals and will send you into depression.The other end of the spectrum is to make:Healthy food choicesThe word diet on its own can be very daunting, because we think we have to deprive ourselves of the food we enjoy. That is why personally I don't like the word diet but instead replace it with healthy food choices. Sounds better doesn't it. This change in wording also places the power to lose weight back in your hands. As now you will see it as a conscious decision to make healthier eating choices and not as a task. As we humans are governed by our emotions and taste buds, I suggest you keep a journal to write down what you eat every time you are emotional or craving something. This will help you keep track of the wrong food choices you make, so that you can try to not repeat that choice next time. I am by no means saying that you should completely cut out all the foods you enjoy, but those unhealthier choices should be kept to a minimum.In as much as weight loss is about seeing results physically, it can also be quite mentally and emotionally challenging. Changing the way we think about food and especially cutting out most of your favorite foods which tend to lean more towards the unhealthier side, can leave you feeling like a dragon permanently breathing fire. In order to see results when it comes to losing weight you should also have the following mentally: will power, determination and be able to persevere, so that this new change in thinking about food can be a lifelong decision to remain healthy.Here are some tips:• Drink at least 6 - 8 glasses of water a day. Water aids in increasing your metabolic rate (rate at which your body burns food).• If u can also drink green tea, this also helps with weight loss and also counts towards you 6 - 8 glasses of water for the day.• Eat breakfast. This helps the metabolism to get started after a few hours of not eating. Breakfast is to break your fast. If you skip this essential meal, your metabolism will become very slow. When your body eventually receives food it is not certain what to do with it and will store it as fat and not burn it as fuel, the way it is designed to do. Thus resulting in weight gain.• Eat smaller meals. Rather have 6 smaller meals (as this will keep you metabolic rate working at a constant speed) than 3 large meals (this will make you feel more sluggish and tired).• Make sure your meals consist of healthy carbohydrates (whole grains, low GI, brown carbohydrates). This will keep you fuller for longer. Also include protein such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy to help build strong bones and muscles. Include healthy fats. Examples of foods which contain these are fish, avocados, eggs and beef.• Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. The more colorful the better. This will also be more appealing to the eyes. Don't forget we eat with our eyes first. So the more appealing food looks the more likely we will eat it and enjoy it. Also please note that when it comes to vegetables do not add unnecessary creamy sauces and oily salad dressings to make it more appetizing, as this will defeat the objective of being healthy. You can still have your sauces and salad dressings, but just opt for the low fat options.
